Middle School Faith Formation

St. Columba Catholic Church

Dothan, AL

Faith Formation for Middle School
The Faith Formation Program for Middle School Students consists of the following activities: · Faith Festivals (Required) · Faith Formation Classes (Required) · Middle School Youth Group · Service Opportunities · Summer Faith Formation Opportunities
Faith Festivals The Faith Festivals are apart of the Faith Formation of Middle School students. At these sessions, students will engage in discussion and activities regarding Catholic teaching and the development of a healthy spirituality. See pages 4-5 in this Faith Formation Handbook for more information about and the schedule for the Faith Festivals. Attendance at both Faith Festivals and Faith Formation Classes is a required part of the Faith Formation Program.
Faith Formation Classes Students in 6^th-8^th Grade will participate in Faith Formation classes twice a month on Wednesday evenings from 6:15PM – 7:45PM. Attendance at both Faith Festivals and Faith Formation classes is a required part of the Faith Formation Program. These classes will provide additional content for the students as we strive to offer a systematic and comprehensive faith formation program. Students will be arranged in grade-level classes taught by a catechist and will utilize a Faith Handbook which has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and approved by Archbishop Rodi for use in the Archdiocese of Mobile. This Faith Handbook, The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers, published by St. Mary’s Press, offers a comprehensive program to help students strengthen their Catholic faith and identity, while helping them connect their faith and daily life. Over the course of three years, students will cover the six units in the Handbook: God, Revelation and Faith; Jesus the Christ; The Holy Spirit and the Church; Sacraments and Prayer; the Eucharist; Christian Morality and Justice. In addition, these classes will offer prayer experiences, service opportunities, seasonal themes, and other activities to enrich your student’s faith formation. Parents will be provided with a list of “Prayers to be Learned” for each grade level and are entrusted with the responsibility to teach these prayers to their children each year. Faith Formation Classes will be held on the following dates:
August 18	September 15	October 27	December 8	February 2	March 2
August 25	September 29	November 3	December 15	February 9	March 9
September 1	October 6	November 10	January 19	February 16	March 23
September 8	October 20	December 1	January 26	February 23	March 30
Middle School Youth Group Middle School Youth Group is an opportunity for students to interact with their peers in a larger group on a more social level. The evening will consist primarily of faith-building and community building activities. Middle School Youth Group will meet monthly on Sunday evenings from 6:30PM – 8:00PM in the Upper Room. The MSYG will eat with the Life Teen group and then move downstairs to their own program. Dates for Middle School Youth Group are:
August 22		November 7		February 6
September 26		December 5		March 6
October 24		January 9		April 3
Service Opportunities Middle School Students have the opportunity to help with several of the activities planned for the Elementary Students throughout the year. In particular, their assistance at Vacation Bible School is greatly appreciated. In addition, there may be Service Opportunities through the Middle School Youth Group. More information on Service Opportunities will be distributed as the projects present themselves.