K - 12 FAITH FORMATION
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ARCHBISHOP BELLISARIO REGARDING THE AGE OF CONFIRMATION!
Family-Centered Faith Formation includes the formation of all members of the family, children and adults.
Attendance at class meetings is essential for student formation in our Catholic faith and for parents and caregivers to be assisted with fulfilling their role as the primary catechists of their children. Programs that fall under this umbrella are:
Our Goal: Family-Centered Faith Formation
-K-12 Faith Formation
-First Reconciliation and First Communion Sacramental Preparation
-OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation for Children) Sacramental Preparation
-Confirmation Sacramental Preparation
-Additional Youth Formation Options
We are always looking for Confirmed Catholic adults to serve as catechists and small-group leaders. Even if you’re only available as an occasional substitute, we’d love to have you join our team!
FEES
Faith Formation Registration Fee: $100 per family.
*Sacramental Fee: +$50 additional fee for each child who is receiving a Sacrament within this school year. The $50 fee is required for students in
Level 2 (First Reconciliation/First Communion) and Confirmation classes.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!
If you are a Confirmed, practicing Catholic who feels called to share your love and knowledge of our faith, please prayerfully consider becoming a Faith Formation volunteer. We provide training, curriculum, students, and support. Please join our team!
FAMILY-CENTERED FAITH FORMATION OFFERINGS:
FAITH FORMATION:
We offer a family-centered/classroom-enhanced faith formation program for families with children in grades K-12. Our program is designed to provide parents and caregivers with mentorship and support in their role as the primary catechists of their households. To this end, it is essential that students, along with parents and caregivers, attend their respective classes/meetings in order to promote the understanding and continual growth in faith of the entire family.
PARENT & CAREGIVER FAITH FORMATION MEETINGS:
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to attend all our twice-a-month adult meetings. One meeting will include small-group discussions. These discussions will be facilitated by Family Guides (volunteer catechists) who are trained to support parents and caregivers in their desire and ability to immerse their family in faith at home and build their faith community within the parish. The Speaker Series will focus on a monthly topic that is central to our faith. Since parents and caregivers are the primary catechists of their households, our faith formation program is designed to support them in this critical role. These talks and discussions will reinforce family-centered faith and provide parents and caregivers with the tools they need to have deeper faith discussions at home with their children.
ADDITIONAL YOUTH FAITH FORMATION OPTIONS:
Faith formation doesn’t end after Confirmation! These options are not a substitute for sacramental preparation, but are additional faith and fellowship opportunities for our youth.
-High School Retreat (9th-12th grade) Aug. 30 - Sept. 1 at St. Therese’s Camp in Wasilla (See below for more information and to register!)
-Middle School Youth Group (6th-8th grade) Mondays 7:00-8:30 p.m.
-High School Youth Group (9th-12th grade) Wednesdays 7:00-8:30 p.m.
-Knights of the Holy Queen (young men 7th-12 grade) Sundays 7:00-9:00 p.m.
-High School Faith Formation Volunteer opportunities for Confirmed teens (see website for additional information)
-Parish Bible Study groups
High School Retreat
“Humble Heart: A Retreat for Growth”
August 30 - September 1, 2025
St. Therese’s Camp, Wasilla, Alaska
2025-2026
FAMILY-CENTERED FAITH FORMATION DETAILS
*Level 2 First Reconciliation/First Communion Class:
Includes 2nd & 3rd graders who have not yet received their Sacraments of First Reconciliation/First Communion.
(Families with students enrolled in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School 2nd grade class need to complete the online Faith Formation Registration, but those students are not required to attend Sunday Faith Formation classes; however, their parents should plan to attend the twice-a-month Parent Formation Meetings.)
*OCIC—Order of Christian Initiation for Children:
Students in 4th grade and above who have not yet received First Reconciliation/First Communion may be placed in the OCIC Class.
In June 2025, Archbishop Bellisario announced that the youngest age a student can receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau is 11 years old (5th grade), rather than the former 16 years old. This year, our parish has designed a Faith Formation plan to prepare all registered 5th-grade-through-high-school students (who have not yet been Confirmed) to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in Spring 2026.
If a family registers for Faith Formation and has students in 5th grade through high school (who have not yet been Confirmed), those students will be placed in the appropriate grade-level Confirmation class.
(Families with Confirmation students enrolled in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School 5th & 6th grades and/or Lumen Christi High School should complete the online Faith Formation Registration, but those students are not required to attend Sunday Faith Formation classes; however, they will be required to meet all other parish Confirmation requirements. Parents of Confirmation students enrolled in St. Elizabeth School and Lumen Christi High School should plan to attend the twice-a-month Parent Formation Meetings.)
*CONFIRMATION:
-All Students preparing for Confirmation are required to attend the Confirmation Student Days of Reflection: Saturdays, Sept. 20 and Feb. 7, from 9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
-All Confirmation Parents should attend the Confirmation Parent Meeting: Sunday, Sept. 21, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
For information on class availability or further questions, please contact Kellie Thomson at kellie@akseas.net.
REGISTER BY AUGUST 31, 2025!
Teen Alpha
Teen Alpha’s open and friendly, home-based group meetings begin with great food, accompanied by videos, learning materials, and discussion led by a trained volunteer. Come to a better understanding of Christ’s love for you and ask questions without judgment. Walk along with others who share your questions - you are not alone!
STAY TUNED FOR NEXT SESSION!
While this series is not a substitute for Sacramental preparation through our parish Faith Formation program, it can be a great stepping stone for entering those classes.
Email Kellie Thomson at kellie@akseas.net with questions!
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. -Romans 15:4
