Youth Faith Formation Information

Our Mission

“Rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, the Youth Faith Formation Ministry of St. Raphael seeks to guide and support families in forming young disciples who are consumed with a love for Christ— growing to know Him, love Him with all their hearts, and follow Him through lives of faith, prayer and service.”

Know and Understand the “Good News” – Younger children learn about Jesus and how to “love God and one another”. Older children learn about the life of Christ and the tenets of the Catholic faith such as the Sacraments, Commandments, Beatitudes, etc.
Develop and Deepen Their Faith – Children realize the importance of Jesus in their lives and how they need to rely on Him for help.
Pray – Children learn how to pray and why it is important.
Serve Others – Children learn the importance of helping others without expecting something in return.

Overview

Faith Formation is so much more than just the learning of facts or memorizing of lists (such as the Ten Commandments or the Seven Sacraments). It is helping one to know, to celebrate, and to contemplate the mystery of God. It is getting to know Jesus and wanting to follow Him. As that knowledge and desire progresses, that relationship with God and with Jesus is nurtured. Faith Formation also emphasizes the need for liturgy and Sacraments, with the desire that all the faithful be
brought to full, conscious and active participation in the Church. By examining and transmitting the core values and attitudes of Jesus, Faith Formation prepares its participants to live in a Christian community and to be active in the life and mission of the Church.

Faith Formation Diocesan Curriculum

The Diocese of Joliet has instituted a Faith Formation Curriculum which is to be followed in all religious programs in the Diocese. The four goals of this Curriculum, and how Faith Formation at St. Raphael Parish meets those goals, are as follows:

Goal 1: Know and understand the basic teachings of the Catholic Church. Students learn fundamental teachings that provide the foundation of one’s Catholic faith. Such teachings include the Trinity, the Creeds, the Marks of the Church, Jesus’ life and teachings through Sacred Scripture, and the origin, tradition and mission of the Church.
Goal 2: Know and appreciate the importance of the liturgy and of the Sacraments in the life of Catholics. Students learn about the parts of and purpose of Mass, the sacraments and how they are signs of God’s love which transform our lives, and how the Eucharist is the most important celebration of our faith.
Goal 3: Understand and appreciate that through Baptism we are called to life in Christ. Students learn how the Commandments and Beatitudes guide them to live good moral lives. They also learn about the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and how they are to apply such services and stewardship in their lives. They learn to understand the presence of God’s grace in their lives.
Goal 4: Recognize and engage in personal and communal Catholic forms of prayer, of Scripture study, and of other experiences that deepens one’s spiritual life. Students learn the importance of, and the types of, prayer, how Scripture can be incorporated into prayer, and how Sunday readings and homilies should be discussed and applied in their lives.

Parental Involvement

The Faith Formation of any child begins long before he or she is enrolled in any program. At Baptism, parents are entrusted with their child’s life that God gave them. It is through the living witness of parents that children first experience the faith. The single most powerful force in a child’s religious formation is the spiritual personality of the parent. We know the parental factors that make a significant difference in promoting faith in children and youth include:

Parents’ personal faith and practice
A close and warm parent-child relationship
Parent modeling and teaching religious faith
Grandparent religious influence and relationship

It is critically important that parents are authentic examples of what they claim to believe. Their authenticity includes faithful living as well as sharing with their children their struggles and failings.

Therefore, a major emphasis in our program is parental involvement. First, we encourage parents to review the lessons with their children and discuss with them what they have learned after each class. Additionally built into the textbooks, for each chapter, are activities for the students to do with their family. The activities on these sheets support what is being presented in the chapter. We ask that you and your child together do at least one of the activities found on these sheets for each chapter. Please understand that this is not homework for the student but a family faith activity.

Parents are asked to be actively involved in the sacramental preparation program and to help their children learn the required prayers. It is also important for parents, along with their children, attend Mass and other liturgical celebrations on a regular basis. The role of the Faith Formation Department joins with you in your child’s formation and is ready to assist you as the primary Catechist. The key to our success is your active involvement and living as role models of God’s love. I pray that we work as a team to help your child/children grow in their faith.

HOW To Help Kids Embrace GRATITUDE

Communication

Parents are encouraged to call catechists if they have any questions or concerns. Catechists are likewise encouraged to call upon parents for assistance. Please be open to communication. It is the best way to prevent small problems from becoming larger than they need to be. Parents are welcome to observe a child’s class but arrangements must be made in advance due to security reasons. Please contact the Director if this is something you would like to arrange.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary to ensure that your child receives the fullness of the faith formation that is offered by St. Raphael. Each child is allowed 3 excused absences throughout the year. Furthermore, consistent classroom instruction is needed to ensure that your child is obtaining the necessary knowledge to properly grow in their faith and receive the sacraments. Much like attendance in elementary/middle school, absences can have an adverse effect on your child’s growth. Therefore, if your child is absent more than three times during faith formation year a meeting may be necessary in order to facilitate an effort to get your child caught up with his or her classmates.

