Faith Formation
Family Faith Formation
Overview
Family Faith Formation is designed to support you, the parents, in your God-given role as the primary educator of your children.
The mission of Family Faith Formation at Holy Trinity Catholic Church is to model our families after the Holy Family, thus creating a Christ-centered home. We honor the parents’ God-given role of raising their children in the Faith and empower them to fulfill this holy privilege and responsibility so that one day we may all partake in the Beatific Vision of the Blessed Trinity.
Why are we doing this?
There is a lot of support from the catechism of the Church and Sacred Scripture for this way of teaching the faith. This method of family-style formation is also being used in other parishes in our diocese and around the country. If you still have concerns after reading the Program Expectations, please take some time to read this document. Also, please reach out so we can personally address your concerns.
“The ministry of evangelization carried out by Christian parents is original and irreplaceable… The future of humanity passes by way of the family.”
–Saint John Paul II
“Parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children. Their role as educators is so decisive that scarcely anything can compensate for their failure in it….The right and duty of parents to give education is essential…and it is irreplaceable and inalienable, and therefore incapable of being entirely delegated to others or usurped by others.”
Familiaris Consortio #36, Pope St. John Paul II
General FAQ
How will classes be organized?
All classes will be in person at Holy Trinity. Families will be placed into small groups. We will try to put together families with children who are about the same age/grade and keep the groups small.
Parents will be supported and encouraged to teach their kids the Catholic faith with confidence. Work will be completed and turned in during the class time to limit the amount of work needed to be done at home. We know your time is valuable and so we will do everything we can to provide meaningful and productive lessons and activities. There will also be opportunities to celebrate the liturgical year through parish family faith formation events.
What does the monthly cycle of classes look like?
Meeting 1: A parent and all children will attend the class. Each group will have a leader who will give a lesson overview to the families and then the parents and leader will implement the lessons with the children. The lessons will be interactive so that all the children in your family will be able to work together. We have engaging activities planned that will help bring faith formation to life for all members of the family.
Meeting 2: A parent and all children will be on campus. The parents will go to an adult faith formation class. The children will be in the classrooms with their group leader participating in age-appropriate faith formation lessons.
Meeting 3: This week is dedicated to all families with children in year one or year two of their sacramental preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. All families with children in 1st Year First Holy Communion, 2nd Year First Holy Communion, 1st Year Confirmation, and 2nd Year Confirmation will attend class this week. Non-sacramental children will have an at-home assignment to complete and turn in at their next class. They do not need to attend class.
Meeting 4 (same as Meeting 1): A parent and all children will attend class on campus together.
When are the sessions offered?
Sundays 3:15pm- 4:45pm OR 6:15pm-7:45pm
Tuesdays 5:00pm-6:30pm
Wednesdays 5:00-6:30pm OR 7:00pm-8:30pm
All of these session times are dependent on getting volunteers who will lead the group each week. If we do not have the group leaders in place, we will cancel the sessions as needed.
When will I choose my session time?
Starting on Aug 1, we will send out to all registered and paid families a form to choose your session time. Emails to choose session times will be sent in batches in the order registrations were received. We are dependent upon volunteer group leaders for each session of formation that we offer.
All session choices must be submitted by AUG 15.
We will be creating rosters and our Family Faith Formation email distribution list after that date. There will be a $50 late fee for class session forms received after Aug 15.
If you are interested in volunteering to be a Group Leader and would like to know more, please contact Margi Loesel at [email protected].
How many classes can I miss?
Families CANNOT MISS MORE THAN 4 CLASSES for the entire year. Regular participation is very important and make-up classes are encouraged! If more than 4 classes are missed, this year will not count as a completed year of faith formation unless you meet with a deacon or a priest.
Please communicate any concerns with attendance to your group leaders or Margi Loesel. We will work with families who have unexpected problems. BUT it is YOUR responsibility to come to us and explain the situation.
What are the program fees?
