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Our Goal
The goal of our Department is to provide age appropriate faith groups for all children in our community. We continue to support our children and families while strengthening our efforts and commitment to the total faith development and education of the children at St. Mark Parish.
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A
quote by Sofia Cavalletti
"If
we want to help the child draw nearer to God, we should with patience
and courage . . . seek to go always closer to the vital nucleus
of things. This requires study and prayer. The child himself will
be our teacher if we know how to observe him." |
Strategies
We will strive to promote and increase attendance of students from pre-K through elementary school; increase awareness of, and meet the needs for children’s sacramental preparation involving the parents; provide weekly Children’s Liturgy of the Word year round; foster vocation awareness; provide service opportunities for the children to develop their awareness of social justice and peace; and promote participation in Vacation Bible School activities. |
Programs
Offered for Students in Grades 1 - 5, Briefly |
Faith Formation for Youth - Held on Wednesdays during the regular school year for children in grades one through five. Two time sessions are offered: 4:15 – 5:30 OR 6:30 – 7:45. Age appropriate instruction provided for all grade levels. Regular attendance expected. Parish membership, baptismal certificate, Expectations for Participation parent form and registration required.
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Sacrament Preparation Classes held on Wednesdays during the school year for second graders. Regular attendance expected. Parish membership, baptismal certificate and registration in Faith Formation for Youth and/or Generations of Faith required. (Sacrament preparation is a two year process. Children in first grade should be enrolled in FFY classes and/or GOF prior to entering their Sacrament year.)
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RCIAC - (Right of Christian Initiation Adapted for Children) - Similar to RCIA for adults, RCIAC is a 2 year program for children between the ages of 7 and 17 (third grade and above) who have not been baptized or who are baptized but have not received their First Holy Communion. RCIAC is open to parishioners who are in need of preparation for these Sacraments. Whether your family is just entering the Church, is returning after time away, you have decided, as a family, to delay the children's Sacrament preparation, or any other circumstance, all are welcome. Classes meet on Wednesday evenings (6:30 – 7:45 PM). The first year of preparation will focus on general basics of our Catholic faith. We will focus on the preparation for Sacraments during the second year. Parents are required to attend Sacrament Preparation Workshops and Parent meetings during the Sacrament Preparation year. Parish membership, baptismal certificate (if applicable) and registration in Faith Formation for Youth and/or Generations of Faith required. Regular attendance is expected. Any family with a child third grade and above who has not yet received the Sacraments should contact the Faith Formation Director Anne Doyle - (910) 398-6511 or ffy@stmarkcatholicchurch.com) about preparing their older child to be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. |
Generations
of Faith - Gatherings are held once a month for this whole community catechesis program, which provides intergenerational life-long faith formation for singles, couples and families. Parish membership, regular attendance and registration required for families with school age children. Registration required for all others. |
Opportunities for Preschoolers
Little
Lambs - A Sunday morning Bible based program offered for 3-5 year olds during the 9:30am Mass. All activities designed to teach your younger child about God and His abiding love for all of us. Parish membership strongly recommended. Registration required. |
Catechesis
of the Good Shepherd -This is a Montessori based Faith Formation program offered in two levels (during the school year only). Level I for 3-6 year olds, held on Fridays from 9-11am - OR - Level I (3-6) and Level II (6-9) held on Saturdays, 4:30-6:00pm or Sunday mornings during 11:30am Mass. Registration required. Program starts in October.
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Programs Offered for Students in Grades 1 - 5, Overview
Sacrament
Preparation Classes - In the Diocese of Raleigh, preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist occurs when the child is seven (7) years old, or in the second grade. The Diocese requires that a child has received at least one (1) year of religious formation in an approved program, prior to beginning the Sacrament Preparation year. Parents with children in first grade are therefore instructed to register their children in Faith Formation for Youth (FFY) classes and/or Generations of Faith (GOF), which is a whole community catechesis program open to families, couples and individuals. Families preparing for the Sacraments must be registered members of the parish. Those moving into the parish at the beginning or middle of the preparation year should provide documentation from their previous parish that their child has been enrolled in an approved religious formation program. Our Sacrament Preparation classes are held on Wednesdays (4:15 – 5:30pm OR 6:30 – 7:45pm ) during the regular school year, and meet in St. Mark Catholic School classrooms. Parents are required to attend a Parent Information Session, as well as scheduled Parent/Student Workshops during the preparation year. Regular attendance at classes and attendance at Workshops is expected of the students. Sacrament Preparation classes DO NOT take the place of Mass. It is imperative that parents make sure their children are attending weekend liturgies with them, and will be required to sign in outside the Faith Formation Office during the preparation year verifying Mass attendance.
Wednesday Afternoon Registration
Wednesday Evening Registration
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RCIAC - (Right of Christian Initiation Adapted for Children) - Similar to RCIA for adults, RCIAC is a program for children between the ages of 7 and 17 (third grade and above) who have not been baptized or for children 8 and above who are baptized but have not received their First Holy Communion. RCIAC is open to parishioners who are in need of preparation for these Sacraments and for reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Whether your family is just entering the Church, is returning after time away, you have decided, as a family, to delay the children's Sacrament preparation, or any other circumstance, all are welcome. Classes will meet on the same designated Wednesdays as Sacrament Preparation. RCIAC, like Sacrament Preparation, is a two year process, with focus on general knowledge about our Catholic faith during the first year and preparation for the Sacraments during year two. All students who are ready during year two will receive the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil - the Saturday night before Easter. Those who have already been baptized (Candidates) enter the Catholic Church by making a Profession of Faith and receiving the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. (The sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated before Easter.) Those who have not yet been baptized (the Elect) enter the Catholic Church by receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. (The sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated after Easter.) Parish membership, a baptismal certificate for those who have been baptized and registration in Faith Formation for Youth and/or Generations of Faith required. Regular attendance is expected. It is imperative that parents make sure their children are attending weekend liturgies with them and will be required to sign in outside the Faith Formation Office during their preparation year, verifying Mass attendance. Any family with a child third grade and above who has not yet received the sacraments should contact the Faith Formation Director (Anne Doyle - (910) 398-6511 or ffy@stmarkcatholicchurch.com about preparing their older child to be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
Click here for RCIAC registration.
