St. Aloysius offers faith-formation programs for our members in every stage of faith and age of life.

Faith Formation Grades 1-5

• Faith Formation Registration Form: Please complete the registration form by September 13, 2023, and return it to the rectory office along with your child’s Baptism certificate, the Confirmation certificate of the person who will be the sponsor of the child, and the fee. This year, the registration fee is $70 per student or $100 per family, and it will be used to cover the cost of materials. 
• Faith Formation Calendar 2023-2024: Make sure that you keep the calendar in a visible place to keep up with all the events.
• Use the syllabus to keep up to date with the weekly lessons.

Catechesis:

• This year we will be using the textbook Christ in Us from Sadlier. We have lesson plans for parents to work with their children at home. We will have virtual meetings with the students and their parents once a month. If you need a lesson plan emailed to you, please contact our Faith Formation Coordinator at [email protected].

Sacramental Preparation (Confirmation, Reconciliation, and First Communion)

Confirmation is received by students in third grade and above throughout the Diocese of Manchester, and Confirmation is celebrated before, not after, First Communion. This practice restores Confirmation to its original place. Through this process, the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation return to the logical order in which they were designed to be received: first Baptism, then Confirmation, then Eucharist. It also restores the practice of administering the Sacraments of Christian Initiation to young children as early as possible.

The Sacramental Preparation begins in first grade with a 3-year process leading to reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Communion.  Additional sacramental programs are provided based upon the child’s age and baptismal status (baptized vs. non-baptized).  Any student who wishes to receive sacraments is expected to be enrolled in the age-appropriate program.  Note:  Children 7 years and up who have not received the Sacrament of Baptism will participate in the RCIC Program and follow the sacramental preparation schedule of First Communion for their age group. 

General Faith Formation

For quite some time, many Catholics have referred to the sacrament of Confirmation as kind of a rite of passage in the faith. Yet Confirmation is, and has always been, a sacrament of initiation, not transition or graduation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says this: “Although Confirmation is sometimes called the ‘sacrament of maturity,’ we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth….St. Thomas reminds us of this: Age of body does not determine age of soul. Even in childhood one can attain spiritual maturity.” (CCC 1308) We do not confirm our faith in the sacrament of Confirmation. It is not about what we do, but it is about the work of God.

Once a child is initiated in the faith, they NEED to continue their faith journey by attending general faith formation and youth ministry. Children in grades 4-5 that already received the Sacraments of Initiation, will join the middle school students in the EDGE program, while students in grades 9-12 join the Lifeteen program. The mission of these two youth ministry programs is to meet the educational, spiritual, emotional, and social needs of young people. They give our middle-school and high school youth the tools they need in life: Jesus, The Word, The Eucharist, and the Church! Our goal is for them to move from a child-like spirituality to one that will hopefully reach its pinnacle into an adult faith commitment to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Community.

Resources:

Scripture:

• FREE Bible Online
• Scripture and Crafts Resources for Children
  • This website has a lot of resources for children of all ages.

Liturgy:

• MagnifiKid!
  • MagnifiKid! helps children to participate in the Mass and to live their faith throughout the year. It helps them to follow along with the Mass and understand it better.
• Holy Heroes Sunday Mass Preparation Kit
  • Holy Heroes help children and parents prepare to participate in the Holy Mass! It provides several different interactive activities to catch your child’s attention.

• CatholicMom.com Catholic Gospel Coloring & Worksheets for Sunday Mass

Other Resources:

• Catechetical Activities: The Diocese of San Bernardino has put together a vast variety of printable resources as well as ideas of activities for you to do with your children.
• The CatholicKid.com –  This link provides coloring pages and worksheets for young children.
• Editable Holy Week Schedule and Journaling Worksheets – at-home Holy Week resources
• Early Catholic Family Life

Rosary Resources:

• How to Pray the Rosary
• Creative Ways to Pray the Rosary. Provides ideas for praying the Rosary using different techniques to help make praying the Rosary a positive experience.
• Animated Rosary Video for Kids

Child Safety

The Diocese of Manchester is strongly committed to keeping children and youth safe in our parishes, schools, camps, institutions, and in the community at large. We strive unceasingly to protect those entrusted to our care and to heal the wounds of those who have been abused.

For more information, visit https://www.catholicnh.org/family2/youth/child-safety/ 

Volunteers can fill out their application online at www.catholicnh.org/volunteer

Links to articles for parents http://www.catholicnh.org/parents

Click here for a graphic link to reporting instructions How to report graphic

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." – Matthew 18:10

If you have any questions or concerns about the Faith Formation Program in our parish, please feel free to us at 603-882-4362 ext. 211 or [email protected].