Currently, St. Philip does not offer a formal preschool formation program. However, there are many simple and life-giving practices families can participate in as The Domestic Church, to help form preschool age children in the Catholic faith. We are here to support you! 
 
 1. If you don't already do so, pray daily with your child. Here are some suggestions...

• Teach your child how to make the Sign of the Cross
• Pray before meals
• Pray at bedtime
• Pray for others in your circle of family and friends
• Begin learning some of the traditional Catholic prayers: The Our Father, The Hail Mary and The Glory Be; Teach them how to pray The Rosary

For parents of Kindergarten and First Graders these are wonderful years for your child in their growing faith. Families are The Domestic Church, where all learning has taken place since birth. You chose the Catholic faith for your child at Baptism, and have modeled your faith by praying and attending Mass with them. Now, before the sacrament year in 2nd grade, let us work with you and your child to continue their formation in the Catholic faith.

For families that would like to learn more how you can foster your child's faith, we will meet together, in Parent/Child classes, on Tuesday afternoons from 4:30-5:30 PM in St. Joseph's Hall. 
   

Dates for the 2024-25 school year:
  Sept. 10, 17, 24
  Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22
  Nov. 5, 12, 19
  Dec. 3, 10, 17
  Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28
  Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25
  March 18, 25
  April 1, 8, 29
  May 6, 13

  Since enrollment is free, please bring these basic supplies when you come to class:

• Pencils
• Crayons
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Folder with pockets

A second grader who has been baptized in the Catholic Church and is seven or older will prepare for First Penance/First Communion. Please click on First Communion to read about this preparation process and to enroll your child. Enrollment is free.
 
 Please note: if your 2nd grader is your only child, the only formation classes you’ll attend for the year are the sacramental preparation classes found on the First Communion page. 

Classes are for 3rd-5th graders, who have received the sacraments of Confession and Communion. Classes reach all learning styles with games, videos, and activities so that students continue to grow in their faith and have community with other children. Classes are on a three-year cycle: Salvation History, Prayer & Sacraments, and the Life of Christ.

You will choose one day/time per child: Tuesdays from 4:30-5:45 and 6:15-7:30;  Wednesdays from 5:15-6:30 and 7:15-8:30.

If you'd like to volunteer to be a teacher, teacher's assistant, substitute or admin, please contact Bernadette at [email protected]. We need volunteers! Never volunteered before? We help you every step of the way!

         Tuesday, 4:30-5:45 PM and 6:15-7:30
Sept. 10, 17, 24
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22
Nov. 5, 12, 19
Dec. 3, 10, 17
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25
March 18, 25
April 1, 8, 22, 29
May 6, 13

Wednesday, 5:15-6:30 PM and 7:15-8:30
         Sept. 11, 18, 25
         Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23
         Nov. 6, 13, 20
         Dec. 4, 11, 18
         Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29
         Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26
         March 19, 26
         April 2, 9, 23, 30
         May 7, 14

Please provide these basic supplies for your child. They need to bring these back and forth for every class:
         Pencils and/or Pens
         Three-ring binder for handouts
         Notebook paper
      


 

If your family would like to enroll in Home Study/Online Formation, then please read about the various online options we support this year.
Every family should be:

• Praying daily with your child- Begin when they are little and as they age, encourage them to pray by themselves for 5 or MORE minutes a day. Keep fostering their daily prayer time. Help them to memorize The Our Father, The Glory Be, and The Hail Mary.
• Attending weekend Mass together and on Holy Days of Obligation 

  The Mass is the most important and sacred act of worship in the Catholic Church. Going to Mass is the only way a Catholic can fulfill the Third Commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day and the only regular opportunity to receive the Holy Eucharist which is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (Catechism of the Catholic Church , 1324).

  The Mass incorporates the Bible (Sacred Scripture), prayer, sacrifice, hymns, symbols, gestures, the Eucharist, and directions on how to live a Catholic life.

• Going to Confession on a regular basis (for 2nd grade and up after they have received their First Confession). See how the frequency works for your family. Some families go every 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, etc. For venial sins, we are only required to go once a year, usually during Lent, but try and up your game and go more! For mortal sins, we must go as soon as possible and not receive Communion until we've gone.

