Elementary Faith Formation at St. Luke’s goes from Kindergarten to 5th grade. We follow the traditional school calendar with summers off. Faith formation meets most Tuesdays a month from 6:15pm to 7:45pm, where we start all together with our parents for our assembly before breaking out into our classrooms.
Faith formation is a life long process that starts with baptism and continues in every walk of life. The parents are the 1st and primary catechists of our children, so we ask that you partner with us to provide a place where the faith of our children can be grown and nourished. Catechesis and evangelization are our primary goals in Elementary Faith Formation. The word catechesis comes from the Greek meaning “to echo the teaching” meaning that catechesis or the teaching of the faith is an interactive process in which the Word of God re-sounds between and among the proclaimer, the one receiving the message, and the Holy Spirit!” (Catholic News Agency) This means that in Faith formation we not only learn about God and His Church, but we foster a relationship with God and His Church. This includes teaching, service projects, food, and fun. We sing songs, we play games, we act out our faith, and we learn how to live our faith.
Here at St. Luke’s we use the Call to Faith curriculum by Our Sunday Visitor. Call to Faith is a K-5 comprehensive religion program. The heart of lifelong catechesis, Call to Faith provides a solid foundation of Scripture and Tradition, a rich diversity of prayer, and a developmental sequence of activities. The curriculum is divided into seven units which are gone over every year with increasing depth and information. So each grade level is going over the same topics at the same time every year, adapted to their appropriate grade level. This helps facilitate conversation at home because each student can have a similar experience, regardless of grade level.
Enrollment in Faith Formation is required for reception of 1st Reconciliation and 1st Communion. In the Diocese of Raleigh sacramental preparation is a two year process. Therefore, in order to receive the sacraments in 2nd grade, all children should be enrolled in Faith Formation in 1st grade. Remember that Faith Formation is a life long process, and the reception of the sacraments is not a graduation or an ending of formation. Therefore, we offer continuing catechesis for all children through high school and encourage everyone to attend.