Religious Formation
Our Religious Formation programs strive to nurture the faith of all members of our parish community, leading parishioners to worship and prayer as well as motivating each individual to Christian living and service. We try to help students grow in faith leading them to live the Gospel message as part of a believing faith community. We recognize that Religious Formation is a life-long process, where catechists and students alike journey on a constant road of faith formation. We strive to encourage our students to reflect on their significant experiences and respond to God's presence already in their lives.
Here at St. Gregory the Great Church we offer multiple opportunites to aid in the journey of discovering who we are and whose we are.
Our parish relies on trained volunteers to serve as catechists so that our class sizes may be kept at a reasonable size, usually about 10 to 12 students. We try to ensure that full, authentic Catholic teaching is evident at all levels of catechises. To accomplish this we choose texts and materials that are in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as set forth by the Committee of Catechesis of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Our texts are appropriate to the age levels and developmental stages of the students.
At each level the students are invited to grow in their study of our Catholic faith through prayer, service to the community, and active participation in the liturgical life of our parish. The program engages the family in the catechetical efforts by involving them in our sacramental preparation sessions, as well as in special liturgies.
Catechists are needed in order for our Religious Formation Program to be successfully in spreading the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to the youth of our parish. Being a Catechist is another way of sharing in being a faithful steward in God's kingdom by teaching our young the fundamental beliefs of the Christian Faith.
Sacramental Programs
Grade 2 Religious Formation students meet weekly from 3:45PM to 5:00PM in the Religious Formation Center. During this academic year, the students prepare to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Parents are encouraged to understand and share in the preparation their children are receiving by attending one meeting the in the fall and one in the winter. In addition, both students and parents are required to attend "retreats" on weekends prior to the celebration of both these sacraments.
Confirmation Program
Religious Formation Students in Grades 9-10 prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. This program encompasses faith formation classes for all public, private, and Catholic high school students in preparation for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation towards the end of the second year.
The Diocese of Providence requirements that students participating in this program must be engaged in the following:
- Regular meetings of formal class time. Our Confirmation Classes usually meet twice a month on Wednesday night from 7:00PM to 8:30PM in the Religious Formation Center
- Attend both day and evening of recollection and retreats, some with sponsors present
- Provide community service, also known as "Stewardship in Action", reflection service activities in the church and secular community
All three aspects of the program are aimed at nurturing the faith of our young disciples and invites them into a deeper initiation into the life of the church as witnessed in our faith community. Students must engage in all three components of the program in order to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Liturgy of the Word for Children
From September through May at the Saturday Vigil Mass and the 11AM Mass on Sunday, before we begin our Scripture reading and homily, the children in Grades 1 through 4 are called to assemble and then are dismissed to the Parish Formation Center, with a volunteer adult leader, for readings and discussions they can readily understand. The children return to the community liturgy after the homily.
Would you enjoy the experience of guiding children in their understanding of the Mass readings? If so, please contact Eileen Kelly at our Religious Formation Office.
Glory Days: Vacation Bible School
Glory Days is held one week in early summer from 9:30AM to 12:30PM. This is a fun learning experience for children 3 through those completing Grade 4. Both adult program directors and youth volunteers use their talents to create a memorable atmosphere, base on an integrated theme. Through the use of varied media and materials, everyone explores the message of God's love for us, seen through biblical characters and saints and, especially, through the life of Jesus.
Non-sacramental Religious Formation Sessions
Preschool Religious Formation Session for children 3 to 4 years old
Classes are held on Sundays during the 11AM Mass, October through April in the Religious Formation Center
Kindergarden Religious Formation Session
Classes are held on Sundays during the 11AM Mass, October through April in the Church Hall
Grades 1 through 6
Elementary classes are held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoons from 3:45PM-5:00PM, September through April in the Religious Formation Center. Class day and assignments normally depends on the area in which your family resides, but circumstances can warrant a change of day. Students must attend the Grade 1 program before entering into the Sacramental preparations in Grade 2.
Grades 7 through 8
Middle School classes normally meet twice monthy on Tuesday evenings from 7:00PM-8:30PM, September through April in the Religious Formation Center. The primary objective of this program is to serve as a pre-Confirmation program, providing the students with a solid foundation in the Roman Catholic faith through prayer, study and service. A thematic approach is utilized within these grade levels. The texts that are utilized promote dynamic and age-appropriate theology and life applications condusive to our young adolescents. The students are encouraged to rely on their faith as they navigate the adolescent growth changes along with the challenges of life that face these students daily.
Middle School Program
The objective of our Middle School Religious Formation program is to serve as a pre-Confirmation program, providing the students with a sold foundation in our Roman Catholic faith through prayer, study and service.
Classes normally meet twice monthly on Tuesday evenings from 7PM-8:30PM.
A thematic approach is used in these grade levels. The texts promote dynamic, age-appropriate faith learning and life applications for our young adolescents. We endeavor to encourage our youth to rely on their faith as they navigate the changes and challenges of life today.
