Registration for Faith Formation is now open!
Please CLICK HERE to register.
​
Please CLICK HERE for General Information about this year's programs.
St. John the Baptist 2024-2025 Faith Formation Registration program is open! The goal of our Faith Formation program is to assist parents in the religious education of their children. Parents are the primary teacher in the ways of faith and we very much want to partner with them in deepening their children's faith and love of God.
Our Faith Formation program is open to all Catholic children in grades 1 – 8 who are not attending a Catholic elementary school. Children in Grade 2 receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion and young people in 10th Grade of High School receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Religious Education every year from 1st through 8th grades helps secure them a solid foundation in the faith and helps qualify them to receive their Sacraments with their peers.
God made us social beings. He wants us to come together in community to worship Him. Attending weekend Mass is part of all Faith Formation. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I” (Matthew 18:30)
For more information, please contact Kathy Breitenbach, Registrar/Program Administrator at kbreitenbach@stjohnhillsdale.com or 201-666-2707 ext. 211
SUMMER PROGRAMS
SUMMER PROGRAM GRADES 1 TO 8
This year we are offering two different weeks for the Summer Program. First option is Week of June 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 and the second option is the week of August 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. All classes begin at 8:30am and end at 12:00pm each day. There are 7 to 8 additional classes during the academic year once a month on a Sunday morning 8:45am to 9:45am. Dates to be determined.
​
Grades 1 through 6 faith formation program resource is Finding God by Loyola Press, there are 15 out of 25 lessons taught in the week of summer. The remaining chapters are taught over 6 return sessions scheduled for Sunday mornings from 8:45AM to 9:45AM beginning in September and ending in March. Several sessions are completed at home online Interactive Session. Dates TBD.
​
Grades 7 and 8 faith formation program resource is the Thematic Program Alive in Christ by Our Sunday Visitor. There are seven themed books in the two year Junior High program. This year all Jr High students will be learning the following topics: Revelation, Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ and Kingdom of God. Jr. High students are expected to return 6 times during the year on a Sunday morning from 8:45am to 9:45am beginning in September and ending in March, 2023. Those dates will be determined at another time.
SUNDAY & TUESDAY
WEEKLY PROGRAMS
We are offering two different weekly programs this year. First option is the Sunday weekly program. Classes begin at 8:45am to 9:45am and the second option is Tuesday classes begin at 4:15pm to 5:15pm. Classes begin in mid-September through April 2024.
FAMILY HOME STUDY
PROGRAM
Family Home Program for Grades 1 through 6 is a completely cooperative effort between home and parish. The parish provides the resources and formal instruction for both parents and children. The family works at the reinforcement and informal instruction, within the family/home time.
St. John’s is excited to begin a new structure to the monthly formation gatherings. Monthly gatherings will begin at 7:00pm with both parent and child(ren) arriving at the parish center and sharing opening prayer in the community room. After prayer the children will be dismissed to a classroom setting with a catechist and aide within the parish center or church rooms. Catechists will receive a reduction in fee. Further details can be discussed with Kathy Breitenbach.
The children will be taught the first session of each unit and parents will remain in the community room for the remaining 45 minutes for faith formation that will be taught by Pastoral Associate and or volunteers. After formation, parents will pick their child(ren) up from his/her classroom.
We will begin with an initial parent meeting sometime in September at which time workbooks, calendar for Online Interactive lessons to be completed at home and gathering dates once a month in the evening from October through April, 2024 will be distributed. Dates and times to be TBD.
JUNIOR HIGH
HOME STUDY
Jr. High students continue to use the faith formation Jr. High Thematic program from Our Sunday Visitor. There will be one class each month beginning at 7:00pm to 8:00pm in the parish center. The class will be preparation for the upcoming chapters in each workbook. At least one parent is to be with their child for each class. If children carpool one adult must remain with the children throughout the formation. Homework is collected and previous work done is returned after the initial gathering.
The themed books for this year are The Church, Sacraments and Morality from the program Alive in Christ Sunday Visitors. Initial parent meeting will be in September. Date & time TBD.
For more information, please contact Kathy at
201-666-2707 ext. 211 or kbreitenbach@stjohnhillsdale.com
