Youth Faith Formation

Youth Faith Formation

Our Youth Faith Formation and Sacrament Prep has wrapped up for the year but will start again in early September. Keep an eye on Flocknote for updates and registration.

If you are new to St. Denis and have children in need of faith formation and/or sacrament prep please contact Jessica to introduce yourself and see how we can best help your family!

St. Denis Parish Catechetical Plan
Mission Statement, Vision & Goals

2025-2026
Approved May 14, 2025

Catechetical Mission Statement:
The catechetical mission of St. Denis Parish is to provide a program of ongoing Catholic faith
formation that nourishes a vibrant Christian life of worship, witness and community in Jesus
Christ for all its parishioners.

Vision of the Faith Formation Committee:
The St. Denis Faith Formation Committee was formed in 2016 by Parish Council to review all
our faith formation programs and assess what we are doing well, what needs to be changed,
and how we can respond to emerging needs in our parish community. The outcome was a
parish-wide faith formation vision and catechetical plan, implemented during the 2017-18 school
year by the Director of Faith Formation (DFF), Fr. Brian and the Faith Formation Committee
(FFC). This is our response to the National Directory for Catechesis’ mandate to create a
catechetical plan. This living document guides our parish faith formation programs and will be
continually revised to respond to changing needs and opportunities.

Core Beliefs:
The objective of all catechesis is communion with Christ and forming disciples.

• Faith formation is a lifelong journey.
  Every parishioner / disciple shares in the catechetical mission of evangelization.
  We are all called to work to build a parish community of faith and service.
  Adult faith formation, ” by which people consciously grow in the life of Christ through experience,
  reflection, prayer, and study, must be the primary focus of catechesis.” Catechesis of all others
  flows from adult catechesis. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults/RCIA) provides us with a model for success. * Sacrament preparation will happen within the context of the faith formation of adults (parents) and will involve the whole parish community. Catechists must be formed and provided with ongoing opportunities for spiritual growth & renewal. As a diverse, busy parish community we aim to accommodate the catechetical needs of parishioners as best as possible. Prayer is essential to success.
• *Why the OCIA model: (from the National Directory for Catechesis) OCIA has emphasized the need for a catechesis based more directly on the baptismal catechumenate. In this context, catechesis aims to achieve a more integral formation of the person rather than merely to communicate information. The restored catechumenate seeks to foster a committed conversation through a systematic catechesis based on a more thorough integration of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, through liturgical catechesis, proper pastoring, and insertion into the parish community. These four aspects lead people to a life of faith in Christ, hope in his promises, and charity toward those in need. The life of faith, hope, and charity is nourished through communion with Jesus in the Liturgy, above all in the Eucharist.” Catechesis is a life-long journey.

St. Denis Catechetical Plan
Goals:

The Faith Formation program at St. Denis will have adult faith formation as its
primary focus.
Objective 1A. Determine volunteer and staffing needs to successfully run all catechetical programs at St. Denis.

Strategies a. Continue to recruit volunteers to provide program support.

Objective 1B. The DFF, under the supervision of the Pastor, will develop, enhance & coordinate Adult Faith Formation (AFF) programs in the Parish.

Strategies a. Continue assessing current AFF programs in the parish using appropriate means (Flocknote, etc.) b. Continue researching AFF programming that work in other parishes. c. Provide ongoing support, education & resources for AFF catechists, small group program leaders and liturgical ministers. d. In partnership with catechetical and ministry leaders create a comprehensive parish-wide FF vision for AFF and a calendar for 2025-26 during summer 2025. e. Provide more and varied opportunities for AFF (retreats both local and at retreat houses, lectures, small faith groups, etc.). Continue Zoom programming options. f. Plan an AFF lecture series.

Objective 1C. Continue building and refining the OCIA program.
Strategies a. Continue evaluating the program. b. Encourage parish – wide involvement by sharing the syllabus with parishioners in September and January.