Family Formation

What is Family Formation?
Family Formation is a truly innovative preschool through sixth grade Catholic religious education program developed at the Church of Saint Paul in Ham Lake, Minnesota. Based on the principle that "Parents are the primary educators in the faith" (GDC 255), Family Formation is designed to be used at home, in the domestic church.

Family Formation offers a fresh, new approach to catechesis – it is family-based, has an adult education component at its core, is founded on the truth and teachings of the Catholic Church, and strengthens families to become the domestic churches our Holy Father has called them to be. This unique, challenging, and creative curriculum is designed to make living the faith a way of life and a life-long learning adventure.

How is the program run?
Families gather at church once a month, for one hour and thirty minutes. During this time, students in grades preschool through six meet in classes, divided by grade, with "substitute teachers." Meanwhile their parents, the primary educators, gather together for a teaching. Everyone learns about the same topic on different levels, enabling families to have follow-up discussions about their faith. Before each family leaves, they are given a packet of Home Lessons to be used each week throughout the remainder of the month.

Approximately one hour per week for the other three weeks is set aside by parents to teach their children from the easy-to-use weekly Home Lessons. Again, the family learns together, enabling parents to draw on common understandings and incorporate them into teachable moments that arise in the course of daily family life.

What is offered for students beyond the sixth grade level?
Students who have completed the Family Formation program are to enroll in our READY Confirmation program at the start of either their sixth (odd calendar years) or seventh (even calendar years) grade year. Holy Family offers a two-year preparation program for Confirmation, which includes one year of Bible study for teens (open to sixth through eighth graders), followed by a year of study on the Rite of Confirmation. Students are then confirmed during the spring of their seventh or eighth grade year.

Family Formation:

is written by parents, for use in families
follows the three-year liturgical cycle
is driven by Sacred Scripture
is faithful to the teaching of the Magisterium
references the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Links to Additional Information about our Family Formation program

Family Formation website at the Church of Saint Paul in Ham Lake, Minnesota
2009-2010 calendar
Frequently Asked Questions
Parents as Primary Educators

For additional information or to register for the program, please contact Nicole Arendell, Director of Religious Education at 309-688-3427, x. 225, or holyfamilydre@hotmail.com.