The cost per child is $100 if you register by July 31. After July 31, the fee increases to $150 per child, so register early! This fee includes all supplies, books, and materials for the entire year. Catholic School/families who home educate their children do not pay this fee. However, Catholic School/home educating families WILL be charged a $50 late fee in addition to their $40 sacramental fee if registration is submitted after July 31.
If your child is receiving First Holy Communion or Confirmation in spring of 2027 there is a $40 sacramental fee per child to cover additional materials and retreat expenses. There is NO SACRAMENTAL FEE if they are in their 1st year of First Holy Communion or 1st Year of Confirmation preparation.
There will be a link to pay online at the end of the registration form. Registration is not considered complete until payment is received. Online payment is preferred, but cash/checks made out to Holy Trinity will also be accepted.
Do both parents need to be present for the classes?
The family comes in together for faith formation. All children in grades 1st- 8th are expected. Kindergarten and younger children are most welcome if other arrangements can’t be made for them. Only one parent is required and the parent need not be the same parent each week. Grandparents can also take on the role as primary educators in families if necessary. IN AN EMERGENCY, a teen sibling who has been confirmed can come in and represent the parent for a week, but this should be a rare occurrence.
What will I do with my babies, toddlers, and preschooler
Ideally, the babies, toddlers and preschoolers will stay home with the other parent, a grandparent, older sibling, family friend, etc during that hour and a half. However, nursing babies are always welcome and if arrangements cannot be made for the younger siblings, they are most welcome too!
What about sacramental preparation?
Sacramental preparation will take place in the classrooms with a parent during Week 3 of each month.
For Week 3 of each month only the children in 1st Year First Holy Communion, 2nd year First Holy Communion, 1st year Confirmation and 2nd year Confirmation (typically 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th grade) will come to the church with their parent for formation.
The non-sacramental siblings will stay home on the 3rd week of each month, but are welcome to come if other arrangements cannot be made.
What will I do at home with my non-sacramental children the week they do not need to attend?
If ALL of your children are in non-sacramental years, you do not need to come to the church at all on Week 3 of each month.
You will be given an assignment to implement during that 3rd week and it will be turned in on the 4th week of the month when you return to class.
If you have some sacramental children AND non-sacramental children, the non-sacramental children will stay home on the 3rd week of each month and you will still be given an assignment to implement on that 3rd week. It will be turned in on the 4th week of the month when you return to class.
For those families who are single parenting or are without child care and have both a sacramental child and non-sacramental siblings, the non-sacramental siblings will be welcomed to join the class with their sacramental siblings the 3rd week of the month.
What if I have multiple children who are in sacramental years?
You will share your time with both children preparing for their sacrament on the 3rd week of the month.
We will put you with other families who are also teaching more than one sacrament (if we get enough volunteer leaders).
We will support you to be able to prepare both children at the same session on the 3rd week of each month.
Do we have to do monthly assessments?
No! We do not have monthly assessments. We will expect each family to attend regularly and miss NO MORE THAN 4 CLASSES throughout the year.
If a family misses more than 4 classes during the year for any reason, then the year will not count as a completed year of faith formation unless you meet with a deacon or a priest. It is important to communicate with your group leaders if you will have an extended absence.
Children in the 2nd year of formation for the sacraments (typically 2nd graders and 8th graders) will have sacrament related requirements during the year.
How will I know what sacramental work I need to turn in?
The Family Faith Formation main page contains links to all the requirements needed for each sacramental year, including a spreadsheet where you can track your progress.
What if I am not keeping up with the sacramental work or attending meetings regularly?
If it looks like you are falling behind, we will be making quarterly check-ins to see how you are doing and what we can do to help. It is important that you don’t fall behind and that you don’t miss more than 4 classes for the entire year!
If at the midterm point of the year you are still behind, we will recommend postponing your participation this year until next year when you are able to fully commit to the meetings and complete the sacramental work.
Catholic School Students & Students who are Home Educated
Do my Catholic School or Home Educated children need to attend the weekly parish Family Faith Formation classes?
