Children's Liturgy of the Word: At the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Masses, children are dismissed after the opening prayer. They process to the church basement where they celebrate the Liturgy of the Word for children. This is not a catechetical session or recreation; it is a liturgical experience. Before the Eucharistic Liturgy begins, the children are led back to the assembly.

Grades 1-6: This process aims at assisting parents in the faith formation of their children. Partnership between parish and parents can help our children and parents grow in true discipleship. Each grade level has a focus. The focus for grades 1 through 6 is as follows: Trinity, Jesus, the Church, Morality, Sacraments and Hebrew Scriptures.
Sessions are offered on various times and days.
Training is provided and Diocesan certification is offered for anyone interested in sharing their faith with our young parishioners.

Grades 7-10: The Faith Formation Process lasts four years. It is directed toward Confirmation, which offers a required course for each year and a wide selection of courses as electives. The required courses are structured to focus on God in the lives of the youths: Being a Catholic, Meeting Jesus, Prayer, Morality, Relationship, Justice, and Peace. The elective courses are focused to make the young people aware of themselves and all the gifts they have been given by God and all the value youth bring to this parish and the world. These courses include: Who Am I?, Making Decisions, Dealing with Tough Times, Communication, etc. Unlike classroom learning, this process focuses on experiential learning. It includes teaching the message and sharing - based on deepening and strengthening the faith life of our youth.
The staff of teachers is made up of volunteers. Training is provided at both the parish and diocesan level. If you would like more information on becoming a facilitator for any of these classes, we would be pleased to speak with you.

R.C.I.A. (Children): This process is for children over the age of seven and their families who are uncatechized or who have either never received the Sacrament of Baptism or need to be prepared for other sacraments of initiation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R.C.I.A. (Adults): Each year a number of adults come forward to join us as Roman Catholics and/or to receive Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist). The group meets weekly from September through Pentecost. Those individuals who are ready will receive Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at Easter. Active parishioners are needed as part of a team to assist these people in their journey, which can take those seeking the Catholic Faith 1 to 3 years. This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen your own faith and to welcome those who are joining us.

Scripture Sharing: Every Tuesday, from September to the end of June at 12:00 Noon in the Francis Room of the Parish Center, a group meets to read and reflect on the Scripture reading for the coming Sunday. Once a month, this is augmented by a study of a particular in-depth Scripture Search. The topic for the month is published in the Bulletin the week before.

Evangelization Outreach: Men and women who focus on sharing the Good News of Christ's love primarily to inactive Catholics in our parish, inviting the un-churched to share our Faith Journey, while also working to build up the faith levels of our current fellow parishioners. This may be achieved in a variety of ways such as mailings to new neighbors in our community, one-on-one visits, and/or by church based events.

Advent/Lenten Programs: During the season of Advent and especially Lent, St. Mary's offers a program in the form of a retreat, lectures, or mini-courses, which are set up to provide our parishioners with opportunities to grow in their personal faith journey.