Family Faith Formation- Catholic School and HTH

Do my Catholic School or HTH children need to attend the weekly parish Family Faith Formation classes?

Catholic school families are exempt from participating in the parish Family Faith Formation classes as your children are receiving faith formation classes 5 days a week in their parochial schools.  

HTH members are exempt from participating in the parish Family Faith Formation classes as you are already implementing faith formation every day and all day as a Catholic homeschooler. 

Do my Catholic School or HTH children need to register with the parish Faith Formation office every year?

YES! Please register your children (K-8th) with the parish Faith Formation office every year, even though you do not need to attend the classes.

Why? Because it helps our pastor show the diocese the demographics of his parish. If our parish looks like it only has 400 children in grades K-8th, we do not show a correct picture of our parish to the diocese. Currently, on paper, it looks like we have many families at HT, but very few children. 

How do I register my Catholic School and HTH children with the Faith Formation office?

All parish families (including Catholic School/HTH) MUST register any child who will be receiving a sacrament in 2024 and 2025 at Holy Trinity. Registration will run June 5-July 31.

The cost is $30 per child for children receiving a sacrament in 2024 (2nd year First Holy Communion and 2nd Year Confirmation) to cover retreat and other material expenses. There is no fee for the children who are receiving a sacrament in 2025 (1st Year First Holy Communion and 1st Year Confirmation).  

Registration of your non-sacramental children who are in K-8th grade costs nothing, so please also include them on the registration form.

2023-2024 Faith Formation Registration (registration opens June 5 and closes July 31) CLOSED

An email will be sent to you after June 30 with payment information if you have a child in a sacramental year. Your registration is NOT complete until payment is received.

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What do my Catholic School and HTH children in a sacramental year need to do?

For ALL children receiving First Holy Communion or Confirmation in 2024

Since the diocese requires two consecutive years of documented faith formation prior to a sacrament, please send a brief email after registering stating that your child successfully completed his/her first year of sacramental prep and completed your program requirements in 2022-2023. It will be printed and filed with your child’s sacramental records. The email should be sent to htsacramentalwork@gmail.com before you begin this school year.

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Receiving First Holy Communion in 2024

(2nd Year First Holy Communion)

Sacramental Review Spreadsheet

The 2nd Year FHC Sacramental Review Spreadsheet is for you and your child to use to see what has been completed.

This spreadsheet will be updated on Sunday evenings for you to check each Monday. We try our best, but if you ever notice a discrepancy, please email Lourdes Highfill: reassistant@holytrinityparish.net

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Forms

The following forms are DUE NOV 6, 2023. They should be turned in to the Family Faith Formation office using the Family Folder provided for you in the Ministry Closet. When you walk into the closet, there is a file cabinet on top of one of the three drawer cabinets. Your folder is in that file cabinet. DO NOT email us these important forms!

Letter of Intent

Data Form

A copy of the First Communicant’s Baptism Certificate AND Birth Certificate are also DUE NOV 6, 2023.

**If your child was baptized at Holy Trinity, you DO NOT need to submit their baptismal form. We have that record already.**

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Mass Missions

In the fall and spring for 12 consecutive weeks each, the kids have a mission to learn more about the church and the Mass!

Fall 2023 Mass Mission Dates

Sept 30 and Oct 1- Dec 16 and 17

Spring 2024 Mass Mission Dates

Jan 6 and 7- March 23 and 24

Attend Mass each week and after Mass, complete the mission for each week below. Please be sure to do this WITH your child so they can learn to pay attention in Mass and discover beautiful treasures in our church.

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Retreats/Quizzes

FIRST PENANCE RETREAT–Jan 6, 2024, 8:45am-12:00pm.

FIRST PENANCE QUIZ- DUE Jan 12, 2024 (turn into family folder)

SACRAMENT OF FIRST PENANCE will be received Jan 13, 2024, 10:00am-12:00pm OR Jan 20, 2024, 10:00am-12:00pm

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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION RETREAT- April 13, 2024, 8:45am-12:15pm

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION QUIZ-DUE April 19, 2024 (turn into family folder)

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Receiving First Holy Communion in 2025

(1st Year First Holy Communion)

There are no extra parish requirements. We will reach out to you at the end of the year to ask for a letter stating that your child successfully completed his/her first year of sacramental preparation.

