Faith Formation

For more information about the Faith Formation opportunities at St. Michael, please contact Pat Mundy, Director of Faith Formation, at 527-1037, ext. 13, or pmundy@saint-mikes.org.

Preschool Program
(during 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Liturgy-Oct.-Apr.)
Children who are 3 or 4 years old by September 30 are eligible to attend. The program used is "I Am Special." Classes are held during our Eucharistic celebrations. Parent volunteers serve as teachers. All parents volunteer on a rotating basis as classroom assistants each week.
Contact: Patti Kamper

Kindergarten
(during Sat. 5:30pm, Sun 9:30 & 11:30am liturgies - Oct-Mar)
Children who are presently attending kindergarten in a public, private, or home school setting are eligible to enroll. The curriculum used is the Pflaum Gospel Weekly "Promise," a program based upon the readings from the Sunday lectionary. Volunteers are needed to serve as teachers and classroom assistants.
Contact: Patti Kamper

Grades 1-5 - Textbook: Faith First
(weeknights - Sept-Mar)
This program incorporates prayer, outreach, and social dimensions along with the classroom experience, and the curriculum used is RCL's Faith First. Classes are held from late September through March. Four choices of class times are available:

Wednesday - 5:00pm or 6:30pm
Thursday - 4:00pm or 5:30pm

Youth Ministry, grades 6-9
Grades 6, 7, 8 and 9

Calendar of Dates
Permission Slip

F.I.R.E.
(home-based)
F.I.R.E., or Family-centered Intergenerational Religious Education - a group of 5-7 families that meet twice a month in a leader's home for the sharing, deepening, and handing on of our Catholic faith. Children and adults of all ages participate together, discussing and learning through experiential, inductive lessons. (This is an alternative to regular classroom religious education.) All members of St. Michael Village are encouraged to join-singles, couples, families, Village Varsity (50+ years of age).
Contact: Liz Kornacki

Vacation Bible School
This program provides a summer experience for children from preschool through grade 4. VBS takes place during one week of the summer from 9-12 each day. Volunteers are needed to direct and serve as location leaders, small group leaders, youth helpers, etc. More Info
Contact: Pat Mundy

Sacramental Preparation
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (grade 3)
Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is a joint process for third graders and their parents. "In the Lord's Peace" and "Around the Lord's Table" are the programs used, because they recognize and build on the fact that the primary people to prepare children for these sacraments should be their parents. Children attend the preparation sessions with a catechist while parents attend adult education sessions with the pastor. These sessions are IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM (CLASSROOM OR F.I.R.E.) and require a separate registration.
Contact: Pat Mundy

YOUTH GRADE 6-12: We are excited to announce a new program of youth ministry called LIFE TEEN. This way of doing youth ministry involves creative, eventful sessions that bring our Catholic faith to life in practical ways for both our middle school youth through the EDGE program and the high school youth through the LIFE TEEN program. Also check out www.lifeteen.com to find out more about what is coming to St. Michael's this fall! An increased number of volunteers will be needed to assure the success of this new venture. Please contact Elise Chapman, Youth Minister, to find out how you can help!

LIFE TEEN (Grades 9-12) will be held on Sunday afternoon/evening kicking off in September and concluding in April. Winter break will be from November 28-Feb 6. Students can choose from either the 3:00p-5:00p session or the 6:45p-8:45p session. Our Fall Semester Theme is "Scripture" and our Winter Semester Theme is "Person of Christ".

EDGE (Grades 6-8) will be held on Monday evenings from 6:00p-7:30p kicking off in September and concluding in April. Winter break will be from November 29-Feb 7. There will be an optional meal provided from 5:30p-6:00p, however RSVP's will be needed to ensure the appropriate amount of food! Our Fall Semester Theme is "Scripture" and our Winter Semester Theme is "Creed".

CONFIRMATION: Because of Confirmation policy change in the Diocese of Richmond which has moved the time of reception of the sacrament of Confirmation to the grade 10 year, our Confirmation process has changed. All students who will be in the 10th/11th grade during the 2010/2011, "must be enrolled in a concurrent religious education program" (For St. Michael, that program will be LIFE TEEN) and participate in Sacramental Preparation for Confirmation. The actual Confirmation preparation process will consist of 6 separate sessions, using the "Oneight" program that was used during our 2009-2010 year, and will be held once a month throughout the year. These separate sessions will be held on Sunday evenings from 6:45-8:45 for Confirmation Prep students only. There will be no LIFE TEEN sessions on Confirmation nights. The celebration of Sacrament of Confirmation will be held during the Easter Season, some time after April 24 and before Pentecost. Once we are informed of the date from the diocese, we will let you know. Please note, that because of the size of our Confirmation class, it is highly likely that a) we will have to have 2 liturgical celebrations, and b) one of them may be celebrated by someone other than the bishop. We will keep you posted as time progresses. Our Confirmation class of 2011 could exceed 225 students! Because of those numbers, we will rely heavily on our volunteers to ensure the success of both the LIFE TEEN and the Oneight Programs. Because both programs work hand in hand, it is our hope that when you volunteer for one, you are volunteering for both.

2010 Confirmation Handbook
A Letter to the Pastor
Confirmation Health and Conduct Form
Permission Slip

High School Seniors

The Office of Campus and Young Adult Ministry is asking for your address. Why, you ask? If you are attending a college or university in Virginia, the information will be forwarded to campus ministers who will welcome you to the campus and let you know what opportunities there may be for you.

However, if you are entering the work force and remaining in the area, your name will be forwarded to regional young adult committees. These groups will welcome you to their activities.

Please return this form to the Office of Campus and Young Adult Ministry at the above address at your earliest convenience. We you very much for your assistance.