Youth Faith Formation
According to the “National Directory for Catechesis,” the fundamental task of catechesis is the formation of disciples of Jesus Christ. “Jesus instructed His disciples; He prayed with them; He showed them how to live; and He gave them his mission….” Faith must be celebrated, lived and expressed in prayer.
Faith formation at Saint Veronica Church is based on this model of catechesis. Classes are available for children from 1st Grade through 7th Grade followed by the Sacrament of Confirmation. The classes are based on the curriculum of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. They also include experiences that reinforce the instruction and relate to life experiences. It is expected that children and their families regularly participate in both religious formation and Sunday Mass so as to have a well-rounded experience of our Catholic faith.
Registration for the 2022-23 school year is now closed. Please contact Karen Guglielmoni, Faith Formation Coordinator, at kguglielmoni@stveronicassf.com or 650.588.1455 ext. 103 with any questions.
”Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another to grow in faith by the witness of a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God. The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents.” (CCC 2226)
As parents are the first and most important teachers and examples of our Catholic beliefs, so we are counting on you to be involved in your child’s faith formation. Regular attendance at Mass as a family is vital to your child’s faith development.
Formal Faith Formation classes begin when a child enters the 1st grade and continue through Confirmation. Continuous participation in Faith Formation classes through and beyond the sacrament years will nourish their spiritual growth in our Catholic faith.
“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues…Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children. By knowing how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to guide and correct them.”
- (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2223)
Primary Grades 1-5
This year we will continue holding our classes on campus. We will be following the Archdiocesan and SSFUSD guidelines for mask-wearing and safety. Currently, masks are not required by are strongly encouraged.
We will be using the We Believe curriculum from Sadlier. This curriculum will help inspire and empower our students in building their Catholic identity around core Catholic beliefs, practices, and principles so all students, including the needs of diverse learners, can truly embody their faith, celebrate the Mass and sacraments, choose to show love and respect, pray every day, and share faith with others. The curriculum will also empower families with tools to enrich their identity as a Catholic family in today’s world.
Families can visit www.webelieveweb.com for study guides, games, safe activities for their children, and great information and enrichment for themselves
Middle School Grades 6 - 8
The Middle School Youth Ministry provides an opportunity for the youth to grow in fellowship, community, and faith at weekly meetings. Service opportunities and retreats may be utilized to form stronger relationships with one another, and, ultimately, with God.
The nurturing of a young person’s faith takes place within the family. As the parents are the primary faith educators, during these middle-school years, it is our goal to build upon the foundation you have laid in their early childhood and elementary years. This happens not only within the Faith Formation experience but through service opportunities, social events and retreats. It is our hope during these middle-school years to help your soon-to-be teenager to spiritually prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation, but more importantly to support you in guiding them to answer the call to discipleship and grow in an understanding of what it means to be a Catholic in the modern world.