Faith Formation
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Faith Formation: A Lifelong Journey of Growing Deeper in Christ
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Enrollment for the 2023/2024 Year - Online Enrollment Opens 4/1/2023
Planning to enroll your child in the Summer Program? Don't forget to also - at the same time - enroll your other children for the Fall Program.
Summer Program: For rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders only. One-week session in July for each grade level. Participants expected to attend all five days. These families have the option for the student to attend either the Fall Program or the Summer Program. See "Summer Faith Program" tab on this page for specific dates.
Fall Program: October through April, for students in grades 1 through Confirmation Preparation (grade 10).- Grade 2 is the traditional year for students to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
- Grades 9 and 10 are the traditional years for Confirmation Preparation. Students attend both Year 1 Preparation and Year 2 Preparaion, with the Sacrament received in the Spring of Year 2.
- Grades 6, 7, or 8 families have the option of attending either the Summer Program (for students entering grade 6, 7, or 8 in the upcoming Fall School Year) OR the upcoming Fall Program.
- Flat Rate Family Fee = $250 due upon form submission
- Questions? Contact Paula Colpitts, Director, 781-944-0490 X223 | PColpitts@ChristTheKingReading.org
Share Your talents as a Volunteer Catechist!
Click to Volunteer Today!
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Summer Faith Program - for rising 6th, 7th, 8th Graders
Rising 8th graders - July 10 - July 14, 2023
Rising 7th graders - July 17 - July 21, 2023
Rising 6th graders - July 24 - July 28, 2023The Summer Faith Program offers busy parents the choice of a Summer Faith Program, or the traditional Fall Faith Program for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Families that are enrolling children for the Summer Program should also enroll - at the same time - other children in the family who will be attending the Fall Program and/or Confirmation Preparation.
See the "Enrollment" tab on this page for enrolling your children.
The Summer program is a week-long 5-day program with the expectation that the student attends all 5 days, Monday through Friday. Children who attend the Summer Faith Program do not attend the upcoming Fall Program.
Volunteer Catechists help make this a successful program. Click here to Volunteer Today!
Summer Program Snack/Water Donations: Sign Up Genius for Donations
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FALL 2023 PROGRAM (Oct 2023 - Apr 2024)
Sessions:
Grade 1 and 2 Sunday 10:00 - 11:00 AM Grade 1 and 2 Wednesday 3:45 - 4:45 PM Grade 3 Tuesday 3:45 - 4:45 PM Grade 4 Tuesday 5:00 - 6:00 PM Grade 5 Monday 3:45 - 4:45 PM Grade 6, 7, and 8 Monday 5:00 - 6:00 PM Confirmation 1st Yr Prep - Sunday 4:30 - 5:30 PM Confirmation 2nd Yr Prep - Sunday 6:30 - 7:30 PM Specific class dates in each Session TBA
Volunteer Catechists help make this a successful program. Click here to Volunteer Today!
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Confirmation I & II Preparation Page - please review the Program for High School teens
RCIA - Learn more...If you are an adult seeking to be Confirmed in the Catholic Church, you will want to explore the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA):
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is a two-year journey, beginning in grade 9 (typically) and continuing in grade 10. Grade 9 students who are attending a Catholic School are encouraged - by not required - to attend the first year of preparation; these students are required to attend the 2nd year of preparation.
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Class dates for the 2023/2024 TBA
First Holy Communion
- Saturday, April 15, 2023, 10:00 AM at St. Athanasius; Rehearsal is Wednesday, April 12, 4:30 PM at St. Athanasius Church
- Saturday, April 22, 2023, 10:00 AM at St. Agnes; Rehearsal is Wednesday, April 19, 4:30 PM at St. Agnes Church
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Each family will be assigned a family Pew, which can accommodate 10 adults (depending on size)
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Children receiving their First Holy Communion will be seated with their families for the celebration.