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Receiving Confirmation in 2024

(2nd Year Confirmation)

Sacramental Review Spreadsheet

The 2nd Year Confirmation Sacramental Review Spreadsheet is for you and your child to use to see what has been completed.

This spreadsheet will be updated on Sunday evenings for you to check each Monday. We try our best, but if you ever notice a discrepancy, please email Lourdes Highfill: reassistant@holytrinityparish.net

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Forms

The following forms are DUE NOV 6, 2023. They should be turned into the Family Faith Formation office using the Family Folder provided for you in the Ministry Closet. When you walk into the closet, there is a file cabinet on top of one of the three drawer cabinets. Your folder is in that file cabinet. DO NOT email us these important forms!

Confirmation Data Form

Sponsor Eligibility Form

Confirmation Letter of Intent

A copy of the candidate’s Baptism Certificate AND Birth Certificate are also DUE NOV 6, 2023.

**If your child was baptized at Holy Trinity, you DO NOT need to submit their baptismal form. We have that record already.**

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Sacramental Assignments

The following sacramental assignments need tobe completed and turned into the faith formation office:

Walking Together Sponsor Interview (DUE JAN 8, 2024)

Saint Report Guidelines (DUE FEB 5, 2024)

Prove It Prayer Assignment (DUE MARCH 4, 2024)

Works of Mercy Assignment (DUE APRIL 1, 2024)

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Resources

To be shared with the candidate’s Sponsor:

The Role of A Confirmation Sponsor

Use the Priest Interview questions to prepare for your interview. A sign-up for Priest Interviews will be available in January.

Confirmation Priest Interview Questions for Candidates

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Saint Cards

In the fall and spring our priests will be waiting to greet you after Mass for 10 consecutive weeks to give you a saint card. This is a requirement!

Fall Saint Card Dates

Sept 30 and Oct 1- Dec 2 and 3

Spring Saint Card Dates

Jan 20 and 21- March 23-24

If you are unable to attend Mass at Holy Trinity, please turn in to the faith formation office a bulletin from the church you attended. Turn these bulletins in by placing them in the wall box outside of our office with the candidate’s first and last name on the top. Please do not email us bulletins!

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Apologetics Sessions

Being able to explain your faith is important as a newly confirmed Catholic. TheserequiredApologetics sessions will help you do just that! Choose one session time in the fall and one session time in the spring for a parent and the candidate to attend.

Fall: Is There Scientific Evidence for the Existence of God?

Fri, Nov 17, 7:00-8:30pm OR Sat, Nov 18, 10:00am-11:30am

Spring: Why Would An All-Loving God Allow Suffering?

Fri, Feb, 9, 7:00-8:30pm OR Sat, Feb 10, 10:00am-11:30am

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Confirmation Retreat, Final Grades, Rehearsal

CONFIRMATION RETREAT– Fri, April 19, 2024 (5:30pm-9:00pm) AND Sat, April 20, 2024 (8:30am-4:00pm)

Final Grade– At the end of the year you will need to submit an email stating that your child has successfully passed their religion class and required coursework. We will need that email by May 6, 2024. The email should be sent to htsacramentalwork@gmail.com. Some parochial schools will not have completed classes by this date, but hopefully, by May 6 you will have a pretty good idea if the candidate is going to pass his/her religion class and you can testify to that in an email.

CONFIRMATION REHEARSAL– Thurs, May 23, 2024

5:00pm-6:30pm (for May 28 Confirmation)
7:00pm-8:30pm (for May 29 Confirmation)

CONFIRMATION MASS– Tues, May 28, 2024, 7:00pm OR Wed, May 29, 2024, 7:00pm

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Receiving Confirmation in 2025

(1st Year Confirmation)

There are no extra parish requirements. We will reach out to you at the end of the year to ask for a letter stating that your child successfully completed his/her first year of sacramental preparation.