St. Paul Parish

FLOCK Faith Formation Vision: We are Catholic disciples who follow Jesus and share Him with others!

FLOCK Faith Formation Mission: St. Paul Parish is devoted to cultivating families of well-formed disciples who know, love, serve, and share Jesus Christ and His holy Church. 

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR 2023-24 Faith Formation

 ONLINE TUITION PAYMENT FOR 2023-24 Faith Formation 

(if you prefer to pay by check, please make payable to St. Paul Parish and submit by mail with "Faith Formation" in the memo line)

2023-24 CALENDAR as a PDF (updated 8/10/23)

(Digital calendar links for individual grade level groups are below)

2023-24 FLOCK Faith Formation: Details, Dates, and Ways to Help

Elementary School Ministry (Flock)

• Grades 1-5
• Most Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:15pm
• Begins September 20, 2023 / Concludes April 24, 2024
• Will include several Family Faith Nights parents attend with their children (see calendar)
• Current Volunteer needs:
  
  • Snack donations (individually wrapped items; no peanuts please!)
  • Prayer Team (offers prayers each week during Faith Formation time
• More program details on this page.
• Digital calendar:
  
  • iCal (works for both iOS and Android devices)

Middle School Ministry (Edge)

• Grades 6-8
• Most Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:15pm
• Begins September 20, 2023 / Concludes April 24, 2024
• Will include several Family Faith Nights parents attend with their children (see calendar)
• Current Volunteer needs:
  
  • Snack donations (individually wrapped items; no peanuts please!)
  • Prayer Team (offers prayers each week during Faith Formation time
• More program detail on this page 
• Digital calendar:
  
  • iCal (works for both iOS and Android devices)

High School Ministry (Cor)

• Grades 9-11
• Twice a month on Sunday evenings, 6:00-8:00pm
• Begins September 24, 2023 / Concludes April 14, 2024
• Will include a several youth ministry service opportuntities (see calendar)
• Current Volunteer needs:
  
  • Snack donations (individually wrapped items; no peanuts please!)
  • Prayer Team (offers prayers each week during Faith Formation time)
• More program detail on this page. 
• Digital Calendar:
  
  • iCal (works for both iOS and Android devices)

First Reconciliation (Confession) and First Holy Communion

• Part of the 2nd Grade program, but any children in older grades who need these sacraments are also welcome! Please talk to Maggie and we'll get things sorted out. 
• Class preparation:
  • are as outline above
  • most Wednesdays 6:00-7:15pm
  • Faith & Fun Nights for the entire family (parent(s) + all kids in grades 1-8)
• Family preparation:
  • Homestudy activity book: God's Gift: Reconciliation and God's Gift: Eucharist. These books are distributed in November and February for families to work through at home and include a packet of lesson guides and activities suggestions.
  • First Reconciliation Retreat: Saturday, January 6, 2024 9:00am -12:00 pm. Each 2nd grader and at least one parent should attend.
  • First Reconciliation: Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 6:00-7:15pm. Each 2nd grader and at least one parent should attend, although the entire family is strongly encouraged to come celebrate the sacrament together!
  • First Communion Retreat: Saturday, April 13, 2024, 9:00am-12:00pm. Each 2nd grader and at least one parent should attend. 
  • First Communion: Sunday, April 21, 2023, (time tbd). First Communicants and their families and any guests are all welcome!
  • Corpus Christi Procession: Sunday, June 2, 2024, during 10:30 AM Mass: First Communion children are invited to wear their beautiful fancy outfits again for a procession outside along the sidewalk as the parish celebrates the Feast of the Body of Christ. 
    
• Digital Calendar:
  
  • iCal (works for both iOS and Android devices)

Confirmation Preparation (Spirit)

• In addition to of the Cor high school program, high school Juniors prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, whcih they receive the Fall of their Senior Year
• Those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation are called "candidates" or "Confirmandi"
• Group preparation:
  • Sunday evenings twice a month with the 9-11th grade large group (see above)
    • "normal" 11th grade faith formation is part of the Confirmation prep process
    • this is non-negotiable. I don't like using that word, but there has been some misunderstanding in the past about 11th graders attending the "regular" 9th-11th grade sessions as well. 
  • One Sunday morning per month starting in November, 2023
    • Candidates + sponsor together
    • Class 9:30-10:30 am, then Mass at 10:30 am together as a group
    • If you miss a session, you and your sponsor will need to communicate with Maggie ASAP to plan a make up time together (all three of you).
  • Confirmation retreat (overnight):
    • Begins 7:00 PM on Friday, April 5, 2024 and concludes at 7:00 PM on Saturday, April 6, 2024
    • at Mount Tabor Retreat Center in Menasha
    • the retreat is required. 
• Individual prepartion:
  • Candidates + Sponsors meet once per month on their own time and follow guided prayer/discussion 
  • Candidates meet with Maggie or Father Bob in the fall of their senior year for their interview
  • Candidates write a letter to Bishop Ricken asking to be confirmed
• Digital Calendar:
  • iCal (works for both iOS and Android devices)

Faith & Fun (optional afterschool Wednesdays)

• Like last year, we will host optional Faith & Fun afterschool time, especially for (although not limited to) kids coming from Janssen Elementary next door. It will be available from 3:45 (after Janssen's 3:38 dismissal time) to 5:00 pm the same Wednesdays we have regular Faith Formation in the evening (=green days on the calendar).
• Faith & Fun is not meant to replace or be an alternative to Faith Formation sessions in the evenings, but rather is a supplement to help out Faith Formation kids who would not otherwise have Wednesday afterschool care.
• The online registration form lists an option to sign up for Faith & Fun.
• Digital calendar: (same days as for Flock and Edge)
  
  • iCal (works for both iOS and Android devices)

What is the cost?

FLOCK has a simple tuition structure.

• 1 child in faith formation, any grade = $125 total for the family
• 2 children in faith formation, any grades = $250 total for the family
• 3+ children in faith formation, any grades = $300 total for the family

Special years like Second Grade (First Reconciliation/First Holy Communion) or Junior Year (Confirmation preparation) incur no additional costs. 

Other common questions such as...

What does the FLOCK name mean?

What are our ministry priorities for faith formation?

What do all the names mean? Flock? Edge? Cor? What's all that?

... are answered in greater detail on this page, which provides the broad overview of our vision, mission, and goals. 

Our Lady of Champion, pray for us!

Saint Paul, pray for us!

In the love of Jesus, our Good Shepherd,

Maggie