Welcome to 2018-2019 Faith Formation for the youth of our parishes.

All families with children grade pre-K to 8th grade belonging to St. Paul Church or Christ the King University Parish are requested to complete the registration process for Religious Education/Confirmation Preparation. Packets have been mailed to families containing registration documents. You can also register online here.

If you choose to fill out the paper forms you received in the mail, please return them to the parish office: 75 Stewart Street, Athens, OH 45701.
 
Note: Tuition is due for the classroom-based/Sacrament Preparation program options ONLY. If assistance is needed in paying tuition, please contact Nancy Denhart.

Options and Information for Family Faith Formation
Faith Formation in our parishes reaches all ages.  The Religious Education Program assists in providing Catholic students, along with their families, a quality and doctrinally accurate Catholic Education under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Total family involvement is encouraged to enable family members in acquiring a broader informed understanding of Creed, Liturgy, Sacraments, Scripture, Life in Christ, Morality, Spirituality and Church History.  The classroom option provides a fun, educational experience in a safe environment, in accordance with diocesan guidelines.  The home-based options provide guidance, materials and supervision as needed. 

Religious Education Options
We offer two classroom based programs: 10:00 am. Pre-K and Kindergarten class (during the 10:00 a.m. Mass at Christ the King for our youngest students) and the 11:00 a.m. program for grades K-9. We also offer support for Home-based and Home-school options.

In all options, the catechist directs the student according to the curriculum guidelines published by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Diocese of Steubenville.
 
Classroom Study (preferred):
Families who enroll their children in the Religious Education Classes/Youth Groups provided by the parishes are designated Classroom Study.

10:00 a.m. Program: Pre-K & K classes meet in classrooms located off the Gathering Space in Christ the King Church during Mass. Drop-off and pick up is in the classroom.

11:00 a.m. Program: Classes meet on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Christ the King in the Holy Family Center and Church buildings located on Stewart Street in Athens. ALL students in 11:00 a.m. program gather in Christ the King Church immediately following the 10:00 a.m. Mass. Classes end at 12:30 p.m. Students in grades 5-9 will be completing Confirmation Prep during the 2018-2019 academic year's 11:00 a.m. Program (see note below regarding Bishop Monforton's decree on Confirmation Prep).

Classes for both the 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. programs meet on Sunday mornings from  September-April.
           
Home-Based or Home-School Families:
Families who choose to provide their children’s Catholic Religious Education at home are designated as Home-Based Study. Families choosing to provide complete education for their children at home according to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church are designated Catholic Home School Families.  Parents are the catechists; resources are available.  Families are responsible for purchase of curriculum materials. We ask the families doing the Home-Based option still register; tuition is not required for the Home-Based option.
Please note: Home-Based and Home-School Options are NOT available for Sacramental Preparations per Fr. Mark Moore, pastor.

The KICK-OFF for all programs is  Sunday, September 9 (this includes Confirmation preparation classes for grades 5-9 who will meet during the 11:00 a.m. program).
 
A parent meeting for all parents of children in the 11:00 a.m. program (including students in Confirmation prep in grades 5-9) is Sunday, September 23 at 11:15 a.m. in Christ the King Church.   

Confirmation Prep Program:
Bishop Monforton has decreed that Confirmation be conferred in the fifth grade for our parishes. This year, 2018-2019 grades five through nine will prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation as part of the regular weekly, Sunday 11:00 a.m. Religious Education Classes at his/her grade level on materials designed for that grade.   Retreat days are scheduled for each grade level.  Additional service and faith experiences are scheduled.

Reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation is TBA and dependent on Bishop Monforton’s schedule.  (We are hoping for Early December 2018 for reception of the Sacrament.) 

The expectation is that students will prepare for the Sacrament in Fall semester 2018 and complete the grade appropriate curriculum in the Spring semester.  The reason for Bishop Monforton’s decision to move Confirmation Formation from High School to grade five can be better understood by reading the information found here.

Confirmation Preparation is to be completed in parish-based classroom programs.
 
Athens Catholic Teens (ACT)
We are working to establish a youth program beginning in spring semester 2019 for the teens of the parish. Check back for more informatin in the coming months.
 
For more Information contact:
Nancy Denhart, Director of Religious Education
ndenhart@athenscatholic.org
740-592-2711 # 23 or 740-590-3302
 
To register your family for Religious Education, click here.