St. Helen Parish Faith Formation
Our Goal
The St. Helen Faith Formation Office seeks to provide to all parishioners the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for their ongoing conversion to Jesus Christ and the Gospel in order to bring about full participation in the life of the Catholic Church. In nurturing all age groups we will foster community among the children, families and the parish community, encouraging all to be good stewards of the gifts God has given them, using these gifts to proclaim, celebrate and serve the Kingdom of God.
Focus: The Office of Faith Formation focuses on the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ and His Church in proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. The Faith Formation Office is responsible for parish-based religious education/catechetical programs. These programs are for all ages – religious education is life-long learning. Catechesis includes sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation), religious education programs for K-9, middle & senior high, Youth Ministry, and adult faith formation.
Teaching the Four Pillars of Faith
The catechetical ministry of the Catholic Church has been nurtured and renewed in recent years with the publication of three important Church documents: the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the General Directory for Catechesis, and the National Directory for Catechesis. All of these documents remind us that families are the first teachers of their children in the faith, and that we as catechists and catechetical leaders are here to support them in this vital responsibility. It is our privilege to assist you, your child’s primary catechist, with their faith formation.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides a systematic presentation of Catholic doctrine rooted in the four pillars of our faith: The Creed, Liturgy and Sacraments, Morality, Prayer.
Our primary Faith Formation Program uses the Word of Life by the Augustine Institute. The Word of Life Student Text makes learnign the faith effective, engaging, and fun with Bible stories, contemporary children’s stories, lives of saints, and activities for a variety of learning styles.
The text consists of core lessons, as well as four liturgical season lessons. Images used in each chapter range from photographs depicting a real-life situation, contemporary art depicting a Bible narrative, and sacred art that depicts and event in salvation history to draw students into the mysteries of Christ, leading them to understand doctrinal elements of the faith more fully.
Every chapter has a page for parents that provides a brief summary of what the child is learning in class and a variety of ways to live the faith in daily life.
Getting Started
We welcome you to St. Helen Faith Formation! We are happy and privileged to have the opportunity to work with you and your family on your faith journey. Below are links to the materials you will need to both understand the program and integrate it with your own schedule. If you have any questions please call (772-562-5954) or email pfies@sthelenvero.org.
Catechists and Volunteers
Essential to the success of the Religious Education program is having a dedicated group of adult and young adult volunteers willing to help and nurture our faith with our youth. Participants have the opportunity for additional and on-going training and education through the Diocese. Please contact Paige Fies, at 772-562-5954 for more information.