Faith Formation

Meets Weekly on Tuesday Mornings and Wednesday Evenings

Tuesdays, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Children in Grades 1-5 and their Parents

Tuesday, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (Weekly)

Grades 6 - 8

(Includes Confirmation preparation when applicable)

EDGE is a weekly gathering where middle school students encounter Christ through games, engaging talks, small-group discussions, prayer, and fellowship. Each week concludes with a practical challenge to help students live out their faith.

Students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation will also participate in a dedicated small group focused on prayer, discipleship, and sacramental preparation.

Click here to learn more about EDGE

The Order of Christian Initiation for Children, is the process of preparing older children for baptism and other sacraments.

If you are seeking baptism for your school-aged child or are new to getting started with faith formation with an older child, we are so happy you are here! Every starting point is the perfect starting point and God calls in many beautiful ways.

Begin by contacting the Director of Discipleship formation or filling out the Becoming Catholic for Kids registration form . After you reach out or register, we will schedule a church tour with your family and develop a path for starting faith formation!

Visit this page for more details about the Becoming Catholic for Kids process.

For families who want to homeschool for faith formation, we make a curriculum available that centers around Sacred Scripture, hands-on activities, and faith conversations. For families who are new to homeschooling, we offer an option to receive check in calls from a catechist who can assist with finding additional or different resources. Families are also welcome to select a different curriculum if they prefer a different approach.

Our Lady of Good Counsel is delighted to offer faith formation opportunities for children and adults with special needs. Our experienced team of catechists provides support in a variety of ways, including offering additional assistance in CONNECT and CGS sessions, providing one-on-one or small-group instruction as needed, and incorporating hands-on learning materials to help participants learn about and grow in their faith.

Children participating in our special needs faith formation program may also prepare for and receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion, and Confirmation.

Our Lady of Good Counsel also offers a monthly Sensory Friendly on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Dates are published in the church bulletin and on the church webpages.

For more information about special needs faith formation, sacramental preparation, or Sensory Friendly Masses, please contact the Discipleship Formation Office.

Meets most Sundays after the 5 pm Mass

Preparing to receive the sacraments is a journey of growing in faith. For most children, preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation takes place over approximately two years through participation in Catholic school or parish faith formation.
Children typically receive First Holy Communion in second grade, so families are encouraged to enroll in faith formation beginning in first grade, if possible.

Children may receive the Sacrament of Confirmation as early as sixth grade. Families who would like their children to be confirmed in sixth grade should begin preparation in fifth grade.

If your child is older than the typical age for a sacrament or is just beginning faith formation, don't worry - we are happy to meet your family where you are. We will work with you to create an individualized plan that helps your child grow in faith and prepare to receive the sacraments.

Eucharist (Holy Communion), typically in Grade 2.

FIRST COMMUNION PAGE

Confirmation, typically in Grades 5-8.

Confirmation Page

The Order of Christian Initiation for Children, is the process of preparing older children for baptism and other sacraments. If you are seeking baptism for your child, you may begin this process at any time! Please register using the Becoming Catholic Registration Form. Contact Amy Wyss, Director of Discipleship Formation at [email protected] with any questions.

CLICK HERE

Safe Environments

All volunteers (18 and older) who have contact with students must meet all requirement for safe environments. This includes a VIRTUS course, “Protecting God’s Children” and repeating the course online every three years. Volunteers must also complete an annual background check.

Teaching Safety - Empowering God’s Children Lessons

The job of ensuring children's safety is a challenging undertaking. The prevention of child sexual abuse requires more than adult awareness, education, and training about the nature and scope of the problem. We must also give our children instruction on boundaries and tools to say ‘no’ to unsafe behavior. The Teaching Safety program guide is a tool designed to assist parents and teachers in this important task. The Empower God’s Children curriculum consists of two lessons taught in the beginning of the year, which are vehicles through which parents, catechists, and youth ministers can give children and young people the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them. (Excerpts copied from Virtusonline.org)

Each year, the program provides a theme that introduces and builds on the basic concepts of the Teaching Safety Guide. The material in Empowering God’s Children lessons is developmentally appropriate for each age group and includes content and activities that reinforce the message. Alternatively, parents are given the choice to have their children “opt out” of the lessons by submitting a request to do so.

Inclement Weather

In cases of inclement weather, if there is an OLGC school closure, OLGC Faith Formation a.m. programs will be cancelled. Discipleship Formation, Athletics, and Facilities will connect to determine whether evening activities will be held, and a decision will be made based on weather forecast and road and parking lot conditions. This will be decided by 1pm and communicated out via Flocknote communications, and also posted on the parish website and social media pages.

Catechesis sessions are an opportunity for children to exercise respect and virtue. If a child is struggling to behave respectfully toward catechists, peers, and the facilities, we utilize the 1 – 2 – 3 approach to handle disciple issues with our participants. First, the catechist will try to redirect the student’s behavior in a positive direction. Second, the student will be given a verbal warning. Third, the student will be sent to the Director of Discipleship Formation and the parent will be notified. If further discipline is needed, a plan will be decided on between the Director and parents. Note that catechists are encouraged to discuss any situation with the Discipleship Formation staff and the parents. Everyone is expected to work together for what is best for all involved. We strive for positive behavioral reinforcement to “catch children doing good” and reinforce positive behaviors and choices.

ALL

• Arrive a few minutes early and take younger children to the restroom.

CONNECT

• Parents sign into parent formation.

• Make sure to be present in the parent formation room where children are brought by their catechists for dismissal.

CGS

• Parents sign-in and sign-out their children.

• Please be on time for pick up at the end of class. Catechists cannot release children without adult pick up.

• Advise your catechist if someone other than a parent is picking up your child.