Youth and Family
Youth and Parent Formation at Holy Cross
Faith Formation
The Holy Cross Faith Formation program engages the whole family in Catholic teaching, active-participatory liturgical formation, and an encounter with God in Jesus Christ through Sacred Scripture, while seeking to establish contact between faith and the experience of life in our time. It is rooted in the principle that parents and guardians are the primary educators of children.
About Faith Formation
All families with children are invited to participate in Faith Formation. Our model encourages families to learn, pray and live the faith together. We do not use a grade-level model, but rather we have adopted a model that allows families to learn together in small groups with other parish families. Three weeks out of the month, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Youth Group are offered for all children enrolled in Faith Formation, and are required for all students receiving First Reconciliation/Communion and Confirmation. The first Sunday of the month is dedicated to a supplemental formation for First Communicants, using the Baltimore Catechism.
Preparation for First Reconciliation and Communion
Preparing for reception of sacrament of Holy Communion is a one-year process. Participation in Family Faith Formation, Baltimore Catechesis and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd are required for First Reconciliation/Communion preparation. This preparation will take place on Sunday mornings, as well as one Wednesday evening per month.
We strongly encourage families to continue their children’s enrollment in the Faith Formation, even when not preparing for a sacrament. Our program is all about helping the family to grow and remain together in the faith by increasing socialization in the parish community.
Goals of Faith Formation
1. To foster a real and true parish community of Roman Catholic believers who know how to live out their faith.
2. To help parents and guardians educate their children in the faith in a solid, faithful, interesting, and active way (with adult catechesis and accompanying home lessons for family devotions and self-study during intermittent weeks).
3. To prepare children in the parish to receive the sacraments appropriate for their age and/or readiness.
GRADES: PRE-K THROUGH 12
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 (Ages 3-6)
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 2 (Ages 6-11)
First Reconciliation/Communion Prep (Grade 2 and up)
Confirmation (Grade 8 and up)*
Youth Group (Grades 6-12)
Registration for Faith Formation
Family Faith Sessions
“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, sec. 2223
Here at Holy Cross, we strive to provide formation, community, and access to the sacraments to aid our community in living the Christian life. When it comes to our children, however, there is no greater witness and teacher than the parents of our children. To encourage this, we will be offering three Family Faith Sessions throughout the year, to build community between families and grow in wisdom in cultivating a family of Faith. Each session will include food, formation given by faithful married couples, parent small groups and family small groups. Through formation, conversation, and community building, we hope to aid in this responsibility in education and care for the family.
Upcoming Events for Families
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
ABOUT
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a unique method of faith formation that we are privileged to offer for our preschool and elementary school and non-school children on a bi-weekly basis.
This method strives to proclaim the message of Jesus to children by presenting the mysteries of our faith in a Montessori learning environment which incorporates beauty and silence in a prepared setting called the atrium.
We need your help!
We are in the process of expanding our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program at Holy Cross. Volunteers:
A number of individuals who are willing to learn how to sculpt figures from clay (or soften the clay for those who know how!) We will schedule a morning or evenings to have all working on this together.
Painters - there are a number of small items that need detailed painting.
Embroiderers - A number of small altar items are in need of embroidery and serging: purificator, prayer table cloths, corporal, pall
Calligraphers: If you have beautiful handwriting that children can easily read, we would love your help making hand-written prayer cards.
Cutting lamination: There are a number of items that need carefully cut out for the children to use over and over again.
Woodworkers: A number of dioramas and wooden pieces need built for use by the children.
Poster maker: Level 2 has a number of posters for the older children that need to be beautifully constructed for their use.
If you believe you could help with any of these things, please contact Alicia LaCroix at aklacroix@live.com or 612-709-3982
To the Heights
To the Heights is a night for 6-12th graders to come together and practice their Catholic faith in a simple format: we pray the rosary, read poetry, learn about our Catholic faith from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and watch films that tell the stories of our faith and the saints. We are eager to grow this group and excited for what the Lord has in store. All 6th – 12th Graders welcome!
Contact Mary Therese Druffner to learn more.
Confirmation
The sacrament of Confirmation is an essential capstone of life in the Catholic Church. It is the “completion of baptismal grace” and, through it, “[the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1285). Confirmation is not the end of Christian belief and practice, but another beginning.
For more information on participating in this sacrament at Holy Cross, please click the button below.