Christian Formation (CCD)

This is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

John 17:3

Christian Formation is a lifelong process that begins with Christian parents passing on the Catholic Faith to their children. The Church teaches that while parents are the primary moral and spiritual educators of their children, our responsibility as a parish is to support and assist parents in this most important role – evangelists of their families.

The Church reminds us that the role of forming a child in the Faith is of such importance that it must be undertaken with the utmost care and diligence. The School of Christian Formation at St. Mary’s seeks to offer your child a solid formation in the Catholic Faith so that he or she will have both the knowledge and the skills necessary to become a faithful and fruitful disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Please note that sacramental preparation for both First Holy Communion and Confirmation are both two-year programs.

2024–2025 Registration

Dear Parents,

Greetings in Christ! I hope this finds your family refreshed after a summer of family fun.

Our Sunday catechetical program starts Sunday, September 8. Please register your children by or on August 13, so we can get all our supplies together, and plan to be at class on September 8.

This year we will be including some new events. The events will be fully scheduled by the first day of school, and information will be sent home then. 

Meeting Days & Times:

  • Grade 4K-6 will meet on Sunday Morning from 9:45-10:45am in the school buildings.
  • Grade 7 or 8, First year Confirmation Prep, will be on Monday evenings 6:00-6:45pm and 7:15-8:00pm in the Bosco Center Each class will be limited in number of students.
  • Grade 8 or 9, Second year Confirmation Prep will meet on Sunday 11:30am-12:30pm in the Bosco Center. This class is only for those eligible to be confirmed in May of 2025. (Students will have already attended one year in 7th or 8th grade)

High School Sacrament Preparation for Sacraments, please contact Mrs. LaBone.

You, the parents, are the primary teachers of your children, and the CCD classes should complement what is taught in the home. Your children’s faith is strengthened by conversations about the faith and about how the Lord is working in your lives.

New this year, Grades 1-5 will have bi-lingual books so that parents may fully review the lessons being taught that week.

All parents will be added to our Flocknotes account in their child’s classes. We will use this to send all information and notes on the material covered each week. You will get to decide how you receive these messages, either to an email or texted.

If you have not done so, please sign up for FORMED at www.formed.org/signup, enter Aiken, SC, then choose St. Mary Help of Christians.  This is a resource provided by the parish and has many programs for both youth and adults.

As part of your teaching role, is vital that you take your children to Mass weekly and to confession regularly. Even if they have not yet received first confession, seeing you go to confession is a wonderful example for young children.

Reminder of St. Mary’s Sacramental Policy: In order to receive First Holy Communion or Confirmation, children must attend, at the very minimum, two full years of Christian Formation classes. This policy is intended to ensure that your child has the best sacramental formation possible.

Please complete the registration form below. We will have no paper registrations. Both Joan LaBone and Mayra Borja (fluent in Spanish) will help you. You should be able to complete this form on a computer, tablet or phone.

ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM

You may also pay online by going to the link at the end of the registration or you are welcome to pay at the beginning of class or anytime at the parish office. Please know you do not have to pay the full amount at one time and if you need a scholarship, please contact Mrs. LaBone. Please do not have your child miss lessons due to the cost.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.