Religious Education Bringing Our Children and Families into Relationship with Christ

As a parish, St. Mark is dedicated to helping parents create a culture of faith, leading their students into a committed personal relationship with Christ that becomes part of their identity.

Split among Elementary Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, the Religious Education Program offers a variety of opportunities for families and their students to draw closer to the Lord and strengthen their knowledge of Scripture and Catholicism.

Using Sophia Institute Press’ A Family of Faith Formation curriculum, the parish provides three options for Elementary Faith Formation. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade can enroll in Whole Family Faith Formation or the parenttaught Home Study Formation program. Classroom Formation offers students in kindergarten through sixth grade the option to learn from a volunteer catechist each week — parents receive a parent resource in order to engage with their children about each lesson at home as well.

For Director of Religious Education Andrea Woolums, a mother of nine children, the program is a unique and valuable way to engage our young Catholics with their faith.

“Our volunteer catechists are amazing and share their faith in a classroom setting,” Andrea says. “They come up with innovative and creative ways to teach the content of lessons.” The Home Study program is an online option — parents are given access to a digital catechist’s manual, which they use to teach their student each lesson at their own pace. Students then complete a choice of activities through a digital portal.

Participants in the Whole Family option are placed into small groups called “pods.” These provide the opportunity for families to grow in faith, friendship and shared life together. This past year, the families in one pod discovered a mutual love of camping, so camping trips have become an important part of their pod life together! Another pod schedules potlucks and picnics outside of religious education time. All families meet three weeks a month — once as a pod, and twice for adult and student classes.

“Community building is huge and is a big part of the formation because you will be empowered if you meet another family that is living liturgical formation in the home,” Andrea says. “That’s how I grew my family formation in the home when I was raising my kids — learning from others.”

The curriculum provides parents with a variety of activity options geared towards different ages and interests.

“Most lessons have five to eight options, and you can choose the one that fits your family,” Andrea says.

“One pod includes a mother of three sons, and she told me upfront, ‘We’re not into singing, dancing or crafts — so, we’re going to watch a video and have a discussion,’” Andrea adds. “That mom is just loving the program. She told me she’s never seen her sons retain the information as much as they do now. Her youngest is in fourth grade, and she is having her high school son teach the lessons.”

Life Teen and Edge offer fellowship and mentorship for students in high school and middle school, respectively. The programs are supported by a group of adults known as the core team. Members receive training on how to give their witness stories, which are often given during Sunday night gatherings.

“We rely on testimony and personal faith sharing in order to invite them deeper into relationship with Christ and the Church,” says Brad Horn, Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Confirmation. “I’ve found that the more that we share stories about what God has done for us in our lives, the more of an impact it has. Faith is not a set of rules, rituals or traditions, but a relationship. Having the students understand that is foundational for their understanding of Church teachings.”

High school juniors and seniors can apply to join a teen leadership team. Teen leaders will help to plan events, give witness stories, and lead small groups and activities. Each leader will have an adult core team mentor to accompany them as they grow in their relationship with the Lord, the use of their gifts, and more. Mentors will help teen leaders plan their testimony, and be accountable disciples.

Brad sees the success of Youth Ministry and Confirmation playing out in the lives of young adults who have graduated and maintained their faith as part of their identity.

“I keep up with ones who have graduated and gone to college, and they are thriving in college,” he says. “A few have gotten involved in campus ministry and become leaders.”