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

• Provide opportunities for the students to be more involved in the life of the church

• 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

So, what does this mean? The program consists of three core elements:

Group Meetings

All Middle School youth (grades 6-8) will attend one monthly meeting together on a Sunday evening from 7:00-8:30 PM or a Wednesday evening from 7:00-8:30 PM (with refreshments and social time from 6:45-7:00). During this time, we will have a large group presentation, activity, or learning piece that will engage the youth on a particular topic. Immediately following the large group element, the youth will split into smaller groups to go deeper into the topic and share with each other. Members of the small groups will remain the same from month to month so as to build trust and community.

Small groups are facilitated by a core team of dedicated volunteers. The role of this core team is to engage the youth fully in the games, activities, and discussions that occur during the group gatherings.  Please see the full program calendar below.

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.  Each Middle School student is invited to take part in as many service opportunities as they like and is expected to participate in at least one.  Click here for a complete list of service opportunities and to sign up, complete a permission slip, and learn more.  The list will be updated throughout the year.

Spiritual and Enrichment Experiences

OLOS offers a variety of Spiritual and Enrichment experiences, intended for parishioners to build community, practice their faith, learn in varied ways, and deepen their spirituality.  While everyone is welcome to attend all enrichment events, each Middle School student must attend three enrichment events throughout the year. Click here for a complete list of Spiritual and Enrichment Opportunities, including our monthly Youth Nights, which will be updated throughout the year.  Some experiences are open to all parishioners, while others are for Middle School students (and chaperones, of course!) only.  

Click here to register for the 2018-2019 Faith Formation program.  

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

Curriculum

OLOS’s Middle School Faith Formation program is based on the USCCB document Renewing the Vision: A Framework For Catholic Youth Ministry, which suggests faith themes to be to be covered in an adolescent catechesis curriculum.  Session topics rotate on a three-year cycle. OLOS uses the Center for Ministry Development and other resources to develop engaging lesson plans to cover each session’s topic.  Prayer, Scripture and community building are integrated into each session.

Year One

The Communion of Saints

The Eucharist

Advent and the Nativity

The Sacraments of Initiation

Reconciliation

Lent

The Triduum and Easter (Youth Commission Led)

The Holy Spirit and Building the Kingdom

Year Two

The Mass

The Bible

The Liturgical Year

Prayer (Youth Commission Led)

Jesus

The Trinity

Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Moral Teaching

Year Three

The Creed: I believe in God

The Creed: I believe in Jesus

The Creed: I believe in the Holy Spirit

The Church

Vocation

Christian Service (Youth Commission Led)

Grace as Gift

Christian Community and Relationships
 

Middle School 2018-2019 Schedule (PDF)

Middle School Parent Orientation:  Wednesday, September 27th, 7-8 p.m., O’Connell Hall

Class Schedule (students will register for either the Sunday night or Wednesday night class sessions. All sessions meet in O'Connell Hall.  Sunday sessions meet from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and Wednesday sessions meet from 7-8:30 p.m.)

Sunday Sessions and Topics
October 14: The Creed: I Believe in God
November 4: The Creed: I Believe in Jesus
December 9: The Creed: I Believe in the Holy Spirit
January  6: The Church
February 10: Vocation
March 17:  Christian Service
March 24: Snow Date
April 7: Grace as Gift
May 5: Christian Community and Relationships

Wednesday Sessions and Topics
October 17: The Creed: I Believe  in God
November 7: The Creed: I Believe  in Jesus
December 12: The Creed: I Believe  in the Holy Spirit
January  9: The Church
February 13: Vocation
March 20:  Christian Service
March 27: Snow Date
April 10: Grace as Gift
May 8: Christian Community and Relationships