Dear Parents,  

August 11, 2024 

Faith Formation and YM3 are back (and a little earlier this year)! Faith Formation classes (1st – 7th grade) and YM3 (Confirmed 8th graders – 12 grade) will be on Sundays at St. Charles from 12:45- 2:30 p.m. starting AUGUST 25th. Please see attached tentative schedule. Registration fees this year are  $50/student for all students 1st – 12th grade. Registration fees can be paid the first day of class or they  can be dropped off in the parish office. If you have any questions regarding the registration fees please  let me know.  

Pre-K Sunday School will again be available at St. Charles during the 11 a.m. Mass starting (starting  SEPTEMBER 8th)! If you have preschoolers 3-5 years old, we’d love to have them.  

We are continuing our Advent Fun Fridays and Lenten Dinners and Stations. Join us for dinner and a  fun activity (chosen by the kids). Our first Fun Friday will be Friday, October 18th at Greenville High  School for a tailgate party and then we will head to the Greenville Football Game to cheer on our  friends! 

Second Grade/First Communion Parents:  

Attention all 2nd graders this is your year! First communion classes will be starting the same time as  our Faith Formation classes. If your child is in second grade (or older) and has been baptized in the  Catholic faith, please sign up today. First communion students will be making their first reconciliation  in December and their first communion in the spring of 2025.  

Seventh Grade/Confirmation Parents:  

Attention all 7th graders this is your year! Confirmation classes will be starting the same time as our  Faith Formation classes. Our confirmation program is a one-year program (Chosen from Ascension  Press) with the candidates being confirmed in the Spring of 2025. Confirmation students are required  to have 75% class attendance.  

Sacramental Preparation Classes 

If you have a child who has reached the age of reason (age 7) and has not received the sacraments of  Baptism, Reconciliation or First Holy Communion, we have several classes they can take this year to  come into the Church. The classes will take place at the same time as our regularly scheduled classes.  

Instrumentalists wanted! 

If you have a child who plays a musical instrument, we’d love to have them play at Christmas Eve  Mass. Rehearsals will start mid-October. Please let me know if you are interested. 

We are currently in need of a catechist for 3rd-6th grade. The curriculum is based off of each weeks  Gospel. It comes complete with lesson plans and lots of support! We’d love to have you join our team. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at (616) 794-2145. 

In Christ, 

Tessa Hoffman
Coordinator of Religious Education/Youth Minister
St. Charles and St. Joseph-St. Mary
thoffman@saintscjm.com
(616) 794-2145

Click here to register for Religious Education classes.

Religious Education Calendar 2024-2025

General Faith Formation Information

Preparation for and celebration of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist take place in the second grade. Confirmation is celebrated every spring with the seventh grade students. Students are expected to attend yearly catechesis to prepare themselves for Confirmation and living a life-long faith. 

The elementary religious education program offers a comprehensive and developmental coverage of the basic teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, and the content is completely correlated to the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. Volunteers and youth ages 14 and older who would like to share their faith and enjoy being with youth are welcome to help with this ministry as catechists, sacramental preparation teachers (preparing older students who have not yet received the sacraments) or aides.

*Any child 7 years and older that has not been baptized and  would like to receive Sacraments should contact Tessa Hoffman to arrange for RCIA classes. Tessa Hoffman can be reached at 754-4194 ext. 130.

Classes begin in the Fall at St. Charles.

Looking for something to fill your time?

Could you spare 2 hours a week to help our youth?  Please consider sharing your love of your faith with our youth and become a catechist.   If you are interested, please contact Tessa at (616) 794-2145 or thoffman@saintscjm.com.