CHRISTIAN FORMATION K – 5

St.  Nicholas Catholic Church provides a vibrant and exciting place for children of all ages to explore God and His teachings through our many youth programs, and our Christian Formation classes.

St. Nicholas ensures our youth are building meaningful friendships with parishioners, each other, and most importantly with Jesus Christ. We welcome all children to build their faith, stewardship and love of Jesus through our programs at St. Nicholas.

Ways we achieve this connection with children in grades K-5:

• Christian Formation classes for grades K – 5
• First Eucharist and First Reconciliation preparation
• Vacation Bible School each summer in August

Please contact Steve Branning at sbranning@stnicholasvb.com with any questions. Thank you!

Click here to complete the Christian Formation registration form online.

Click here to print the Christian Formation registration form.

Click here to PAY NOW for Christian Formation registration.

Click here for 2020-2021 Christian Formation Schedule.

At-Home Christian Formation 

Parents,
Before we start Christian Formation sessions at the parish in the middle of October, this page will help guide you with some ideas and activities on how you can create an encounter with our Lord at your home with your children. It is vital to your child’s growth in faith that he/she has an encounter with Jesus otherwise Christian Formation becomes just another thing we do on Sunday and to our children it is viewed as “school”. This encounter with our Lord begins at home with you, your role in forming your child in the faith is foundational! Look at this quote from the new Directory for Catechesis:
” The family is a proclamation of faith in that it is the natural place in which faith can be lived in a simple and spontaneous manner. It has an unique privilege: transmitting the Gospel by rooting it in the context of profound human values. On this human base, Christian initiation is more profound.: the awakening of the sense of God; the first steps in prayer; education of the moral conscience; formation in the Christian sense of human love, understood as a reflection of the love of God the Father, the Creator. It is, indeed, a Christian education more witnessed to than taught, more occasional than systematic, more ongoing and daily than structured into periods. ”  (paragraph # 227, emphasis added)

The first experience of the Church for children comes from their parents and as you can see from the last line of the quote, faith is WITNESSED AND DAILY. The formation in the faith that you provide them at home is irreplaceable and the most natural place to start, and what we provide here at the church is deepened through programs that help the children learn more.  The grace that comes from the Sacrament of your marriage gives you what you need for the Christian education of your children. So fear not, you will be given all that you need. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Click here for previous weeks archives

January 24:

Saint Joseph is one of the greatest Saints within the Catholic faith. He was chosen to become the husband and protector of the Mother of God and father of Jesus. What a great responsibility! During the busyness of the Advent Season, back in December Pope Francis declared this year to be the “Year of Saint Joseph”.  This declaration comes 150 years after Pope Pius IX declared Joseph as the Patron of the Catholic Church. Here is an article giving more information on this declaration: Year of St. Joseph

So what does this mean to me or my family? Well, this focus on Saint Joseph should encourage us to honor St. Joseph as the guardian and protector of the Church and father figure. The more we learn about him, the more we can imitate his virtuous life as our model for fulfilling our personal call to holiness.

In addition here are some ideas from Teaching Catholic Kids: Incorporating St. Joseph

I really like the family tree idea and the other simple ideas following that. To honor your father or have your children honor their father is really special. If you want balance, then do the same for the mothers during the month of May.

For you as adults and as a family here are some devotions and traditions that you can incorporate this year: Devotions and Traditions

Here is an informative video from EWTN that you can watch with your children: Saint Joseph

Lastly, here is a short discussion with Scott Hahn and Fr. Donald Calloway about Saint Joseph: Who was Saint Joseph?