Faith Formation for Children and Adults
Register for faith formation and sacraments (2021-2022)
Please review our COVID-19 precautions before you register your student for Faith Formation and sacramental preparation: Faith Formation COVID-19 Delta Variant prevention for families (PDF file)
The registration form (for students not attending COS) is here: st-matts.org/ff
The above registration form is only for students who do not attend Community of Saints Regional Catholic School. A separate Sacraments registration form is available from Community of Saints Regional Catholic School.
Program information: Faith Formation and Sacraments
Opportunities for worship and religious education are an integral part of parish life at St. Matthew’s.
Classes for Faith Formation/Religious Education are available to public school students in grades 1-10. They are held 2-3 Wednesday evenings a month from late September through early May.
First Communion: Families with children in 2nd grade and up may register their child to be prepared for this sacrament. First Communion preparation occurs during the Wednesday evening Faith Formation classes; class is from 6:30 to 7:40. First Holy Communion is usually celebrated at select weekend Masses following Easter Sunday and before Pentecost.
First Penance/Reconciliation: Before children receive First Holy Communion, they receive First Reconciliation. Families with children in 2nd grade and up may register to prepare for this sacrament. Preparation occurs during the Wednesday evening Faith Formation classes. Students will receive this sacrament in a ceremony that includes the family and takes place during Lent.
Confirmation: Students in grades 8, 9, 10, and 11 who would like to be confirmed must be registered for Faith Formation. Weekly Wednesday evening Faith Formation classes are held from 6:45 to 7:45 PM in the Parish Center from late September through April. They then participate in the Confirmation ceremony, usually held at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. To register for Confirmation, complete a Faith Formation registration form and indicate that your student would like to be confirmed. Parents of Community of Saints students can complete registration at the COS school office.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults & Children (RCIA and RCIC): This is the process of formation and initiation for children 7 years of age and older who have not been baptized, and for adults who have not been baptized who wish to enter full communion with the Catholic Church. Those interested in learning more and seeking a class schedule are invited to contact the pastor or parish administrator.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Children’s Liturgy of the Word is a school-year faith formation program for children ages 3-6 held during the 10:15 AM Sunday Mass at St Matthew. We use the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies Seeds curriculum (www.pflaumweeklies.com/seeds/). For the 2021-2022 school year, parents of children ages 3 to 6 may ask for a learning packet when they arrive at the Sunday Mass. We will not do in-person teaching for these young children this year due to the pandemic.
