“But Jesus called for them and said,
‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them;
for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 

“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.” Catechism of the Catholic Church #2226

The Faith Formation Staff at St. Cecilia’s is to help you as parents/guardians to nurture and foster growth in the Catholic faith of your children.  We are aided by the tremendous help from Catechists/volunteers of our Parish who give of their time and talents in a variety of ways. We have two different options for Faith Formation – Traditional Classroom Style and a multi-aged, Montessori based program called Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Our Elementary Classroom Faith Formation program is open to children in Kindergarten through 5th grade.  We utilize the “Be My Disciples” series published by RCL Benziger. “Be My Disciples” is a spiral curriculum that covers the Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Gospel, the Saints, and other Catholic teachings appropriate to each grade level.

Elementary Classroom Faith Formation is offered in two different sessions on Wednesdays the St. Cecilia Education Center; parents can pick which time is best for their family.  Class sessions with less than 5 students may be combined with another grade level.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is offered at a variety of times on Tuesday and Wednesday.  This program is for children age 3-12. Click here to learn more.

Registration for 2020-2021 school year are now open.  You may register by clicking on the Faith Formation tab above and choosing “Registration”.  If you have questions about our programs you can contact Mary Downey, Administrative Assistant at (515) 232-3514.

For other questions contact Melissa Teggatz, Coordinator of Elementary Faith Formation at (515) 232-3514 or mteggatz@stceciliaparish.org.

Need ideas for talking about the COVID-19 Pandemic with your children?  It is a difficult time for all – but especially our children who have had their world turned upside down due to the spread of this virus.  As parents, we may feel like we are doing a good job sheltering them from all the scariness – but our kids are smart and very intuitive. They know things are different then they ever have been before.  We need to be open and honest with them.  We need to let them know we are scared/worried/anxious/curious/concerned too.  It is important for them to know we are doing all we can to keep our families safe.  CGSUSA has put out resources to help you with these discussions. Remember that all of us at St. Cecilia’s are here to support you as well.  Reach out to us for any reason.  We are praying for you, your families, and a swift containment of COVID-19.  Click HERE to view the CGSUSA resources.

Mass Minutes with Melissa

Short reflections to better prepare children to hear the Gospel message during weekend Mass. Most weeks you will find a task or a challenge for your family. Head over to Shepherding our Songbirds on Facebook to share your family’s response to the weekly challenge.

Gospel Reflection for Weekend of July 11th & 12th

To view past Gospel reflections visit our YouTube Channel: St. Cecilia’s YouTube Channel

NEW FAMILY RESOURCE!

Looking for ideas on how to raise your child up in the faith?  Need suggestions on how to get through Mass with little ones?  What to meet other Christian families? If you answered YES to any of these you will want to check out Shepherding our Songbirds on Facebook.  This is a special group for Christian families where Melissa Teggatz, Coordinator of Elementary Faith Formation,s share ideas and resources for all kinds of families. Every Thursday she posts Mass Minutes with Melissa.  A short video to help your child be prepared for the weekend Gospel reading. Join us at Shepherding our Songbirds.