Faith Formation

The parish is the center of faith formation for Catholics. Every person in your pews, every Catholic in your parish community…child or adult…is on their own journey toward Christ and a life of discipleship.

Faith Formation Classes - Grades PK-8

Children are formed from ages 4 and up in Catholic Doctrine utilizing the 2025 spiral curriculum edition from Loyola Press entitled Christ Our Life. Each year has a focus that builds upon the previous year and includes age appropriate elements of Christian Anthropology and Theology of the Body. Parents are the first catechists! Parish faith formation programs are aimed at assisting parents and families in their journey of faith and supplementing what is already being fostered at home.

Sacrament Preparation for 1st Communion & 1st Reconciliation

Our parishes celebrate the Sacraments of 1st Holy Eucharist and 1st Reconciliation in 2nd grade. Preparation for the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation take place during the regular Faith Formation year. Our program is heavily focused on the True Presence of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharist and on the power and necessity of the process of confession for the forgiveness of sins and gift of sanctifying grace. Parents should be heavily involved in preparing the children at home using resources shared in class and through communication from the director.

Confirmation Preparation

Our parishes celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in 8th grade. Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation takes place during the regular Faith Formation year. Our program is focused on diving deeper into the basic tenets of the Catholic faith, service to the community, prayer, Christian morality and anthropology, Theology of the Body, and the spiritual life. The primary aim of this program is to teach the Catholic faith and how to live it out once confirmed.

Confirmation is NOT "Catholic Graduation"! In fact, your journey has only just begun!

OCIA / OCIC

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is the rite of initiation for those 16 and older who have not received any sacraments at all and are looking to enter the Catholic Church, or those who have been baptized but not confirmed. We have options for in-person and online courses to prepare those who are interested in becoming a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church. New members are initiated into the church on the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday) each year.

Contact Heidi Robin for more information: faithformation@stjosephcecilia.com.

The Order of Christian Initiation of Children is the rite of initiation for those aged 8-15 who have not received any sacraments at all or have only been baptized and are looking to enter the Catholic Church but have not participated in any faith formation classes or attended a Catholic school. Each person's faith journey has special circumstances and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.