Sacramental Formation

Mend

First Reconciliation Prep

Make a way with Mend, a First Reconciliation experience for the entire family. Mend invites parents to reflect on their experience of Reconciliation and equip them to teach, share faith, and pray with their children. Families will encounter Jesus and experience the beauty of Reconciliation through hands-on activities and meaningful conversations. Dive deeper into the incredible gift God gives us of Reconciliation, with Mend.

MEND AT STELLA MARIS

Stella Maris offers the Mend program for families whose children do not attend St. Bernadette or St. Thomas More Schools. Of course, for families who do attend St. Bernadette or St. Thomas More Schools, you are certainly welcome to engage in this whole family formation process.

Mend is a program developed by Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries. It empowers and equips parents to teach, share faith, and lead prayer in their homes. The hands-on activities provided in the Mend box supply parents with what they need to engage the entire family — not only the child preparing to receive the Sacrament. Mend provides accessible teachings for families at different stages in their faith journeys.

Parent Meeting (Stievenard Hall @ St. Bernadette) — 6:30PM on Sept. 4, 2024
First Reconciliation Retreat (St. Bernadette) — 9:00AM on Nov. 16, 2024
First Reconciliation — 6:30PM on Nov. 19, 2024 (at St. Thomas More) or 6:30PM on Nov. 20, 2024 (at St. Bernadette)

Please note that registration for First Reconciliation and First Communion has been combined into one singular registration fee ($80). You need only purchase one “ticket” per child at the above link to register them for both programs.

NOURISH

First Communion Prep

Nourish is a First Communion experience for the entire family. Equip parents to teach, share faith, and pray with their children as they discover how the Mass relates to daily life. Families will encounter Jesus and experience the beauty of the Eucharist through a variety of hands-on activities and meaningful conversations. Watch families dive deeper into the incredible gift God gives us of the Eucharist, with Nourish.

NOURISH AT STELLA MARIS

Stella Maris offers the Nourish program for families whose children do not attend St. Bernadette or St. Thomas More Schools. Of course, for families who do attend St. Bernadette or St. Thomas More Schools, you are certainly welcome to engage in this whole family formation process.

Nourish is a program developed by Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries. It empowers and equips parents to teach, share faith, and lead prayer in their homes. The hands-on activities provided in the Nourish box supply parents with what they need to engage the entire family — not only the child preparing to receive the Sacrament. Nourish provides accessible teachings for families at different stages in their faith journeys.

Parent Meeting (Stievenard Hall @ St. Bernadette) — 6:30PM on Jan. 29, 2025
First Communion Retreat (St. Bernadette) — 9:00AM on April 12, 2025
First Communion — Time varies based upon parish

IGNITE

Confirmation Prep

IGNITE is a dynamic, youth ministry approach to Confirmation formation for 8th graders. Candidates from the Family of Parishes will gather once-per-month for an evening session on a particular topic. A session will consist of a meal, games/activities, a keynote talk, small group discussion, a brief witness talk, and prayer. The program will be led by a staff member and an adult Core Team of volunteer catechists trained in youth ministry.

IGNITE disposes candidates to be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit by:

helping them encounter and follow the person of Jesus Christ;
re-introducing them to the Holy Spirit;
cultivating a sense of belonging to the Church.

coming into full communion

RCIA Adapted for Children

Within Stella Maris, there are sometimes situations where children have not been baptized in the faith nor participated in the Sacraments of Initiation into the Catholic Church. For students who have reached the age of 7 (usually Second Grade) or older, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (all who have reached the age of reason) is adapted for Children. We meet during the school year and prepare for entry into the Church Family at the Easter Vigil utilizing the Ligouri Series “Journey of Faith for Children. Meetings begin in mid-September and continue through mid-May. Please contact Charles Marks ([email protected]) for more information.

Have questions about Sacramental prep?

Contact Charles Marks

Charles Marks is our coordinator of youth and family evangelization. You can reach him at [email protected].