Children's Faith Formation

“Young people…must realize that living the faith in our time is possible, that it is not a question of something obsolete but rather, that it is possible to live as Christians today and so to find true goodness.”
—Pope Benedict XVI

SMV is packed with young people and growing families! From families committed to educating their children in the home to those raising their kids faithfully in parochial and public schools, the parents and indeed the larger community at SMV work together to provide an environment in which each child has the opportunity to grow in the fullness of the Catholic faith. Our children can be saints now. That is our view. Thus, we’re committed to showing our young people the truth and beauty of our Catholic faith.

Saint Mary the Virgin's Religious Education program fosters a deeper understanding and love for our Catholic faith.  We utilize materials that are faithful to the Catechism and the Magisterium.

For more about our curriculum, click below.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

We require families to be active and participating (attend Mass at St. Mary's on Sunday and participate in parish life) members of our parish in order to use the Religious Education program.

To view the current class schedule and calendar, click the links below.
Classes
Calendar
To register your child for Religious Education, click below.
Registration Form

Restored Order of the Sacraments

As Bishop Lopes has recently encouraged our Ordinariate parishes, the religious education program at SMV has returned to the "restored order" of the sacraments, conferring Confirmation immediately before each child receives their First Eucharist. All parish children above the age of reason (seven years old), therefore, are eligible to receive Confirmation!

Discernment on the time for each child to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist will begin after the child turns seven, usually in their second year of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 2. The child, the parents, and the pastor are encouraged to discern together the readiness of each child.

As the sacrament of Confirmation completes the graces received at Baptism and fully prepares our hearts to receive the source and summit of our faith, Our Lord in the Eucharist, this "ancient" change will provide our next generation with the graces they need to face our increasingly uncertain world. For more information on this pastoral practice click below. 

Restored Order of the Sacraments

For information about Sacramental preparation, click below.
Sacramental Preparation