Philosophy of Saint John Fisher Children’s Faith Formation (C.F.F.)
We – teachers, Director of Religious Education, priests are your partners in faith.
As parents and guardians, the best thing you can do for your child is to provide structure, guidance and unconditional love. At your child’s baptism you expressed your desire to raise your child as a Catholic. Let us help you by providing informational classes and a community of your child’s peers. We hope your child’s C.F.F. classes will teach your child about Catholicism within the context of a group who support those beliefs.
Christianity is lived within a community.
C.F.F. classes last for 8 years. Your child’s affiliation with the Catholic church lasts forever. One of the greatest strengths of our program is its timing between two parish liturgies. We feel strongly that your child, at an early age, establish the habit of weekly mass attendance, preferably with your family. Our classes are purposely concise to ensure your child also attend Sunday liturgy. We feel this combination of instruction and worship will best serve your child and provide a foundation for a lifetime of faith, long after the requirements of C.F.F. end. We hope classes on Sunday combined with Sunday mass creates a life-long association of Sunday as a holy day, and a day set apart.
The power of the eucharist, the experience of community worship, the hearing of the Word are a vital part of your child’s faith development. Imagine the impact on a child to see people of all ages and stages coming together for an hour each week to celebrate their faith. Liturgy is the defining moment, the height and summit of Catholic worship.
Church is not boring
when children participate. We hope the Liturgy of the Word for children program for children in ages ages 3-Grade 2 during the 11:00 a.m. mass helps children feel even more a part of our parish community who cares so much for its youngest members that it has a program, just for them, during the mass. This program allows the children to experience the readings the will hear for the rest of their lives on a level they can understand.
Children learn by example, especially yours.
Children, more than anything, want to be grown up. You are vitally important role models. When you participate in liturgy, they think that is the grown-up and expected thing to do.
Every year is important. The children’s curriculum builds on the information presented the previous year. Every year the children learn new, key concepts. We count on your attendance each year, grades 1-8, and hope you wouldn’t dream of missing. Our C.F.F. classes are always in the best interest of your children. In addition to learning content, your child will feel loved and welcomed into this parish community which sees and hopes for only the best in each child charged to its care. We want to help you provide structure for your child for a journey in life filled with challenges and potential for great joy. In these very short years that your children live with you, we hope you give them the best gift: the foundation for the realization of a meaningful life as God’s beloved children.
When your child misses classes, he or she misses out on information, activities, discussions. Please make prayerful learning possible for your child by conscientiously bringing them each week.
In the midst of all the obligations placed on family life today, we hope this time at church is a number one priority. We hope your Sunday mass and learning experience helps bring a sense of calm and peace, and gives direction to your other activities.