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Faith Formation
Why "Origin?"
The word origin has many meanings but for our Church, it is simply our desire to return to what God has intended for us from the beginning, to know Him and be known by Him.
At St. Francis, our desire is for families to go back to their origin and reclaim the faith in their home but at the same time to know that God himself is our origin and has had a plan for us from the beginning, which is to be with Him in Heaven for eternity.
No matter how near or far you feel from God we invite you to find your origin with us.
Origin: Family (Students in K - 5th Grade)
At the heart of our catechesis model for students in Kinder up to 7th grade is Origin: Family Faith Formation. Studies tell us that parental involvement in the faith-life of their child is by far the most important element in ensuring that a child grows into a practicing Catholic.
Origin Family is a Church supported, parent led faith formation program. At St Francis, this catechesis model is centered around parish supported, family centered faith conversations within the home, on their own weekly schedule and at their own pace. With A Family of Faith, our families come together regularly, at home and in the parish to grow in relationship with one another, learning the truths of the Catholic Faith and how to apply them in their lives. In the parish and at home parents and children have the opportunity to build strong relationships through discussion and reflection on topics that matter in their lives.
For families with children in grades Kinder through 7th, Origin: Family will provide families multiple opportunities to grow in their faith with:
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Parent Sessions - Once a month to introduce the monthly topics and provide guidance, inspiration and information for parents.
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Family Centered Guides - A Family of Faith from Sophia Institute; easy to use materials to support at home learning and discussion.
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Community Family Gatherings - Held once a month at St. Francis for the entire family.
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Family Mentor Sessions - Opportunities to meet and receive support from our Family Mentors on-site. Open sessions and personal appointments will be available.
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Family Learning Centers - Opportunity for families to participate in guided activities onsite!
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Students preparing for Sacraments of Initiation (First Communion, etc.) will have additional preparation programs. Please continue reading additional information on sacrament preparation.
Origin: Family & Youth (Students 6-7th Grades)
At the heart of our catechesis model for students in Kinder up to 7th grade is Origin: Family Faith Formation. Studies tell us that parental involvement in the faith-life of their child is by far the most important element in ensuring that a child grows into a practicing Catholic.
Origin Family is a Church supported, parent led faith formation program. At St Francis, this catechesis model is centered around parish supported, family centered faith conversations within the home, on their own weekly schedule and at their own pace. With A Family of Faith, our families come together regularly, at home and in the parish to grow in relationship with one another, learning the truths of the Catholic Faith and how to apply them in their lives. In the parish and at home parents and children have the opportunity to build strong relationships through discussion and reflection on topics that matter in their lives.
For families with children in grades Kinder through 7th, Origin: Family will provide families multiple opportunities to grow in their faith with:
-
Parent Sessions - Once a month to introduce the monthly topics and provide guidance, inspiration and information for parents.
-
Family Centered Guides - A Family of Faith from Sophia Institute; easy to use materials to support at home learning and discussion.
-
Community Family Gatherings - Held once a month at St. Francis for the entire family.
-
Family Mentor Sessions - Opportunities to meet and receive support from our Family Mentors on-site. Open sessions and personal appointments will be available.
-
Family Learning Centers - Opportunity for families to participate in guided activities onsite!
-
Children preparing for Sacraments of Initiation (First Communion, etc.) will have additional preparation programs. Please continue reading additional information on sacrament preparation.
Optional:
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Children in 6th and 7th grades can opt-in to our Middle School Youth Nights to supplement the parent led faith formation in the home.
Origin: Youth offers a place for our teens to not only connect with their peers, but to be empowered in a life of the Holy Spirit through our Youth Nights. Our goal for our Youth Nights is to provide a place for our teens to belong in the life of our parish.
Entering Middle School, young people in 6-7th grades are at a place to begin discovering who God has created them to be for themselves. We want to supplement family formation with our Youth Nights for teens to be able to continue learning from their parents at home, while joining their peers at our parish. Our goal is to give teens a place to personally encounter Jesus Christ and to cultivate a relationship with Him. During our Youth Nights, teens will come to know the truths of the faith with a Small Group that is able to journey with them. We also aim to empower them to bring Jesus Christ to their friends and community. These special nights will have both fun and faith and will meet during the school year.
Origin: Youth (Students in Grades 8-12th)
Origin: Youth offers a place for our teens to not only connect with their peers but to be empowered in a life of the Holy Spirit through our Youth Nights. We know that the youth aren't just the future of the Church, they are the very life of the Church! Our goal for our Youth Nights is to provide a place for our teens to belong in the life of our parish.
Young people in 8th - 12th grades are at a pivotal moment in life where they are wrestling with their identity and trying to establish who they want to become. Our goal is to give teens a place to personally encounter Jesus Christ and to cultivate a relationship with Him. During our Youth Nights, teens will come to know the truths of the faith with a Small Group that is able to journey with them. We also aim to empower them to bring Christ to their friends and community. These special nights will have both fun and faith and will meet during the school year. In addition, those seeking Sacrament Preparation in grades 6-12th will have the opportunity to complement their Youth Night experience with at-home preparation done with the teen, family and/or sponsor.
At Youth Nights, teens will...
Following our family faith formation model, we will have additional supplemental programming available periodically during the year for families enrolled in Origin Youth to help continue the conversation of faith with their teen in the home and help continue to make Church a home for our youth.
DISCIPLE
ENCOUNTER
MISSION
Origin: God Loves All (Students Grades K-12th)
The God Loves All - Differentiated Faith Formation program is designed for special needs students entering grades K-12 that require specialized support to meet their needs. To respect student's age and unique circumstances, classes are segmented by age: elementary students and middle/high school students. Lessons are adapted for both children and teens.
For students desiring to prepare to receive a Sacrament, our Special Education Catechists assess their readiness for sacraments based upon 5 basic principles during our sessions. God Loves All - Differentiated Faith Formation is unique in that we journey with each student to meet their individual learning pace.