Click here for calendar.
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Faith Formation for Youth and RCIAC - Our elementary program for students in grades one (1) through five (5) meets on Wednesdays (4:15 – 5:30pm OR 6:30 – 7:45pm). FFY classes for elementary grades and RCIAC (Rite of Christian Initiation Adapted for Children) are held during the regular school year and meet in St. Mark Catholic School classrooms. (Second graders enrolled in Sacrament Preparation and second year. RCIAC students are required to attend scheduled classes, while their parents are required to attend 1 Parent Meeting at the beginning of the year and 4 Parent Workshops throughout the year.) Students in all grade levels will receive age appropriate instruction. Regular attendance is expected. Parish Membership required. FFY / RCIAC classes DO NOT take the place of Mass. It is imperative that parents make sure their children are attending weekend liturgies with them.
Fees for Faith Formation for Youth classes are as follows: |
Grades 1, 3, 4 and 5 |
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$35.00 / per child |
Grade 2 and RCIAC |
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$45.00 / per child |
Families facing financial hardship should contact the Parish Administrator to inquire about scholarship opportunities.
Please call Caleb Strittmatter at: 910-398-6515
or email: administrator@stmarkcatholicchurch.com
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Generations
of Faith - Whole Community Catechesis and Life Long Learning
This program is approved for children in first and second grades in preparation for the sacraments, and also for elementary students in the higher grade levels. (Second graders preparing for Sacraments and enrolled in GOF are are required to attend scheduled classes and Parent Workshops.) It is our sincerest hope that families will choose to participate in both FFY and GOF. The curriculum for GOF is different from what children in FFY will be learning from their text books. Children and their parents share in the learning experience, discussing and studying a different topic each month. A monthly home kit of materials helps families engage in more meaningful participation in church liturgies and events and helps them reflect on and apply the significance and meaning of these events for their lives as Catholics. This program is open to all St. Mark parishioners - singles, couples and families. (It is also open to members of other parishes.) GOF offers an opportunity for diverse groups to continue learning about their faith together. Participants gather together in the Parish Hall to first share a meal. After an opening prayer, groups divide for the evening's lesson. Preschoolers and teens meet with catechists for group activities and discussions. Elementary students sometimes go into classrooms with catechists, or might stay in the Parish Hall with parents for a combined activity and learning session. Adults meet with group facilitators to discuss the evening's topic. All return to the Parish Hall for a closing. This year's theme will be on the History of the Papacy. Registration is required. (Parish membership and registration is required for families with children preparing for the Sacraments.)
Fees for Generations of Faith are as follows: |
Adults |
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$30.00 each / year |
Children |
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$20.00 each / year |
Families facing financial hardship should contact the Parish Administrator to inquire about scholarship opportunities.
Please call Caleb Strittmatter at: 910-398-6515
or email: administrator@stmarkcatholicchurch.com
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Little
Lambs -
Children ages three - five years attend this Bible based class in the education wing of the church while their parents are attending the 9:30am Sunday Mass. Each week they listen to Bible stories, sing and do other activities as a group; work on craft projects; sometimes watch videos - all designed to help them learn about God and His love for all of us. Children also share snack time and learn how to say brief prayers (i.e. blessing before eating, etc.) Depending on enrollment, there are usually two classes; three year olds and younger fours grouped in one class and older fours with five year olds in the other. These classes are held during the regular school year. An abbreviated session is held during the summer months. Enrollment is open to all families. Parish membership is strongly encouraged. Registration is required.
2011-2012 Fee for Little Lambs is $35.00/child
Click here to register for Little Lambs online
Click here for calendar.
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Catechesis
of the Good Shepherd - This program for children ages three to twelve, originated in 1954 in Rome, inspired by the Montessori principles of education. (Here at St. Mark, Good Shepherd is offered for children ages three -nine.) Parish membership is strongly encouraged. Registration is required. Classes begin in October.
Level I-Ages 3-6 Classes are held Fridays from 9 – 11 AM.
Levels I and II-Ages 3-6 and 6-9 Classes are held Saturdays, 4:30-6:00pm or Sundays during 11:30am Mass
2011-2012 Fee for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is $30.00/child
It is the joy of the children's encounter with God that has given birth to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd which, always and everywhere, is nourished by this same joy. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is not primarily academic in character. Rather, it seeks to be an experience of life and an education in faith, through the celebration of an encounter with the Father, in listening to Jesus the one Teacher, and in obedience to the Spirit. Please register for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd by stopping by the Faith Formation Office for forms and fee schedule, or by contacting – Anne Doyle, Director of Faith Formation @ ffy@stmarkcatholicchurch.com or (910) 398-6511.
Click here to register online for Friday Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Click here to register online for Saturday Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Click here to register online for Sunday Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Click here for calendar.
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