Family Faith Formation (FFF) Catechist OvervieCatechist Overview Information for SMSP FaithFormation Programs 2023-2024 including:
Catechist Overview Information for SMSP Faith
Formation Programs 2023-2024 including:
Family Faith Formation, Hispanic/Latino Sacramental Prep, Teen
Confirmation, High School Youth Group (see below for descriptions)
Family Faith Formation (FFF) Catechist Overview
● Catechists will be paired with other student catechists to teach PreK through 7th grade,
on Sunday morning Family Faith Formation sessions. A minimum of two catechists will
be teamed together and assigned to a specific grade/class depending on the size of
the class.
● FFF sessions meet one Sunday per month, Oct.-April, with two available time sessions
(8:15 am – 9:45 am or 11:15 am – 12:45 pm). (See dates below.)
● Catechists will prepare lesson plans together with their teaching partner and attend all
of their FFF Sunday classes but if unable to attend, should find a sub and make sure a
prepared lesson plan is available for the sub. Catechists also need to notify the FFF
intern or FFF coordinator in advance of the absence.
● Prior catechist experience is not required. Training, resources, and formation will be
provided at the Catechist Orientation and Catechist Planning sessions.
● Catechists will attend the Catechist Orientation/On-boarding on Sunday, Sept. 17,
2023 from 5-7 pm dinner will be provided.
● Catechists will attend the FFF/H-L SP /TC Catechist Planning Meetings held one
Monday evening per month to receive formation as well as collaborate and create
monthly lesson plans with their partner and other FFF catechists who teach the same
grade. Support materials, activity suggestions, and guidance will be available at these
meetings. These meetings will include dinner. Check the dates at the end of the page
please.
● Catechists will need to take the online VIRTUS safe environment training (if not
already trained) as well as complete a Code of Conduct and a Background check
release form prior to teaching a FFF class.
FFF – Tentative Calendar (Two available Session Times)
(Session time #1: 8:15 am – 9:45 am) or (Session time #2- 11:15 am – 12:45 pm)
● Oct. 8, 2023
● Nov. 19, 2023
● Dec. 3, 2023
● Jan. 21, 2024
● Feb. 11, 2024
● March 10, 2024
● April 7, 2024
Hispanic/Latino Sacramental Prep (H/L) Catechist Overview
● H/L Sacramental Prep sessions meet two Sundays per month (Oct.-April) from 3:00 pm to 4:45 pm.
● Catechists will be teaching bilingual students, therefore, it is recommended to speak, read and write spanish. This is a great opportunity to interact with the Hispanic/Latino community and learn about their culture.
● Prior catechist experience is not required. Training, resources, and formation will be provided at the Catechist Orientation and Catechist Planning sessions.
● Catechists will be paired with other student catechists to teach. A minimum of two catechists will be teamed together and assigned to a specific grade/class depending on the size of the class.
● Catechists will prepare lesson plans with their teaching partner and attend all of their Sunday classes but if unable to attend, should find a sub and make sure a prepared
lesson plan is available for the sub. Catechists also need to notify the H/L Sacramental Prep coordinator in advance of the absence.
● Catechists will attend the Catechist Orientation/On-boarding on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 from 5-7 pm dinner will be provided.
● Catechists will attend the FFF/ H-L SP/ TC Catechist Planning Meetings held one Monday evening per month to receive formation, as well as collaborate and create
lesson plans with their partner. Support materials, activity suggestions, and guidance will be available at these meetings. These meetings will include dinner. Check the dates at the end of the page please.
● Catechists will need to take the online VIRTUS safe environment training (if not already trained) as well as complete a Code of Conduct and a Background check release form prior to teaching a H-L SP class.
H/L – Tentative Calendar
(Session time: 3:15 pm – 4:45 pm)
● September 17, 2023 (Catechist Orientation/Onboarding 5 – 7 pm)
● September 24, 2023 – Getting to know my catechist
● October 8 and 22, 2023
● November 12 and 19, 2023
● December 3 and 10, 2023
● January 21 and 28, 2024
● February 11 and 18, 2024
● March 10, 2024
● March 14 2024 – 1st Reconciliation Rehearsal 6pm – 8pm
● March 15 2024 – 1st Reconciliation Service 6pm – 8pm
● April 5, 2024 – 1st Communion rehearsal 6pm – 8pm
● April 6, 2024 – 1st Communion Service 12pm
Teen Confirmation (TC) Catechist Overview
- TC sessions meet approximately two Sundays per month (Oct.-April) from 3:15 pm – 4:45 pm.
- Prior catechist experience is not required. Training, resources, and formation will be provided at the Catechist Orientation and Catechist Planning sessions.
- The Teen Confirmation Coordinator will create the TC lesson plans and will share them with the TC catechists.
- We will strive to pair two TC catechists together to facilitate a small group discussion or activity.
- TC catechists attend all TC sessions but if unable, should find a sub as well as notify the TC coordinator in advance of the absence.
TC catechists
- Catechists will attend the Catechist Orientation/On-boarding on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 from 5-7 pm (Dinner will be provided.)
- attend one Monday evening per month in-person Catechist Planning Meeting to receive formation as well as collaborate with the TC coordinator and other catechists. (Dinner will be provided.)
- attend one evening Zoom check-in meeting with the TC coordinator (day and time TBD) to collaborate with the TC coordinator and other TC
- TC catechists will attend the Teen Confirmation Saturday Retreat at SMSP (tentative date: 10/28/2023 from 10 am – 4:45 pm)
- TC Catechists will need to take the online VIRTUS safe environment training (if not already trained) as well as complete a Code of Conduct and a Background check release form prior to attending a TC class session.
TC – Tentative Calendar
(Session time: 3:15 pm – 4:45 pm)
- September 17, 2023 (Catechist Orientation/Onboarding 5 – 7 pm)
- October 8, 2023
- October 28, 2023 (Saturday, Retreat 10am – 4:45 pm)
- November 5, 2023
- November 19, 2023
- December 3, 2023
- December 10, 2023
- January 21, 2024
- January 28, 2024
- February 11, 2024
- March 9, 2024 (TC Reconciliation Service: 10 – 11 am – optional for catechists)
- March 10, 2024
- March 17, 2024
- April 7, 2024
- April 14, 2024
- April ?, 2024 – Confirmation Mass (6:30 pm – Date TBD) (Catechist attendance would be very welcome but not required.)
Catechist Planning Meetings
Meetings where all catechists will meet for formation and to collaborate with other catechists as well as use resources, and work on lesson plans. Support materials, activity suggestions, and guidance will be available at these meetings. Dinner will be provided.
Catechist Planning Meetings – Tentative Calendar
(Monday evenings 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm)
- Sept. 17, 2023 (Catechist Orientation/On-boarding) (5:00 – 7:00 pm)
- Oct.2, 2023 (for October session)
- Nov.13, 2023 (for November)
- Dec.27, 2023 (for December)
- Jan.15, 2024 (for January)
- Feb.5, 2024 (for February)
- March. 4, 2024 (for March)
- April 1, 2024 (for April)
High School Youth Group:
This is the first year back since before the pandemic so they will start off with 2 meetings per month on Sunday afternoons. There will be one English session and the second bilingual meeting will be combined with the Hispanic/Latino group. For more details including dates and times for the high school youth group, please contact Michael Regan at mregan@smspnewman.org.
For more information regarding catechist opportunities, please contact Karen Foster, Family Ministry Coordinator, at kfoster@smspnewman.org or if interested in volunteering, please complete the Catechist Interest Form at: bit.ly/CatechistInterestForm2023-2024