For K-5th families who would like their children to receive Formation exclusively at home during the 2024-25 school year, we have various options to consider. For families who enjoy workbook learning, consider a Workbook Curriculum. For families who like online learning, Online Programs may be a good option for you. For families who enjoy reading and sharing, consider doing a Book Study (or even a few!) by reading good spiritual books throughout the course of the school year. Options for each of these learning styles are listed below. If you have any questions regarding these recommendations, please reach out to Kim Carr for help and support.

[Workbook Curriculum] - Parents are responsible for purchasing the books.

• His Little Way (K-1st) is a family approach for families with Kindergarten and 1st graders. The workbook contains activities for August-May. You may also find songs and videos at SophiaOnline.org/His Little Way.
• Family of Faith (3rd-5th)  is a family approach. Families interested in using this curriculum in 2023-24, will receive new themed workbooks for the year including one Parent Guide and Student Workbooks for each child. Workbooks can be used as desired since they incorporate activities for all ages.  Website: https://families.sophiainstitute.com/
• There are a number of good Catholic curriculums out there for grades K-5th.  Some suggestions are: Be My Disciples by RCL Benziger, Christ Our Life, Growing with God and Finding God by Loyola Press,  and Faith and Life by Ignatius Press. 

[Online Programs] 

• My Catholic Faith Delivered is reasonably priced and offers a multitude of various topics and courses for grades 1-12. Each lesson includes an introduction, a video, and short quiz to help students retain what they've learned. Click on Course Library, and then click on Faith and Life Series. Choose the elementary grade level your child is currently in. Once you've purchase the course and logged in, click on your name in the upper right corner and click Redeem Code and enter: SPA-LTX (click submit) then click Redeem Code one final time (click submit). By clicking Learn in the top menu, you'll access your grade level course. You may stop the course at any time or take a break. To continue, go back to the website, login, and click on Continue Last Lesson from the Dashboard. Their website is www.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com 

• Formed.org is free! St. Philip's pays for parishioners to have access to this wonderful resource. You set up your own account when you login for the first time.  For K-1 ages, the programs we recommend watching on Formed are: Brother Francis, The Saints and Heroes Collection and The Eucharist for Little Children.  For grades 3rd-6th consider these titles: Catholic Heroes of the Faith, The Witness Trilogy, Mother Teresa: Seeing the Face of Jesus, and The Animated Bible Series. We suggest parents preview these titles first, or watch them with your child. You may see a short summary of each program by hovering over the title you are interested in viewing.

• All ages K-5th:Cathechism of the Seven Sacraments by Kevin and Mary O'Neill, Dear Pope Francis by Pope Francis; The King of the Golden City by Mother Mary Loyola, Pope Francis Says, by Pope Francis, Leo's Gift by Susan Blackaby,  TOMIE DEPAOLA’S BIBLE STORIES and his series of books highlighting Saints, Picture Book of Saints, Illustrated Lives of the Saints for the Young and Old by Father Lovasik; Through the Year With Jesus (Gospel Readings and Reflections for Children) by Katherine Bogner, Little Catechism on the Eucharist by Fr. Roberto Coggi, A Little Book About Confession for Children by Kendra Tierney and Maria Ashton, Sunday Missal for Young Catholics by Living With Christ, Pray and Think Imaginative Rosary Book by Candance Camling, Curious Little Catholic Series by Annmarie Thimons, 
• Holyheroes.com has a wealth of books for all grade levels with subjects such as: Adoration, The Eucharist, Catholic 101, and many more.
• LooktoHimandBeRadiant.com has Catholic book recommendations for all ages. There are many activities for all grades.
• CultivatingCatholics.com has many books, prayers, ideas, and activities for preschool to older children.

• K-1st Book Recommendations:  The Virtue of Listening by Alex Cabrera and Vinyet Montaner, Book of Saints by Amy Welborn, Book of Heroes by Amy Welborn, Read Aloud Book of Bible Stories, Seek and Find Bible, My First Interactive Mass Book by Jennifer Sharpe, Girls Saints for Little Ones by Kimberly Fries

• 3rd-4th Book Recommendations: A Picture of God, 3 in 1 by Joanne Marxhausen, My Path to Heaven by Geoffrey Bliss, Shadow in the Dark by Antony Barone Kolene, Shh...God is in the Silence by Fiona Basile, The Adventures of Nick and Sam Series

• 5th Book Recommendations: Saints and Feast Days, A Resource and Activity Book by The Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardo, Ohio, My Path to Heaven by Geoffrey Bliss, The Adventures of Nick and Sam Series