St. Patrick Catholic Church

Children & Family Faith Formation (CFF – FFF)

 Director, Ms. Jean Folken (office located in St Patrick School bldg)

816-453-0971  x13

 CFF – FFF welcomes parish families with children in grade levels Kindergarten through 8^th Grade. 

Faith sessions are held in the parish school from 9:40 – 10:50 am on scheduled Sunday mornings.

 To enroll your child/children in the Sunday faith formation, you must be registered as a member of St. Patrick parish.  Please call the parish office 453-5510 to register and become a member.

 CFF-FFF Registration Fees (applies to all families)

            -$30 registration fee per child

 *Families who have registered in the parish and have signed a tithing pledge card are not obligated to pay additional tuition.

 *Families who have registered in the parish and who choose not to participate in tithing are obligated to pay additional tuition:

Enrollment Tuition:  $120 per child each year

(tuition can be set up in payments/please make this request to the Director at registration)

 (No Family is ever turned away due to circumstances in which they are unable to pay tuition).

 CFF-FFF MISSION STATEMENT

St. Patrick’s Children & Family Faith Formation recognizes and reinforces the understanding that parents are the primary faith models for their children.  We seek to complement their guidance and example as an important and essential element on the journey of faith of all parish children.

 In the context of the journey of faith, the central aim of the program is to deepen the child’s understanding and awareness of God and to impart the truths of our faith. 

Thus, CFF –FFF has both formational and informational qualities.

 It is formational in seeking to offer the child a living example of the faith and spirituality reflective of their baptismal call to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Through their growing awareness of the presence of God in our world and in their personal life story, the child is encouraged to develop a personal relationship with God through prayer and worship. 

As this individual faith awareness grows however, it must develop in the context of our communal story, the story of the Catholic Church.

Thus, our faith is presented progressively through a study of the sacraments, the Bible and our basic Catholic teachings.

 Children’s Faith Formation regards attendance at weekend Mass as an essential and foundational element of Family faith formation.  While faith can be fostered at home and developed in faith sessions, without the nourishment of weekly liturgy at the Table of the Word and the Table of Holy Eucharist with our parish family, it will not grow and mature in the way envisioned by our baptismal promises.

 Children’s Faith Formation is structured in a manner that reflects each child’s capacity to understand and incorporate its’ teaching in the life.

 Our intent is to always lead each child to Christ.

 We, also, recognize that with all that is being done for children in the area of faith formation in our parish, there is the spiritual journey of the adult parent.

Parish ministries at St. Patrick work together to nurture the faith needs of adults as well as what is being done for the children.

 For those families who have been active in CFF-FFF at St. Patrick, a continued effort remains to ‘bridge’ religious faith formation from a child centered catechetical faith process to a family centered catechetical faith process – catechesis of child and parent.

Parents are ever more fully and inclusively involved in the faith formation of their children as they partner with catechists, and compliment ongoing faith formation in the home.

 WHAT IS YOUR FAMILY COMMITMENT?

As a church, we are here to support and encourage the development of your children’s, and ultimately, your family’s growth in the Catholic faith.

This cannot be done unless you, as parent(s), make a commitment to the faith.

 Ensure that your family is celebrating Mass each week and attending faith formation sessions.

 SUNDAY EUCHARIST – celebrating the Eucharist each week with your parish family is central to the life of the Catholic family.  Experiencing and celebrating liturgy is one of the major components in a person’s faith formation.

Your children learn the Eucharist in faith sessions, and your children experience Eucharist as a family each weekend celebrating Mass.

Children who do not participate in these two very important aspects of our faith each week are truly ‘missing out’ on the major part of our Catholic heritage.

Jesus gave us His Body and Blood at the Last Supper.  He calls you to bring your children to the Table of the Lord and celebrate as a parish community every weekend.  Remember your promise to Christ and to His Church when you asked your child to be baptized!

Surely this is where we draw our strength!

Allow Christ to manifest Himself in your family!

 FAMILY FAITH FORMATION – Included in the CFF schedule are special Sundays for the whole family to experience faith formation together!  On those Sundays parents accompany their child/children to CFF and share their faith.  This is , also, a wonderful way to celebrate ‘community’ and get to know the other families.  Share your talents and giftedness, have faith-filled fun learning as a family and nurturing the relationship your family has with Christ.

 With Christ we welcome your family on Sunday mornings at St. Patrick!