Enrollment in our Faith Formation Program is offered to all registered parishioners who participate in the sacramental life of the church and, most especially, Sunday Eucharist. The Program is open to all Parish children in Kindergarten through Grade 8 who are not in Catholic School.

Our goal is to work together to form a partnership dedicated to the faith formation of your child and your family. Faith Formation happens first within the family. The Rite of Baptism calls parents to commit to “raising children in the practice of the faith”, which affirms that parents are the first and most important teachers of the Catholic faith. Through this commitment, our children and families will continue to develop a greater love for God and Church and our Faith Formation programs will continue to support what goes on in the home. Besides attending Faith Formation sessions, it is essential that your family participate in Mass weekly. All these experiences give the children/family the opportunity to build their faith, grounded in God’s love, family experiences, and the witness of others and is brought to fruition as we celebrate as a parish family of faith during the Eucharist.  

EPI PEN POLICY

SUNDAY MORNING

For: Grades 1-8

From: 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

FAMILY CATECHESIS

For: Grades 6, 7 and 8 only; for families who wish to teach their children at home. 

** Large group sessions for adults and children are held several times throughout the school year.

TUESDAY ANGELS

For: Children with special needs

Tuesday afternoon from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

HOME STUDY

For: Grades 1-5 only; for families who wish to teach their children at home.   

**Large group sessions for adults and children are held several times throughout the school year.

SUMMER FAITH

Summer Faith will not be offered this year due to the pandemic. It is our intention to offer the program in the Summer of 2021!  

For: Grades 1 through 5 (entering in September)  

From: 7 days in late June through mid July (7 days total), meet from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  

Students enrolling in the Summer Faith Program must have attended the St. Anne Faith Formation program one year prior to enrolling in the summer program. If they were not enrolled in St. Anne Faith Formation Program for one year prior, they can enroll in the Sunday Faith or Home Study program. The only exception is for grade 1.

**Summer students and their families also attend return sessions during the school year. An adult volunteer (per family) is required to volunteer one day during the summer program.

When should my child begin attending faith formation sessions?

Children should begin attending sessions at the 1st grade level and continue through 8th grade.

At what age or grade does a child receive First Eucharist?

Children receive First Eucharist during their 2nd year in faith formation. If a child begins faith formation in 3rd grade, he/she would receive Eucharist in 4th grade. If a child begins faith formation in 1st grade, he/she would receive Eucharist in 2nd grade. Before a child receives Eucharist, he/she receives the sacrament of Reconciliation.

How does my child prepare for these sacraments?

Preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist is home-based and is separate from faith formation sessions. Adults and children are required to attend certain sessions for each sacrament.

When do the children receive these sacraments?

First Reconciliation is celebrated in the winter, and First Eucharist is celebrated sometime in the Easter season.

When does a child receive the sacrament of Confirmation?

In the Newark Archdiocese, there is no set age for a child to be confirmed. At Saint Anne’s, Confirmation preparation begins in the fall of freshman year, and reception of Confirmation occurs in the fall of sophomore year. The Confirmation program involves 25 hours of community service, a retreat experience, and session time. Also, a child must have completed either 8 years of parish faith formation or 8 years of a Catholic grammar school.

What faith formation programs are available?

Saint Anne Parish offers several options:

• Sunday morning: 10:45am – 12pm, grades 1 - 8.

• Family Catechesis: (grades 7 & 8 only) For families who wish to teach their children at home. Large group sessions for adults & children are held several times a year.

• Special needs class: Tuesdays, 4 - 5 pm

• Home study: (grades 1-6 only) For families who wish to teach their children at home. Large group sessions for adults & children are held several times a year.

• Summer: 7 days in late June - mid July. Grades 1 - 6 meet from 8:30am – 1pm & attend daily mass. Summer students & their families also attend two return sessions on Sundays during the school year. An adult volunteer is required during the summer.

When do fall faith formation sessions begin and end?

Fall sessions begin in mid September. 26 sessions are scheduled through late April. Each family is given a schedule at the beginning of the school year.

What if my child has special needs?

There is a section for special needs on both emergency cards and registration forms. Special needs include food allergies, learning problems, or medical conditions. Please share any pertinent information with us; it will help us to better teach your child. All information will remain confidential and will only be shared with your child’s catechist.

What is “Protecting God’s Children”, and do I need to take the workshop?

The Protecting God’s Children program for adults is a three-hour live awareness session instructing adults of the Church that to protect children you must have continuous awareness and vigilance. This awareness session makes trainees understand the signs of child sexual abuse, the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse, and five empowerment steps one can use to prevent child sexual abuse. 

In addition to participating in the workshop, all church employees—both lay and religious—and volunteers who work with children must undergo a criminal background check. In other words, all catechists, hall monitors, principals, and (adult) classroom aides must participate in this program.

RECONCILIATION & EUCHARIST

Here at Saint Anne’s, the preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist is done in the home. ALL parish children enrolled in either St. Anne School or St. Anne Faith Formation are eligible to prepare for these sacraments in their 2nd year of instruction. If a child begins faith formation in 3rd grade, he/she would receive Reconciliation and Eucharist in 4th grade. If a child begins faith formation in 1st grade, he/she would receive Reconciliation and Eucharist in 2nd grade. Parents/guardians and children are required to attend certain sessions for each sacrament.

The preparation for the sacrament of Reconciliation begins in the fall with a meeting for parents/guardians. A family session is held several weeks later; First Reconciliation is usually celebrated in late January.

The preparation for the sacrament of Eucharist also begins with a parent/guardian meeting. A family session is held several weeks later. The children attend a Eucharist Retreat in the spring. First Eucharist is celebrated during the Easter season.

CONFIRMATION

At Saint Anne Parish, we have a 1-year Confirmation preparation program that begins the fall of 9th grade; reception of Confirmation occurs in the fall of 10th grade. All candidates must have completed either 8 years of faith formation or 8 years of a Catholic grammar school in order to enter the Confirmation program.

The Confirmation program involves 25 hours of community service (including a Mercy Project), a retreat experience, an interview, and several Sunday night sessions during the school year.

Confirmation Documents:

• Mercy Project
  
• Mercy Project Reflection
  
• Community Service Guidelines
  
• Community Service Signature Sheet
  

• 9th Grade Confirmation Session Dates 2019/2020

For more information on sacramental preparation, please contact the Office of Faith Formation at 201-791-1616, x218 or x224; stannefaith@gmail.com or clairel@stannefairlawnnj.org.