Welcome to our Child & Family Formation page for 1st - 5th graders and their families!
Our parish has selected the Blest Are We: Faith in Action series for our families with children in 1st - 5th grade. It includes two key family components: “Family Faith in Action” and “Family Life Connection."
Please scroll down this page for:
Questions? Contact the Faith Formation Office at 515-850-1883 or email [email protected]
Blest Are We: Faith in Action is a thematic program that invites all learners to explore and grow in Faith, Word, and Action. The series is offered by RCL Benzinger, one of several Catholic publishers approved and recommended by the Office of Evangelization & Catechesis in the Diocese of Des Moines. Each grade level theme has five units with four chapters correlated to the four pillars of the Catechism:
Grade 1: Introduction to the Holy Trinity. Units include Our Church Community, Our Loving God, God's Son Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Jesus Church of Followers. Participating in Grade 1 sessions is a pre-requisite to Grade 2 sessions and preparing to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
Grade 2: The Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Community. Units include We Gather as Believers, We Ask God's Forgiveness (preparing for Penance & Reconciliation), We Celebrate the Word of God, We Celebrate the Gift of Eucharist (preparing for First Holy Communion), We Go in Peace.
Grade 3: Introduction to the Catholic Church, its Structure, and Core Beliefs. Units include The Church is One, The Church is Holy, The Church is Catholic, The Church is Apostolic, The Church Has a Mission to the World.
Grade 4: Moral Teachings of the Catholic Church. Units include The Goodness of God, Jesus is the Son of God, The Holy Spirit, The Church, Social Justice. Themes focus on the moral teaching of the Catholic Church.
Grade 5: The Sacraments. Units include God's Gift of Life, Baptism & Confirmation, The Eucharist, Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders & Matrimony.
Family Faith Evenings: During 2022 -2023 school year, we hope to offer two intergenerational sessions to complement Blest Are We: Faith in Action, and to support and offer resources to parents as primary faith formators of their children.
Families who have chosen the home study option for their child(ren) in 1st-5th grade will receive:
Online Access
Our Blest Are We: Faith in Action curriculum for 1st-5th graders includes online resources available to families. Whether your child is attending sessions in person or you have chosen our home study option, please explore the Flourish website! In addition to a digital copy of your child’s workbook, the site also has a wide variety of free Catholic faith resources, such as discovery and prayer activities for seasons like Advent and Lent, saints stories, virtual tours of cathedrals around the world and much more!
To access your child’s online account
Grades 1 - 5 meet weekly during the faith formation year, with breaks for holidays that align with local school districts and Catholic Church holy days. Additional parent information meetings and parent/child sacramental preparation sessions may also be part of the formation year. Please see the Faith Formation Handbook 2022-23 for specific dates, and watch for emails throughout the year from the Faith Formation Office. Session times are:
Mondays
4:30-5:30pm
5:45-6:45pm
Wednesdays
4:30-5:30pm
5:45-6:45pm
Date | Time | Location | Session, Event, or Activity |
2022 Dates | |||
Mon, Aug 15 | 6:00pm | Church | Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary (Holy Day of Obligation) |
Aug 25 and 31 | 6:00pm | Mary & Joseph Room | Training for 1st-5th Blest Are We catechists |
Mon, Sept 12 Wed, Sept 14 |
4:30 and 5:45pm | Church, various rooms | First week opening sessions (with parents) |
Sun, Sept 25 | 12:00pm | Church | Parent/child sacramental preparation (2nd grade) meeting |
Tues, Sept 27 | 6:00pm | Church | Parent/child sacramental preparation (2nd grade) meeting |
Mon, Oct 24 Wed, Oct 26 |
6:00-7:30pm | Parish Hall | "Come to the Table" Family Faith Formation Evening (all ages with parents) |
Tues, Nov 1 | 6:00pm | Church | All Saints Day (Holy Day of Obligation) |
Nov 21-25 | NO SESSIONS | Thanksgiving Break | |
Thurs, Dec 1 | 6:00pm | Church | Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation) |
Dec 19-Jan 6 | NO SESSIONS | Christmas Break | |
2023 Dates | |||
Wed, Jan 4 | 6:00pm | Mary & Joseph Room | Planning for 1st-5th Blest Are We catechists |
Mon, Jan 9 Wed, Jan 11 |
4:30 and 5:45pm | Various rooms | Sessions resume |
Mon, Jan 23 Wed, Jan 25 |
6:00-7:30pm | Parish Hall | Family Faith Formation Evening (all ages with parents) |
Sun, Feb 12 | 12:30pm | Church | First Reconciliation |
Sun, Feb 19 | 12:30pm | Church | First Reconciliation |
Wed, Feb 22 | 4:30pm, 6:00pm | Church | Ash Wednesday (attend with your family) |
Thurs, Mar 2 | 5 - 8:45 pm | Church & Hall | Surge of the Heart - Lenten Event |
Mar 13-17 | NO SESSIONS | Spring Break | |
April 2-8 | Holy Week | Church | Attend with your family these Holy Week liturgies: Palm Sunday Holy Thursday 6pm Good Friday 6pm Easter Vigil 8pm Easter Sunday |
Mon, Apr 17 Wed, Apr 19 |
4:30 and 5:45pm | Various rooms | Last week sessions |
Wed, Apr 26 | 6:00-7:30pm | Parish Hall | Appreciation Evening for catechists, core team members, office assistants |
Sat, Apr 29 Sun, Apr 30 |
Sat 5:30pm, Sun 8:30am or Sun 10:30am |
Church | First Holy Communion |
Sun, May 28 | Solemnity of Pentecost | Church | Mass times |
Summer | TBD | Faith Formation Center | Vacation Bible School |
As a catechist --if a log-in code is needed, please contact [email protected]
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