First Holy Communion Attire
Appropriate Church attire is expected, showing reverance to the Sacrament. Girls have worn white and also other Church-appropriate attire: both are acceptable. Boys have worn white, and other Church-appropriate attire (Khakis/blue blazer, tie, etc.)
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Class Dates for 2023/2024: TBA
First Reconciliation
The First Reconciliation Service
Please plan on your family arriving with your child 15 minutes before your celebration so your children can get situated and feel at ease. Children will sit in reserved seating and families will sit behind the children in the non-reserved pews. This will allow us to readily escort children to a priest for their confession.
Dress is "Sunday Best" as this is a celebration of a sacrament.
The Reconcilation Service consists of an Opening Song, Opening Prayer, Examination of Conscience, a Reading, Short Reflection and Individual Confessions. Individual Confessions are out in the open. Confessors are placed in corners of the Sanctuary (area around the Altar) and Church so priests can hear children's confessions while maintaining some privacy.
The length of the Service will depend on when your child makes their confession. Children are escorted one at a time to one of the available confessors. As a guestimate, the last child makes their confession by the end of an hour or so.
I will review expectations of First Reconciliation with your children in our next few classes we have before our celebration. It will be helpful if you review their lessons with them as well, as we get closer to our special day. If you have questions, please reach out with an email.
First Reconciliation FAQs
Q: When should we arrive?
A: Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your celebration so your children can get situated and feel at ease.
Q: How can I help my child prepare for their First Reconciliation?
A: Please review Reconciliation materials handed out at class. If you have questions, please reach out with an email to PColpitts@ReadingCatholic.org
Q: What should my child wear?
A: How we dress can be a reflection of the value we hold for any occasion: Sunday best, in honor of our loving and forgiving God.
Q: Do families attend?
A: We invite families to join in for celebrating this Sacrament. Other family members may also choose to have their confession heard at the end of the Service, once all the children are done.
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Please review the Protecting God's Children page for the training schedule and measures we have in place. It is our our role and responsibility to keep all of God's children safe.
Church volunteers must attend VIRTUS training called "Protecting God's Children" which incorporates proven best practice standards for the prevention of child sexual abuse by clergy, staff, volunteers, and others who interact with children within the church environment.The program is designed particularly for those adults who have custodial care of children as part of their duties. Training in the signs and symptoms that indicate a child is being abused in some way, and how to talk with children about these issues will also be included, as will training in the responsibilities of mandated reporting and the archdiocese's policies and procedures for preventing child abuse. An on-line component called "VIRTUS On-Line" will provide continued training through monthly bulletins and annual recertification. For more information about VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" , see http://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/protecting_children.cfm
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Homeschool - Parent Meeting - Grade 1 and Grades 3-8
Grade 2 Sacraments - Parent Meeting
Meetings to review information specific for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
- 2023/2024 Meetings TBA
Grade 1 through Grade 8
- 2023/2024 Meetings TBA
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Please review our Catechist page
Many people catechise in the Church, teaching the principles of the faith to those preparing for a sacrament. Parents and godparents, for example, have a particular role to play in the education of children in the faith after baptism, and pastors have a particular responsibility to see to the “catechetical formation” of the people in their parishes. (Source: PillarCatholic.com)
A dedicated team of volunteers consisting of parents, high school teens, and adults give their time and share their talents to teach students enrolled in our Faith Formation Program. Please review our Catechist page for information on volunteering and teaching.
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Click Image for specific class dates
GRADES 1 TO 8:
Sunday classes meet at 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Monday, grade 5 meets 3:45PM - 4:45PM
Monday, grade 6, 7, 8 meets 5:00PM - 6:00PM
Tuesday, grade 3 meets 3:45PM - 4:45PM
Tuesday, grade 4 meets 5:00PM - 6:00PM
Wednesday classes meet 3:45PM - 4:45PM
Confirmation I meets Sundays, 4:30PM - 5:30PM
Confirmation II meets Sundays, 6:30PM - 7:30PM
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