Elementary & Middle School Faith Formation
Elementary & Middle School Faith Formation seeks prepare our children to enter into a loving relationship with God. Through learning about the sacraments, church belief, and living with Jesus through the liturgical calendar, our goal is to lay the foundations of a family life centered around the love of Christ. This program will also prepare those children to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion as well as bring the teachings of the Church back into the home to help build a faith that goes beyond the church building and can be applied to living our faith out in the world.
Important documents and notes:
- PDF Calendar (updated 3/2/24). Google Calendar can be found below.
For questions or more information, please contact the Faith Formation Office.
To register for the program, please see registration information.
Program Information
Schedule: Faith Formation runs from mid September to early May.
Opening Gathering: We will all meet in the Marian Courtyard for opening prayer at 9:00 AM as well as announcements. Students will then follow their catechists to their classrooms for their session and parents will follow the priest to the gym for their session. Parents are required to sign in their children with their catechists.
Mass and Choir: The mass is the source and summit of our faith. As baptized Catholics, we are required to participate in Mass to give praise and adoration to God and celebrate the liturgy every week. Our faith formation sessions are based upon the Sunday's Gospel reading. The children will rotate and join the choir at 10:30 AM Mass.
Parent Sessions: The Church teaches that parents are the primary teachers of the faith (CCC #2223). More than anything else, our children look to us as role models of what it means to live as Catholics. These parent sessions will help you build up the Catholic faith at home and help you pass along the faith to your children. Parent sessions will be at the same time as the children are in their sessions, and will be in the school gym.
Pick Up: After the parent and student faith sessions, we will all go to 10:30 AM Mass together. Children in choir can be picked up in the choir area after Mass. Parents are required to sign out their children from their catechists.
Sacramental Preparation: Good Shepherd prepares children to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion in a two year process in accordance with guidelines set forth by Diocese of San Diego. During this time your child will learn about the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation as well as the graces we receive from regularly going to Reconciliation and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. We encourage you to make these sacraments a normal part of your family life by going to Reconciliation regularly so that your children can see how you experience these encounters with God.
Attendance and Absences: Consistent attendance is expected to ensure that your family is prepared for your youth to receive the Sacraments. If you and your youth have a combined absence of 5 or more, there is a chance that your youth's reception of the Sacrament will be delayed to a later date. We understand that life happens and you may get ill, there will be work trips, and life happens. If your family has any plans that conflict with faith sessions, please discuss this with Mike BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR so that arrangements can be made with your family to ensure that your youth is ready to receive the Sacraments.
