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Elementary faith FORMATION kindergarten - 5th grade
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Documents
- CCE Calendar 2025-2026 (rev 2.20.26)
- CCE CALENDAR 2026-2027 (Draft 2.26.26)
- Elementary Faith Formation (CCE) Weekly Lesson Schedule 2025-2026 (Grades 1-5)
- Kinder Weekly Lesson Schedule 2025-2026
- Parent Night Fall 2025 Agenda
- Arrival & Dismissal Policies
- Expectations and Conduct Policy
- How to Receive Faith Formation Credit
- Common Prayers & Practices By Grade
- Internet Safety Resources
- Protect Young Minds Article
- Important Topics Book List
- Circle of Grace Parent Packet
- Circle of Grace Meditation
- Circle of Grace Code of Conduct
- Circle of Grace Grade-Level Parent Newsletters
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Contact Us
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Joan Hastreiterjhastreiterstlaurence.orgElementary Faith Formation Coordinator
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Molly Zimmermzimmerstlaurence.orgAssistant Coordinator of Children's Faith Formation
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Welcome to Elementary Faith Formation (CCE)!******************************************For a listing of all the meeting dates for the upcoming 2025-2026
Faith Formation year, please refer to the
ELEMENTARY FAITH FORMATION CALENDAR************************************************************Each year, our ability to satisfy the needs of all St. Laurence families registering for Elementary Faith Formation in terms of day and time offerings will be entirely dependent upon the commitment of volunteers willing to facilitate classes on these days. If you would like to support us in ensuring the placement of all of the children wishing to attend classes in-person this fall, please consider helping us by committing to serve this special ministry as a Catechist or Classroom Assistant. Each year, it takes upwards of 100 volunteers weekly to serve the children of St. Laurence in this way.Volunteering is now easier than ever with the Archdiocesan
CMG CONNECT SAFE HAVEN
training that is completely available online.
Please consider offering your time and talents to one of the many wonderful
ways to get involved in Elementary Faith Formation.
For more information on volunteering, please contact
Joan Hastreiter at [email protected]
or go to the CATECHIST webpage.
Thanks in advance for your prayerful consideration!*******************************************************************************
Children in grades Kindergarten-5th are invited to attend our weekly in-person
Elementary Faith Formation (CCE) program.Elementary Faith Formation uses the Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) textbook series, Alive in Christ. Alive in Christ is intentional in its focus on the life, mission and saving work of Jesus Christ. This lays the foundation for a lifelong relationship with Jesus, who continually leads us to his Father’s love and call us through the Spirit to share in the divine life through His Church (CCC, 426). Mirroring the divine pedagogy (i.e., the gradual and relational way that God reveals himself to mankind and teaches us), each lesson encourages a personal and ongoing relationship with God.Following a systematically organized scope and sequence, seven key themes of Catholic teaching - Revelation, the Trinity, Jesus Christ, The Church, Morality, Sacraments and the Kingdom of God - are repeated each year through a grade-level focus, which builds upon the child’s knowledge of the faith at each developmental stage.Presented via the use of a series of Essential Questions (or EQ’s) which serve as cognitive bookends for each lesson, the OSV texts support the
Catechetical Framework for Lifelong Faith Formation (CFLFF) as promulgated for the
Archdiocese by Cardinal Di Nardo in August, 2013.Here at St. Laurence we firmly believe that parents are the first and best teachers of their children in the ways of faith by what they say and do. We cannot do it for you. Instead, we seek to encourage, support, and equip parents and other loving adults to teach, pray, and celebrate the sacraments with the children God entrusted to their care. In this way our Catholic identity is strengthened in the current generation and is passed on to the next generation. Since the needs of families vary widely, we offer several different models of faith formation hoping one will support your family.
During the weekly Elementary Faith Formation classes, the children are instructed by volunteer Catechists who guide them in their journey of faith through lessons, discussion, Scripture, activities, and crafts. Our program is designed to partner with the parents in order to help your child grow and develop in their faith through different themes and topics.Catechists and parents have access to a variety of resources provided by OSV, including access to the Alive in Christ website at http://aliveinchrist.osv.com/. This website provides an amazing amount of content and links to help develop lessons and enhance faith formation at home. Families may access this website to further explore or deepen their children’s weekly lesson experiences.The Elementary Faith Formation Program is a structured class which meets weekly from September through the last week of April/first week of May. Children use the curriculum described above, as well as supplemental materials provided by their Catechists. Children share in their faith development with their peers in classroom-based lessons and activities. Family participation is expected at home through regular Mass attendance, review of materials and prayers, as well as through parental involvement in prayer services and/or service projects.
CLASS SCHEDULES
For the upcoming 2025-2026 Formation Year
Elementary Faith Formation Classes
(Grades K-5)
are scheduled to meet on the following days and times:Session 1: Tuesdays from 6 to 7:15 pm, ORSession 2: Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:30 pm
All classes are held in the Ave Maria Center ("AMC") on the St. Laurence campus.
Families may alternately choose a Home Study Elementary Faith Formation option allowing them to use the same materials as the weekly Elementary Faith Formation program. In addition to the textbook materials, a weekly Lesson Outline is provided guiding the families through their faith formation experiences at home. By utilizing a one-room schoolhouse teaching approach, the Home Study Elementary Faith Formation program allows families with children ages PreK3-5th grade to engage in faith formation together, intentionally supporting the parents in building up their domestic church at home. Home Study is a great opportunity for those who cannot commit to attending classes weekly and fits even the busiest of family's schedules. Home Study is also an option for families who cannot be placed in classes due to capacity restrictions.Registration for the Home Study Faith Formation option ends
on November 1st each year, with kick-off beginning by mid-September.
Check out the HOME STUDY webpage for more information.
********************************************************************Questions? Contact:
Joan Hastreiter at [email protected]