Faith Formation, Grades K-8

St. Anthony Catholic Church is committed to assisting families in fostering their knowledge and understanding of who God is in their lives and in the lives of their children. We seek experiences which will encourage us to continue to grow, to share, and to witness our faith in God.

The primary goal of St. Anthony’s Children’s Faith Formation is, with the assistance of their parents, to increase the children’s and youth’s realizations of God’s infinite love for us and to respond to that love in faith and participation in the sacramental life. This is done through:

• Teaching the fundamentals and fostering the understanding of our Catholic faith (study of the Scriptures, Church doctrine, values, and history).
• Emphasizing Jesus’ life and mission and the blessings we receive when we imitate Him in our own lives.
• Advocating the use of individual prayer and communal worship.
• Promoting an on-going, life-long faith development process for all parishioners.
• Participating in the Sacraments, especially Holy Eucharist.

Children’s Ministry – Grades K-8 are taught utilizing the spiral curriculum where each year the faith concepts build upon what they learned the previous year by delving deeper into the concept each year. As they get older, children and youth grow in their understanding of topics through discussion and seeing how our faith is entwined within our daily lives. In 2^nd grade our children will be prepared to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. The sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated every other year for our 7^th and 8^th grade students after a two-year preparation program.

At-Home Program – For families who prefer to teach their children at home, we offer a Family Catechesis program using the same curriculum we use in our program and includes support and guidance from our DRE (Director of Religious Education). Children in this program participate in sacraments at the same time as our other students.

Catechists and Volunteers – Any and all volunteers who work with children, supervised or unsupervised, must complete the Diocesan Screening and Training Program as required by the Diocese of Peoria. In general, anyone who wishes to volunteer in our Faith Formation program should:

• Have a desire to share their faith with others.
• Be an active, practicing Catholic in good standing.
• Enjoy working with children and youth.
• Participate regularly in the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confession.

How do I find out more information?

For more information about our Children’s Faith Formation programs, Vacation Bible School, Sacramental Preparation or becoming a Catechist or volunteer, please contact Karen Campbell, the Religious Education Director.

Karen Campbell
St. Anthony Director of Religious Education
kcampbell@stanthonybartonville.com

Office Hours (Subject to Change)
Wednesdays:  8am – 12 pm
Fridays:  8 am – 12 pm (often at home)
Sundays when classes are in session:  8 am – 11:30 am

Note: Office hours are approximate.  If you need to meet with Karen in person, it is best to set up an appointment. Appointments can take place at other times than listed if needed.

Email Karen directly or please contact us.