Grades 7–8 Faith Formation 

Alive in Christ: Helping Middle School Students 

Discover the Life They Were Made For 

"Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire." — Saint Catherine of Siena 

Every parent wants the same thing for his or her child—to grow into a young man or woman of character, purpose, and faith. 

Yet we also know that adolescence can be a confusing time of life. Our children are surrounded by countless voices telling them who they should be, what success looks like, and where happiness can be found. 

Our Catholic faith offers a beautiful and hopeful answer. 

Through Baptism, each of us becomes a beloved son or daughter of God. That identity changes everything. We don't have to invent who we are or search endlessly for our worth. In Jesus Christ, we discover who we were created to be and the life we were made to live. 

That is the heart of our Grades 7–8 Faith Formation program. 

Our greatest hope is that every student comes to know Jesus Christ more personally, grows in friendship with Him, loves His Church, and discovers the joy, purpose, and freedom that come from following Him each day. 

We would be honored to walk that journey alongside your family. 

Sunday Mass: The Heart of Our Program 

Everything we do points toward the Eucharist. 

Our classroom helps students understand the Catholic faith, but Sunday Mass is where we encounter Christ most fully—in His Word, in the Holy Eucharist, and in the life of His Church. 

For that reason, we've designed our Sunday class schedule (10:00 – 11:00 a.m.) to make it easier for families to attend either the 9:00 a.m. or the 11:00 a.m. Mass before or after class. We're happy to give up a few minutes of classroom time if it helps more families make Sunday worship the center of their week. 

Parents: The First Teachers of the Faith

No one has a greater influence on a child's faith than his or her parents. 

From the very beginning, God entrusts parents with the sacred responsibility of introducing their children to Him and helping them grow as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Parents are, and always will be, their children's first and most important teachers of the faith. 

Our role is not to take the place of parents, but to walk beside them—to encourage, equip, and support them in this sacred vocation. Together, we hope to help our young people know Christ, love His Church, and grow into joyful disciples. 

Children spend about one hour each week with us. They spend countless hours with their families. The conversations around the dinner table, the prayers before bedtime, the decision to worship together on Sunday, and the example of Christian love lived at home are the moments that shape a child's faith most deeply. 

For that reason, our program is intentionally designed to support both students and parents. Through our regular Food, Faith & Fellowship Sundays, parent gatherings, and ongoing communication, we hope to offer practical encouragement, meaningful conversation, and helpful resources that give parents confidence to continue nurturing their children's faith long after class has ended. 

No parent has to do this alone. Together—as families and as a parish community—we can help our young people discover the life they were made for. 

Food, Faith & Fellowship Sundays 

About once each month, one of our regular Sunday classes becomes Food, Faith & Fellowship Sunday. 

Instead of meeting for our usual 10:00 a.m. class, students and parents will: 

• Celebrate the 11:00 a.m. Mass together; 
• Enjoy a simple parish brunch after Mass; 
• Participate in separate, engaging 30-minute sessions designed specifically for students and parents. 

These Sundays are a regular part of our Faith Formation program and are intended to strengthen our families, deepen friendships, and foster meaningful conversations about our faith throughout the week.  

What We'll Be Exploring Together 

Using the Augustine Institute's Word of Life curriculum, we'll explore Scripture, the Catechism, the lives of the saints, prayer, and the great questions of life. 

Together we'll wrestle with questions like: 

• Who am I, and why did God create me? 
• What does it mean to be a beloved son or daughter of God? 
• Why does Jesus matter today? 
• How do the Sacraments and Grace help us grow? 
• How can I recognize God's call in my own life? 
• What kind of person is God inviting me to become? 
• How do I grow in holiness, as a disciple and saint? 

As we search for those answers together, we'll also focus on cultivating the virtues that help us become more like Christ—virtues such as love, courage, humility, kindness, perseverance, generosity, and hope. Our goal isn't simply to know and love what is true, but to become the kind of people who joyfully live the truth. 

 “Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us is necessary.” – Pope Benedict XVI 

Faith Beyond the Classroom

Faith isn't simply something we learn. It's something we live. 

Throughout the year, students will have opportunities to encounter Christ in ways that extend beyond the classroom through experiences that reveal the beauty, goodness, and truth of our Catholic faith. 

These opportunities may include: 

• Christian service projects 
• Sacred art and museum visits 
• Prayer and Eucharistic Adoration 
• Seasonal parish celebrations 
• Devotional experiences 
• Fellowship gatherings 
• Special faith enrichment opportunities 

These experiences remind our students that following Jesus and living our Catholic faith isn't confined to one hour on Sunday morning. It is a way of life.  

Our Classroom Environment 

As students enter adolescence, they often become more thoughtful, self-conscious, and willing to ask honest questions about faith, friendships, identity, and life's challenges. 

While boys and girls share the same dignity and faith as disciples of Jesus, we also recognize that they sometimes learn, communicate, and mature in different ways. Whenever possible, we organize our classes into separate groups for boys and girls. We've found that this often creates an atmosphere in which students feel more comfortable participating in discussion, asking questions, and speaking openly about the realities of growing up and following Christ.  

Our goal is simply to create the best possible environment for every student to grow in faith, confidence, and authentic Christian friendship. 

Our Hope 

Our goal is much bigger than helping students learn more about the Catholic faith. 

Our hope is that they come to know Jesus Christ, discover who they are as beloved children of God, participate faithfully in the life of His Church, grow in virtue, and develop the confidence to live their faith with joy, compassion, and courage. 

Most of all, we hope they leave our program knowing that they are deeply loved by God, never alone in life's journey, and called to become the unique person and saint He created them to be. 

We look forward to welcoming your family as, together, we discover the life we were made for.