Before I forget&

     
     Faith Formation is for everyone.  Come and join in the fun.  Our Mission Statement of Faith Formation is:
Christian Faith Formation at St. John's welcomes everyone and provides programs that foster growth in the Catholic Faith.  We support each individual's spiritual journey and recognize the parent or guardian as primary educator of his or her child(ren).  Our faith calls us to become a community formed by the Gospel, nurtured in liturgy and committed to service and justice for others.
     The terms the church has used to describe the process of sharing our faith with our children has varied over the years.  Some of us remember the term "CCD," Confirturnity of Christian Doctrine.  This idea sprang from the Council in Baltimore in 1884.  Some of us still remember the Baltimore Catechism which was written in a question and answer format which we learned by heart.
     After Vatican II in the late 60s and early 70s catechesis, to re-echo the word of God, started to change.  Vatican II invited us all to relook at the churches attempt to pass on the faith to our children and a variety of new curriculums for the Catholic Churches were published.  Here at St. John's we began to have a Sunday School Program to include our youngest parishioners to join in discovering their faith at an early age.  Also new ways of working with our teens arose strongly in this diocese.  By the 80s here at St. John's we established Youth Ministry as a part of our parish ministries.  We implemented having Confirmation in the ninth grade.  Now we started using two-day retreats and service as a part of our Confirmation program.  At this point they were at the Catholic Youth Center in Minneapolis and our Fr. Don Piche was the director.  We expanded the retreats to include 7th and 8th grade over night retreats done by our staff including the new peer ministers that we had trained.
     Our staff also included the Vacation Bible School program in the summer to give one week of fun, friends and bible study to children ages 3-Grade 5 with our teens and adults as teachers.
     The sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation all included parent(s)/guardian components.  Now with the blessing of our new space we have also included more parent/guardian activities for all ages.
     Family education and Adult education continues to be in the forefront of all the documents published by our Church.  There are many opportunities to continue to form our children and us.  Watch the bulletin for opportunities.  Faith Formation is not only what we do in our classrooms, but also more importantly what we do in our daily lives, at home, at work or at school.  Formation is a very large all encompassing word.  It has everything to do with how we live out our lives following the teaching and preaching of Jesus and the history of the Jews and early Jewish Christians.  It includes Sunday Mass, service, justice opportunities, and social and emotional growth.
     It is important to the current church documents that adult education is vital to the life of the church.  There are many opportunities for adults of all ages to continue their faith journey here at St. John's and all over the diocese.  You can find out about the broader opportunities available by reading the "Catholic Spirit" and both major newspapers.  If you are interested, take a look at our adult brochure found in the west entrance to St. Paul Plaza.  Some of the favorites are:  RCIA, Circle of Women, Bible Study, and Seekers:  Adult Theological Book Discussion Group. 
     Please call us if you have questions:  Mary Walus, early childhood (pre-K), Teresa Neuman, Elementary Coordinator  and Sandy Wadzink, Secretary.

Mary Ann Zervas
Director of Faith Formation