This one-year option responds to Pope Francis’ call for the kerygma to become the center of all evangelizing activity. Families are introduced to a living encounter with Christ through these home and classroom lessons which proclaim the Good News of the Gospel in simple terms and relatable, family-centered methods.
During a monthly church gathering, children meet in grade-specific class settings while parents gather for adult catechesis. Learn more »
Parents, equipped with materials and an understanding of the weekly lessons, teach their children the Faith. Learn more »
[General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) 255]
The kerygma is a central element of each month's content. See a complete list of topics (PDF) »
Once a month, parents and children gather at church to learn about the same topic of Faith. Down-to-earth, engaging and easy-to-use, the classroom curriculum spans October through May. See what a typical month of Family Formation looks like (PDF) »
Through this time together as a parish, families are encouraged not only by parish staff, but by other families who are also undertaking the same task of raising their children in the Faith.
Classroom Lessons are available in a Ready-to-Use format.
MONTHLY FOUNDATIONS CLASSROOM LESSONS:
During the monthly gathering at the parish, families are given a packet of weekly lessons to use at home throughout the rest of the month. These Home Lessons are easy to use and have been developed and used by parents amidst typical busy family life. The lessons bring the whole family together to study and then apply the teachings to their day-to-day life.
Home Lessons can be purchased in a Ready-to-Use format.
WEEKLY HOME LESSONS:
Which is the best fit for your parish? See our FAQ page for considerations as you discern.
In preparation for the monthly parish gathering, volunteer classroom catechists meet one or two weeks before the monthly gathering to hear the upcoming month’s adult formation talk and to walk through the Classroom Lesson packet from which they will be teaching.
This training should be presented by the ministry leader. Resources are available on your Dashboard and updated throughout the year to assist in preparing for this each month.
In addition to Classroom and Home Lessons, Family Formation offers curriculum to prepare the children in your parish to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion for the first time. This curriculum may be used separately from the larger Family Formation program, but ideally they are designed to be used together.
HOW IT WORKS:
Children in sacramental prep meet in classrooms once per month at the same time as the Family Formation classes gather. These children are taught from Sacramental Prep Lessons instead of the regular Family Formation Classroom Lessons.
At home, parents use separate sacramental prep Home Lesson booklets to teach their child in addition to including them in the regular weekly Family Formation Home Lessons. These sacramental prep Home Lessons take approximately 15 additional minutes per week.
See Home Lesson Booklet samples in English and Spanish for First Reconciliation and First Communion.
We offer a Parish Intro Kit to introduce you to all of the pieces of the Family Formation program. See the kit »
