Goals of Middle School Faith Formation

The Middle School Faith Formation program is based upon these goals:

• Form a cohesive community of Middle School youth
• Allow space for small group discussions to deepen faith understanding
• Honor the significance of the Middle School years for identity and faith development
• Offer a fun, engaging, and safe environment for youth so as to cultivate a positive experience of church
• Invite Middle School students to consider how their faith can impact their life for the better and enable them to do good in the world.

2021-2022 Hybrid Faith Formation

The reality of the pandemic required us to rethink and reimagine faith formation activities last program year. As we return to a sense of normalcy this year, we seek to integrate what worked well last year with what we missed from years past, as well as to continue to prioritize safety for all of our students and teachers.

Middle School faith formation will occur in a hybrid format this year. Monthly sessions will take place over Zoom, and a beginning- mid- and end-year mini retreats will be held in person. See below for more info. We will follow CDC and Archdiocesan guidelines regarding social distancing/masking/other best practices.

If you determine that our plans for faith formation sessions will not work well for your family and would like to explore homeschooling curriculum, feel free to contact Teresa Coda for resource recommendations. 

Welcome to the Word: A Middle School Journey through the Bible

The guiding theme for the year is Scripture, and we’ll spend our sessions journeying through the Bible, learning about how God speaks to us, guides us, and inspires us through the stories of our faith. 

The overall goals of the program are to create a space for thoughtful conversation, demonstrate the relevance of our faith to the lives of middle schoolers in 2021, and build community. 

Curriculum resources used for the development of our sessions include: The Center for Ministry Development, Education for Justice, Catholic Central, Busted Halo and the McGrath Institute for Church Life, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. 

Students will need a personal Bible for the mini-retreats and Zoom sessions. Any translation of the Bible is fine, as long as it is a full Bible (not a children's storybook Bible). If they already have a Bible, wonderful. If not, here are a few good options: a Catholic Youth Bible, an inexpensive Bible, and a study Bible.

Volunteers are always needed!  If you are available to serve as a facilitator, please contact Teresa Coda.

Monthly Zoom Sessions

We received overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding the Zoom structure of last year's faith formation program and so will continue to host our monthly sessions virtually. Hour-long sessions involving community building, a short lesson, small group discussion and prayer will be taught by Teresa Coda, with smal group discussions led by 2-3 Peer Ministers or an adult facilitator.

Middle school sessions will meet from 5:00-6:00 p.m. one Sunday each month. See below for the full program schedule.

Seasonal Mini Retreats

Service

Service Opportunities provide students with a chance to live out their faith and participate in the Acts of Mercy to which Jesus calls us.  Though the social distancing necessitated by the current Covid-19 pandemic limits the number and type of service opportunities available, the Office of Faith Formation is attempting to provide ideas and opportunities for service as we are able to do so.  Click here to learn more.

Registration

Click here to register!

Questions or concerns can be directed to Teresa Coda at 781-784-2265.

Middle School 2021-22 Schedule 

E-Orientaiton:  Information about what to expect for the year will be sent out via email in early-September.

Monthly Zoom Sessions: Small groups will meet from 5-6:00 p.m. via Zoom on the following Sundays each month:

Seasonal Mini-Retreats: Mini-retreats will take place in O'Connell Hall on the following dates and times: