RE Program Information
Scroll down to see info on each program
St. Raphael offers two program tracks for religious education:
Families of Faith
a Whole-Family Alternative to Weekly CLASS SESSIONS
Who: Families with children in grades 4K-10
Respecting the role of parents as the primary catechists, this whole family approach to Faith Formation invites families together in community and seeks to support parents in their role as models of faith for their children. Whole families will attend sessions together and then will break off into parents and age appropriate groups for further formation. Parents will have the opportunity to grow in community with one another while diving deeper into the richness of our faith in order to better share that faith with their children. They then teach their children at home from a resource provided the other three weeks of the month.
Pre-K & Kindergarten
Sunday School CLASS SESSIONS
When: Every other Sunday during the 10am Mass, September 10-April 14.
Who: Children in preschool (age 4 by 9/1/23) and kindergarten (age 5 by 9/1/23)
PreK/K Sunday School is offered every other week, September-April. The program is for preschool
(age 4 by 9/1/23) and kindergarten (age 5 by 9/1/23) age children. We offer faith based lessons featuring activities, Bible stories, music, crafts, prayer, games and more. Children imagine, explore, create, and DO which engages all their senses as they gain the building blocks for a lifetime of Catholic Faith. Our curriculum nurtures young children’s natural tendency to seek a relationship with God, reinforcing a strong sense of community and love.
Elementary School
Weekday Class Sessions
When: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 4:30-6pm, September 12th-April 24th
Who: Children in grades 1-5
Written by Sophia Institute, Spirit of Truth- Parish edition provides the outline and curriculum content for our regular Religious Education program. Our weekly class sessions take children on an inviting and significant journey through the Catholic Faith. Children engage in hands-on activities and small group discussions to form a relationship with Jesus and members of their faith community.
MIddle School
When: Tuesdays 4:30-6pm and Wednesdays 6:15-7:45 pm,
September 12-April 24
Who: Youth in grades 6-8
EDGE is our Middle school Youth Ministry and Religious Education program. EDGE provides the opportunity for our middle school students to gather in large and small group formats. Each week the session will allow for exploration on a given topic in our faith. Activities are designed to allow the students to reflect and learn how a given topic impacts them not just on the intellectual level, but how it impacts their daily life as they strive to live out the call to discipleship.
HIgh School: Grades 9 & 10
St. Raphael Offers two Faith Formation options for High School Youth
Option 1:Camp Life Teen
When: June 19-22 AND June 26-29, 1-5:30 pm, Monday-Thursday.
Who: Youth in grades 9 and 10
This 8 day immersive faith formation program for 9th and 10th graders takes the curriculum they would be working on in a traditional classroom setting and presents it in a more intensive retreat-like setting. Combining small group discussions, proclaimed witness talks, community building, and of course prayer. All 8 days are required for attendance and students are encouraged to find ways to get more involved in their faith throughout the school year to stay connected with the parish community. Examples being: through retreats, peer small groups, teen leadership, helping with elementary or middle school RE or other parish involvement. Space is limited.
Option 2: High School BiWeekly Faith Formation Sessions
When: Every other Wednesday, 7:30-9:00 pm, September 20-May 1; includes 2 service Saturdays
Who: Youth in grades 9 and 10
The goal of our High School BiWeekly year long classes is three parts: First, to grow in community and self identity. Second, to grow in relationship with the Holy Trinity. Lastly, to learn how it is that we can use the gifts and talents given to us by God to share with others in building up his kingdom. With these three focuses, teens will be given the opportunity to dive deeper into their faith and explore ways to make their faith personal to them, and not just a task to be completed. The hope is that from this foundation, teens will find ways to get more involved in their faith through retreats, peer small groups, teen leadership, service projects and/or parish involvement.
Aftershock meets Sunday nights Sept-May. It begins with the 5 pm Sunday Mass where we will have a section at Mass just for us! Next we continue the night with a communal meal, games, prayer and the chance to grow in faith and fellowship. Nights will dive into a variety of topics on our faith, usually through a teaching and a personal witness, with the students encouraged to share how a given topic impacts them in a small group setting. Opportunities to grow in prayer and leadership experiences will also be offered. There will also be social nights throughout the year to allow us to relax, have fun and grow in community. Aftershock is not required, rather it is an open invite to any and all high schoolers to “Come as You Are.”
Confirmation
When: TBD
Who: Youth in grades 11 or 12 who have completed 9th/10th Faith Formation Classes (includes youth who attend Lourdes Academy)
Confirmation is where we commit ourselves to Christ and His Church. It is the Sacrament of initiation where we choose for ourselves that we desire to grow closer to God and serve Him with our life. The aim of the class is to help youth prepare to say “YES” to Jesus and His Spirit, in becoming leaders and messengers of His Love. We will be meeting biweekly throughout the year in order to open our hearts to all that God has in store for us. Through a thought provoking video series, lessons from various spiritual leaders, small group sessions, and expanding our prayer life, this class will allow us to embrace the gift of God, His Holy Spirit, who created the Church. Two important questions to ponder before joining class: 1) Do you want to grow in your faith/relationship with God? 2) Do you desire to become a Saint? If you answered “Yes'' to either of these, we are happy to journey alongside you in this next step to Sainthood.