If your child is not able to attend class due to illness or family emergency please contact the catechist by email or call the Faith Formation Office as soon as possible, with your name, the child’s name and the reason. 630-615-7614.
If early dismissal is necessary, please notify your child’s catechist and/or the Youth Faith Formation office to make arrangements.
If classes are cancelled for any reason, your child’s catechist will contact you or you will receive an email from the YFF Office. The parish website will also note the cancellation.

Behavior

Unacceptable behavior will initially be handled by the catechist. If the unacceptable behavior continues, the student will be sent to the Director’s office. If the student is sent to the office, a warning will be issued to the student. If there are further issues, the catechist will contact the parents and notify the Director. Continuous misbehavior will result in a parent-and student conference with the Director and the catechist. This must take place before the student is allowed to return to class.

All students should understand the following general rules:

Be respectful at all times to the catechist and to your fellow students
No gum, food or drink unless approved by the catechist
No foul or inappropriate language at anytime
No verbal or physical abuse
No sitting on the desks or tables
No disrespect for other student’s belongings
No screaming or shouting
No running at anytime while in the school building
The student must have the catechist’s permission to use the restroom
No talking or leaving their seats unless instructed by the catechist
No cellphones or other electronic devices are to be used at anytime during class time. If this rule is not followed the item will be confiscated and returned at the end of class.

Sacramental Preparation

We invite our students to join with the St. Raphael Church community in celebrating the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion. Through parent meetings, at-home preparations, in class study, retreats, prayer and liturgical celebrations, your child will receive all necessary preparation for a meaningful initiation into sacramental life.

Preparation for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion begins in first grade with instruction on the need for Jesus in our lives, and continues in the second grade with instruction on the Trinity and the importance of these two sacraments. The Catholic Church requires that a child have the opportunity to receive the sacrament of First Reconciliation before receiving First Communion. Our Children’s Faith Formation program meets this obligation, and separates the reception of the two sacraments by an appropriate time period. Children in grade 3 or higher who wish to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will be required to complete two years of Faith Formation in order to receive the necessary formation prior to receiving the sacrament. Interested parents should contact the Youth Faith Formation office for details.

Family participation in the preparation process for these sacraments is of the utmost importance! Families will be informed of, and will be expected to attend, parent meetings and other activities or events. Families are expected to provide a home faith environment that supports prayer and Scripture reading, and regular Sunday mass attendance and participation is critical so that these children understand and appreciate the beauty and importance of these sacraments.

Reconciliation & First Communion Important Dates

These dates will be posted as they become available.

Mandatory Parent Meeting
- December 9, 2025, 6:00pm
First Reconciliation
First Communion Retreat
First Communion Practice
First Communion

Curriculum Grades 1-8

Click below for specific grade units.

Curriculum Grades 1-8

Safe Environment

St. Raphael Parish cares about all children and their safety is of the utmost importance. We know child abuse causes children to suffer emotional scars for many years. We all want our children to be treated with love, care, and respect. As part of its ongoing mission, the Diocese of Joliet requires that all Parish staff members and volunteers who work with children participate in a workshop called “Protecting God’s Children.” The workshop informs them about the permanent harm done to children and also teaches ways to prevent child abuse. It is designed to provide the facts about child abuse and hopefully motivate people to action in preventing abuse. In addition to participating in the “Protecting God’s Children” workshop, all volunteers are required to complete a standard application that includes a release of information to allow for background checks. Volunteers are required to read and operate by the “Standards of Behavior for Those Working with Minors.”

Also, all Catholic schools and parish Faith Formation programs in the Diocese of Joliet must offer instruction for children regarding the prevention of child sexual abuse if it is not offered at the public schools. However, such instruction is offered by the public schools in Districts 203 and 204, and therefore our program does not offer such instruction.

Medications

The Medical Form you completed at the time of registration is kept confidential in the Youth Faith Formation Office, and the catechist is made aware of any concerns. If your child’s medical record needs updating at anytime during the year, please inform the office as soon as possible. If your child needs to take a medication during class, we ask that if possible it be taken right before or after class. If this is not possible, it is necessary that the Permission to Administer medication Form be completed and returned to the office before the medication can be administer. Note that any medication to be distributed during class time must be given to the child’s catechist at the start of class, and will only be distributed by the catechist.

Youth Faith Formation Facebook Page

Parent Resources

For more information, contact:

Michele Kmety, Director of Children’s Faith Formation
(630) 615-7642 or mkmety@st-raphael.com

Marge Coronado, Faith Formation Administrative Assistant
(630) 615-7614 or mcoronado@st-raphael.com