At Annunciation, we value community. We believe that faith formation happens best in the family AND as part of our parish community - learning together. For this reason, our program is a hybrid program combining parent and family teaching with take-home faith experiences combined with grade-level classes for children.
Parents are a child’s first and best teacher in all things, including Faith Formation. What is done at faith formation only complements and builds on what you do at home. That is why Family Formation is designed to be used both in the parish (in the community) and at home. Family Formation allows you to teach your child about the faith you chose for them in Baptism.
Our program for 2022-2023 expands family formation and includes all families with children in Preschool through Grade 10 and will be held on Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 10:45 so families can attend the 11:00 am Mass.*
We will follow a hybrid model that combines a once per month family talk in the church and approximately two student sessions in the school building per month.
Students in Preschool through Grade 6 will use Pflaum Gospel Weeklies in their classrooms, led by adult catechists, while students in Grades 7-9 will be placed in YDisciple groups for small group discipleship led by mentors who are committed to journeying with your child through Confirmation. 10th Grade students will spend the first half of the year learning about vocations in their YD group, then transition to direct prep for Confirmation in the spring semester.
The cost per registered Annunciation family is $125 for the 2022-23 program year for registered Annunciation Parishioners.
Families not registered at Annunciation are welcome to join our program! The cost for non-registered families is $175 for the 2022-23 program year.
Caring Conversations. Christian values and faith are passed on to the next generation through supportive conversation. Listening and responding to the daily concerns of children and youth makes it easier to have meaningful conversations regarding the love of God, and are ways to express God’s love to others. Hearing their parents' “faith stories” is one of the most important influences on the faith of children and teenagers.
Family Devotions and Prayer. The Christian faith shapes the whole of our lives and involves a lifetime of study reflection and prayer. Family devotions provide a way to learn more about the Bible and Christian traditions as a family and apply the teaching to daily life as a follower of Jesus Christ. This understanding of devotional life includes, but is not limited to, public worship, bedtime prayers, Bible reading and study, table grace, evening and morning prayers, and praying along at any time of the day or night.
Family Rituals and Traditions. Families identify themselves and tell their family stories through daily routines, celebrations, and rituals. Family rituals can take many forms from daily rituals such as mealtime, bedtime, leaving and returning; celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries, and special achievements; church year rituals at home such as Advent and Lent; milestones such as births, deaths, first day of school and graduations, and so on. Family rituals and traditions speak volumes about what the family values, believes, and promotes, and how much the family values its faith.
Family Service. Engaging in service with one’s family is a powerful opportunity for growth in faith. Both youth and adults are more likely to have a growing strong faith when their family service others together; in the home, in the congregation, in the community, and world.
Source: Faith Formation 2020: Designing the Future of Faith Formation, by John Roberto, LifelongFaith Associates, 2010, pg. 135-136