Faith Formation

Family Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Confirmation, First Reconciliation, & First Eucharist

Family Faith Formation: Families with children K-7th grade

Family Faith Formation is a program that encourages and strengthens the partnership between the Parish community and parents (who are the primary educators of the faith in their family). The whole family gatherings are created with the goals of educating, encouraging conversation between family members, and deepening a connection between families and the Church community.

“In our continuing catechesis on the family, we reflect today on the connection between the family and the Christian community. The Church is the home of those who believe in Jesus Christ as the source of the unity of the entire human family. Christ chose to enter our history, to become part of a human family, and to form a community which welcomes all who wish to hear his good news of the Father’s love.” – Pope Francis

Why Family Faith Formation?

According to various studies, the Church is losing a large number of members annually. About 80% are leaving the faith before they reach college-age, but the average age for disaffiliation is 13.

Catholics often blame many of the Church's problems on poor catechesis. Although the quality level of various catechetical programs certainly varies from parish to parish, the reality is: Regular Mass attendance plus the typical weekly catechism class equals barely 1% of a person's life. That means that even during the school/faith formation season, 99% of a child's experience is outside of parish catechesis. One percent of a child’s life can’t overcome the other ninety-nine. The goal of Family Faith is to assist families in fully integrating faith practices into their lives so we can be as close to acknowledging, recognizing, and praising God 100% of our lives.

The Church’s expectation that parents act as catechists to their children might sound frightening or radical, but it is the reality that parents teach their children how to walk, talk, think, and behave just by being parents. Most lessons are "caught" more than they are "taught" because children learn from their parents simply by being around them. The same is true of living the faith! If parents skip Mass anytime it is inconvenient, that is the lesson their children will learn about the importance of Mass. If parents pray before meals, that is the life of prayer the children will learn. If parents spend time in Scripture and say a daily rosary, that is what the faith will look like to their children.

The focus is on giving parents tools to help them succeed at being the religious educators that they already are. For most families, high-level theological training is not as important as faithful practices, and Family Faith Formation can help with both. No single parish program or activity can meet the particular needs of all families. The goal of our Family Faith Formation is to offer as many opportunities for education and spiritual growth as possible.

St. Martin de Porres Family Faith Formation Program 2023-2024: K-7th grade

Families are expected to attend one of the Family Faith gatherings every month October-May (offered at each site), attend weekend Mass regularly, and choose three other educational or spiritual experiences each month. Every family will receive the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies to assist in reflecting on the weekly readings and provide at-home catechesis. Families can choose any combination of in-person or at home experiences from a monthly playlist for the three activities outside of the monthly gathering. It’s kind of like a choose your own adventure Faith Formation!

Want to practice praying together as a family but you need help? Come to a Family Rosary night!
Are you an at-home movie loving family? Watch the suggested movie on Formed
Love learning through art? Come to a craft night about a Saint
Your child learns best through reading and studying? Do the weekly Pflaum packets!

Our monthly classes and activities will start in October 2023.
Click here for a downloadable schedule of all the monthly classes

After our inaugural year last year, what were your favorite activities that you would like to do again? Do you have an idea for a new prayer or learning experience for Families or adults?

Fun craft to learn about a Saint?
Family Prayer activity to share?
An informative way to learn more about the Eucharist?

Fill out this Google form to submit your idea! You can submit it with your name or anonymously

Click here to submit an idea

See Diocesan Homelinks Program, Strong Catholic Families, Children's Page.

Teen Faith Formation: Youth Ministry 8th-12th grade

Teens are encouraged to participate in our Youth Ministry which includes a variety of activities to help form them as mature disciples in the faith. Programs are designed to be mindful of the particular needs and gifts of adolesccents and cover the many components of formation:

Advocacy
Catechesis
Community Life
Evangelization
Justice and Service
Leadership Development
Pastoral Care
Prayer and Worship

There are local, diocesan and national opportunities and some activities are targeted for Senior High and others are open to Middle School.

Sacramental Preparation

First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, & Confirmation: Please click here to go to the Sacrament webpage .

For more information on preparing to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion contact our Faith Formation Coordinator, Jen Hughes. For Confirmation, contact Youth Ministry, Sean & Kate Esposito. Preparation sessions are in addition to participation in parish Faith Formation programs and/or enrollment in a Diocesan Catholic school.

For teens or adults receiving these sacraments for the first time see info about RCIA and contact Fr. John Hayes.

For Baptismal preparation contact Deacon Matt Dudek.

For Marriage preparation contact Fr John Hayes.

Click here for Diocesan Guidelines for Sacramental Preparation.

Lifelong Faith Formation

Our parishes offer a variety of ongoing learning opportunities for adults. We have Bible Studies, book clubs, prayer groups and Lenten retreats. See the calendar for schedules and the Ministries page for more information.

Online resources

Busted Halo.com - Young adult friendly blogs, podcasts and videos
ChurchPOP.com - Make holy all the things!
Catholic.com - Catholic answers Formed.org - Dive into the beauty of the Faith Catholicicing.com - Religious blog Archdiocese of Milwaukee - Ignite your faith series

Feast Day Resources

In an effort to help you support and nourish your families at the domestic church in your home, we have been providing materials, activities, and explanations of important feast days for you to take home. We ask you to take these materials and make time to bless your homes and families by unlocking the supernatural mysteries these holy days possess. Click here for access to the feast day handouts.