Catholic school families are exempt from participating in the parish Family Faith Formation classes as your children are receiving faith formation classes 5 days a week in their parochial schools.
Students who receive home education are exempt from participating in the parish Family Faith Formation classes as you are already implementing faith formation every day and all day as a Catholic homeschooler.
Do my Catholic School or Home Educated children need to register with the parish Faith Formation office every year?
YES! Please register your children who are going to receive a sacrament in 2027 and/or 2028 with the parish Faith Formation office even though you do not need to attend the classes.
Why register the 2028 children? Because it GREATLY helps us prepare when we know that these children are coming in 2028.
How do I register my Catholic School and Home Educated children with the Faith Formation office?
To register click on the link to the registration form on this webpage.
All parish families (including Catholic School/home educated) MUST register any child who will be receiving a sacrament in 2027 and 2028 at Holy Trinity. Registration will run June 1-July 31.
The cost is $40 per child for children receiving a sacrament in 2027 (2nd year First Holy Communion and 2nd Year Confirmation) to cover retreat and other material expenses. There is no fee for the children who are receiving a sacrament in 2028 (1st Year First Holy Communion and 1st Year Confirmation).
Registration of your non-sacramental children who are in 1st-8th grade costs nothing, so please also include them on the registration form.
What do my Catholic School and Home Educated children in a sacramental year need to do?
For ALL children receiving First Holy Communion or Confirmation in 2027:
Since the diocese requires two consecutive years of documented faith formation prior to a sacrament, please send a brief email after registering stating that your child successfully completed his/her first year of sacramental prep and completed your program requirements in 2025-2026. This letter of verification will be printed and filed with your child’s sacramental records. The email should be sent to [email protected] NO LATER THAN NOV 6, 2026.
Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Pleas join us in praying a Novena to the Sacred Heart in preparation for the national consecration.
On June 11, 2026, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Parishes around the country are encouraged to join the bishops in celebrating the consecration of our nation to the Sacred Heart.
Please CLICK HERE to find a suggested novena to pray with your family. Begin the novena on June 3rd.
Registration
Registration for the 2026-2027 school year will open on June 1 and close on July 31, 2026.
Are you ready to Register?
If you would like information about our off campus Parent to Child office, please email the DRE at [email protected].
Family Faith Formation Calendar
Events
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Here is the prayer to pray at Home if those cannot attend June 11th 9 and Noon Mass |
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Importance of Attending Sunday Mass
Do not miss an opportunity to encounter Christ!
Please remember that weekly Mass attendance is a basic expectation for all baptized Catholics. Mass is the greatest prayer of the Church and the very best way that we can communicate our deep gratitude for everything our Lord endured to make this Banquet possible for us. Our participation at weekly Mass is an appropriate response to the love that our Blessed Lord pours out on us lavishly at every moment that we exist. Attending Mass every Sunday liturgy (includes Saturday evening Masses after 4pm) is an act of obedience to the 3rd Commandment (divine law) and the 1st Precept of the Catholic Church. Your presence at Mass each week is non negotiable unless you are sick.
Family Faith Formation Resources
The Sacrament of Confession
Every baptized Catholic is given access to one of the most consoling Treasures of the Church: The Sacrament of Reconciliation. This Gift of the Church is often underappreciated and underutilized. We welcome all of our brothers and sisters in Christ to learn more about this Sacrament so that all of us can enjoy the peace and healing that only comes with the absolution of our sins.
Here are some videos to help you prepare:
Confession Playlist
8:24
8:44
7:11
4:29
7:55
Readings for Young Catholics
Click the button below to see a list of recommended books for Grades K-12.
Coloring Fun!
Click the button below to print and color!
Media
FORMED is paid for by Bishop Burbidge. Click on the image to sign up for FREE!
Contact the Family Faith Formation Team
Margi Loesel
Director of Religious Education
[email protected]
Marielisa Puigbó
Faith Formation Assistant
[email protected]
Lourdes Highfill
OCIC/OCIT Coordinator
(Spanish Speaking)
[email protected]
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