Faith Formation - St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church

Faith Formation

Welcome to St. Mark the Evangelist Faith Formation

The Christian family is ordinarily the first experience of the Christian community and the primary environment for growth in faith; it is the "church of the home". In his 1994 Letter to Families, Pope John Paul II wrote: “Parents are the first and most important educators of their own children, and they also possess a fundamental competence in this area: they are educators because they are parents.” It is through the living witness of parents that children first experience the faith; faith-filled moments permeate all of family life. This experience is irreplaceable and lasts throughout life. As parents you are blessed with the love and grace to foster your children’s spiritual growth. Indeed, as parents you are uniquely able to teach your children – first because you yourselves are persons of faith and second because you are parents. It is this religious formation that is the foundation of all other forms of religious education a person receives.

St. Mark the Evangelist supports the role of parents in the faith formation of their children and strongly encourages parent involvement. Parents may attend class with their children and if they wish, families may also choose to home school. Parents are also actively involved in the sacramental preparation of their children for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. In addition to elementary faith formation, we have youth ministry sessions for our 7th-12th grade teens, and for adults, we have Adult Sunday School, Catholic Scripture Study, plus many additional opportunities throughout the year for continuing faith formation and adult enrichment. At St. Mark, there is something for everyone.

Elementary Faith Formation Program: Preschool through 6th grade.

We offer Faith Formation classes [English and Spanish] on Sunday at 9:00 am, 10:30 am, and 12:00 noon, PK3 - 6th grade, and on Wednesday evenings, from 7:00pm-8:30pm, 1st - 6th grade.  Our 2010-2011 Faith Formation classes begin Sun. Aug. 22, 2010 and continue through May 22, 2011.

Following Diocesan guidelines, a child should have a minimum of one year of catechesis in a parish faith formation program prior to receiving sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation.  Our second grade children will be in sacramental preparation to receive First Reconciliation and First Communion this year (provided they were enrolled in a 1st grade faith formation program). If your child is in the 3rd-6th grade and has not received the sacraments of First Reconciliation and Communion, please call the Faith Formation Office at 972-423-4715.

Tips for Helping Your Child Grow in Faith.

Please note: If your child is seeking a Sacrament, a copy of the Baptismal Certificate is required at the time of registration. If your child was baptized at St. Mark, please let us know, and we will obtain the information for you.

Home Study Program: Preschool through the 6th grade.

We encourage families to learn together and grow together in the faith as the “domestic church.” Materials and resources are available to assist parents in teaching their children the faith at home. The program allows all grade levels to be taught at the same time. If the child is receiving a sacrament, they will be required to attend the necessary parent/child sessions at the parish.

Faith Formation for Families (Spanish)
[includes attendance at the 3:00pm Mass]

These intergenerational classes are intended primarily for families with older children, who were baptized Catholic, but have not received First Reconciliation and Eucharist, or attended any type of formal faith formation classes, and their parents who may also need to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation. It is a 2yr. sacramental preparation and faith formation class. Please call the Faith Formation Office for additional information.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults [RCIA/RICA]

The RCIA is the process the Church has given to welcome members into full initiation and communion with the Catholic Church. Initiation into the Christian community is not concerned with programs that come and go, but rather with the fundamental values of the Christian way of life –of living lives of justice, service and charity as witnesses of the reign of God - of being Catholic. It is a personal and communal journey of conversion and transformation. The RCIA process is for the un-baptized adult, the baptized adult in another Christian denomination, or the baptized Catholic adult who is un-catechized, and never celebrated Eucharist and/or Confirmation. The RCIA process is also for children who are of catechetical age (7 yrs. or older) and are unbaptized. We offer sessions in both English and Spanish.

Sunday: 9:00am-11:45am [English] - includes attendance at the 9:00am Mass

Sunday: 1:00pm – 4:00pm[Spanish] - includes attendance at the 1:30pm Mass

for children who are 7yrs old and older who have NOT been baptized
for children who were baptized in another faith tradition and want to become members of the Catholic Church
for baptized Catholic children who are in the 7^th grade and above who have not received the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist and have not attended any type of formal Faith Formation classes – another option would be Faith Formation for Families [Spanish - see above]

Faith Formation Staff:

Debbie Betz, Director of RCIA, Adult and Elem. Faith Formation
Ruth Sanchez and Peggy Theis, Coordinators of Elementary Faith Formation
Ana Rosas, Coordinator RCIA Spanish

Our Faith Formation Program is designed to challenge our young people to become more like Christ. With the help of hundreds of parish volunteers we lead our children and families in Prayer, Scripture and Tradition, Sacraments, and the Life of Christ. If you are interested in volunteering your time and talent as a catechist, aide, or facility monitor, please contact the Faith Formation Office. For the safety of our children, all volunteers must be safe environment cleared.

If you have a middle school child or high school student, seeking Confirmation, please contact the Youth Ministers for the parish, Tina and John O’Neill at 972-578-9583.

Events (Next 10 Upcoming Events)
Thu, September 2 to Thu, September 23 STARTS: 7:00 PM ENDS: 9:30 PM	In the Footsteps of St. Paul In the Footsteps of St. Paul will be offered on Thursday evenings: Sept. 2, 9, 16 & 23, from 7:00pm-9:30pm, in the Cafetorium as part of our catecist certification; 10 hr. Scripture credit for this course (elective - taught by JoAnne Dreyer). Pre-registration is required; to register, please call Debbie Betz at 972-423-4715, ext. 232.
Sat, September 18 to Sun, September 19	Catechetical Sunday 2010 This year, Catechetical Sunday, September 19, 2010, will focus on the theme, “Matrimony: Sacrament of Enduring Love.” Those who have been designated by the community to serve as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith. There will be commissioning of all catechists (in Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Scripture Study, RCIA, etc.) at all Masses Sept. 18 and 19. Thank you for your gift of stewardship!
Mon, September 27 6:00 PM	First Reconciliation Parent and Child Meeting There will be First Reconciliation Parent Child Meeting for all children and their parents on Mon. Sept. 27, beginning at 6:00pm, in the Sanctuary. This meeting is mandatory, if you wish your child to receive their sacraments this year. Parents will receive packets to work with their child at home; the reconciliation packets are to reinforce and supplement what the child is learning in Faith Formation class. If you have any questions, please contact the FF Office.
Wed, September 29 to Thu, September 30 STARTS: 7:00 PM ENDS: 9:30 PM	Church History Church History will be offered on Wed. Sept. 29 and Thurs. Sept. 30[Main Conference Room], from 7:00pm-9:30pm, as part of our catecist certification process - 5 hr. Theology elective. Pre-registration is required, to register, please call Debbie Betz at 972-423-4715, ext. 232.
Tue, October 5 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM	Mary and the Saints Mary and the Saints will be offered on Tues. Oct. 5 [Upper Room] and Thurs. Oct. 7 [Main Conference Room], from 7:00pm-9:30pm, as part of our on-going adult faith formation and as an elective towards catecist certification. Pre-registration is required, to register, please call Debbie Betz at 972-423-4715, ext. 232.
Thu, October 14 to Thu, November 4 STARTS: 7:00 PM ENDS: 9:30 PM	Acts of the Apostles Acts of the Apostles will be offered on Thursday evenings: Oct. 14, 21, 28, & Nov. 4, from 7:00pm-9:30pm, in the Cafetorium as part of our catecist certification; 10 hr. credit for Scripture (elective - taught by JoAnne Dreyer.) Pre-registration is required; to register, please call Debbie Betz at 972-423-4715, ext. 232.
Tue, January 11 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM	Church Documents "Church Documents" will be offered on Tues. Jan. 11 [Upper Room]and Thurs. Jan. 13 [Main Conference Room], from 7:00pm-9:30pm, as part of our on-going adult faith formation and as an elective towards catecist certification. Pre-registration is required, to register, pelase call Debbie Betz at 972-423-4715, ext. 232.
Mon, February 7 6:00 PM	First Communion Parent and Child Meeting Our First Communion parent (and child) meeting and "Demonstration Mass" will be Monday, February 7, 2011, beginning at 6:00pm, in the Sanctuary. First Communion packets will be handed out at this meeting, so that parents may work with their child at home to supplement what is taught in the classroom. Dates for First Communion, rehearsal times, and photography information will be included in your packets. If you have any questions, please contact the FF Office at 972-423-4715.
Wed, February 9 to Thu, February 10 STARTS: 7:00 PM ENDS: 9:30 PM	Catechist Certification Course Catechist Certification course (topic TBD) will be offered on Wed. Feb. 9 and Thurs. Feb. 10 [Main Conference Room], from 7:00pm-9:30pm, as part of our catecist certification process - 5 hr. credit towards needed electives. Pre-registration is required, to register, please call Debbie Betz at 972-423-4715, ext. 232.