Welcome to Children's Faith Formation!

Children: Age 3 to Grade 5

Early faith formation is an important way to begin your child's spiritual growth. Holy Name of Jesus offers programs for age 3 through grade 5 that focus on helping children learn and grow in their relationship with God through the sacraments of First Eucharist and Reconciliation, as well as through weekly class time.

Please use the menu at the left to learn about each of our programs.

COVID-19 Preparedness Plan:
>Please click HERE to view and download our Signed HNOJ Faith Formation Preparedness Plan Document.

>Please click HERE to view our Faith Formation Health and Safety Informatoin to help guide our return to Faith Formation. 

INFORMATION INCLUDED ON THIS PAGE:
>QUICK LINKS FOR FAITH FORMATION
>FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
>VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTIONS (Listed Highest Commitment to Lowest Commitment)

QUICK LINKS FOR FAITH FORMATION

> Registration for 2020-2021 Faith Formation is now available! Click HERE to register online.

Please Note:
*Registration will only be available ONLINE for this 2020-2021 Faith Formation Year. Families have the opportunity to registration for an In-Class option OR an At-Home/Online option.
**Registrations for our In-Class option will be cut off on Monday, September 14. Due to planning and preparation for classrooms used, class sizes and social distancing guidelines, we need to cut off in-class registrations since we will not be able to add additional classes/classrooms.
After Monday, September 14 only At-Home/Online Registrations will be available.
 

> Click HERE to be a Faith Formation Volunteer! Help make this faith formation year a success for our children here at HNOJ! (See Volunteer Position Descriptions below)

> Class Schedules for our different programs are available below to download:
                - Sunday School Class Schedule
                - Wednesday Faith Formation Schedule

> This year we will be offering an At-Home/Online option for all PreK-12 Grades for our Faith Formation Programs. This option can be chosen from the drop down menu on our Registration Pages.

HNOJ’s First Sacraments Program
Is your child going into Second Grade (or older) and ready to begin the process for receiving First Sacraments?
>Click one of the links below to get more information regarding our First Sacrament’s Program.
**Registration for 2020-2021 Sacraments Year to be posted soon!
                - First Reconciliation
                - First Communion

Please Note
-If you’d like to receive information for our First Sacrament’s program for your child this year (grade 2 and older):
Please click the “Send me Information about First Sacraments” button on your online registration for 2020-2021 Faith Formation. 

- If you are an HNOJ School Family, your second grader will automatically be sent the First Sacrament’s information in the fall.

- If your child is older than second grade and has not received their First Sacraments, you’re welcome to indicate on your registration (online) that you’d like to receive information for First Sacraments in the fall.

FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Sunday School:
Am I allowed to stay with my child?
Absolutely! If you’d like to stay for a few classes or if your child is having a little difficult time acclimating to Sunday School, you’re welcome to attend the first couple of sessions (or more if you’d like) with them until they are more comfortable with the classroom, their fellow students and their teachers.

If we are unable to make our scheduled Class Mass Time, can we attend the other Class Mass Time?
We ask that there be no swapping of class times during the year if there is a conflict.
With students assigned to Class Mass Times and Classrooms, swapping class times makes it difficult for the Teachers with a certain number of students already assigned to their rooms.

If you are unable to make it to class, you are welcome to request the family packet to be given out the following week when you can make it to your scheduled class time. That way you can discuss the information learned the previous week at home as a fun activity together!

Do we receive Sunday School Bags?
You sure do! Students who attended Sunday School this last Faith Formation Year have received their Sunday School Bags (if you have lost your bag or need a new one please, send Theresa Reichert an e-mail). Those starting Sunday School in the Pre-1 classes will receive their Sunday School Bags in the first couple of weeks of Sunday School. Those starting Sunday School for the first time in Pre-2 or Kindergarten, please send Theresa Reichert an e-mail request so your child can also receive their Sunday School Bag.

Elementary Faith Formation:

What if I have conflicts?
As a church, it’s hard to compete with sports/activities scheduling conflicts. We understand that our students might not be able to make every single session, but we also hope that families will allow their sons and daughters to miss a practice or game from time-to-time.
We also hope that Christian parents, coaches and students can be advocates for keeping Wednesday nights free for students who desire to be active in their Faith Community.

VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTIONS
Listed by Highest Commitment to Lowest Commitment for each program
-Elementary Faith Formation Program
-Sunday School Program

> Click HERE to sign up to be a Faith Formation Volunteer! Help make this year’s Faith Formation Program a success for our students!

- Child Care is available to all volunteer positions listed if needed.

- VIRTUS and Essential 3 are to be completed before Faith Formation year begins – for more information, please contact Annie LaPlante or Chris Kostelc, Director of Faith Formation, who would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

- If you have any questions regarding Volunteer Positions listed, please do not hesitate to e-mail or call Annie LaPlante (763-745-3483)

Adult Volunteer Positions Needed for Elementary Faith Formation Program 2020-2021
> View the Faith Formation Calendar HERE for your convenience to see when classes are scheduled for this upcoming 2020-2021 Faith Formation Year (please reference schedule key for abbreviations).
 

Faith Formation Catechist (Teacher) *specific number of teachers needed subject to change as necessary per grade level
> Helps Teach Classes 2-4 times per month (Depending on Scheduled Breaks/Parish-Wide Activity Nights; Please Note: October only month with four classes)
> Teaching Lesson Plans and Activities in Classroom to students (Smaller Class Sizes of 12-15max). Total Prep time for Lessons is 10-20 minutes each week.
> Needed at HNOJ 10-15 minutes earlier than class time to gather class materials and bring to the classroom (4:30 p.m.)
> Teaching Materials, Lesson Plans and Activities are Prepared for Teachers (Teaching Materials given to teachers for year, Lesson Plans and Activities are updated and available 1 week in advance for prep/planning for each class session)
> Option to Teach Alone or Teach with a Partner (Can list name for Teaching Partner Preference)
> Subs are available if unable to make a class (24-hour notice preferred)

Faith Formation Substitute
> Availability one to three times per month (Availability per month dependent on the need for subs each month – will be asked via e-mail regarding Sub for Classroom or as needed elsewhere – typically 24-hour advance notice for ask of help)
> Available to help as Classroom Sub – Teach Classroom Lesson Plans/Activities (All Lessons/Activities Pre-Planned – see Faith Formation Catechist position above)
> Flexibility with helping as needed:
   - Hallway Monitor – Watch and keep track of students walking to bathrooms, leaving class early, etc.
   - Front Desk Attendant – Answer Phone Calls from Parents/Take Notes, answer questions regarding classroom
     locations, stay with students getting picked up early/leaving early
   - Sticker Store Helper – Help set-up Sticker Store Items, Bring Classes down to Sticker Store Area,

Front Desk Attendant
> Helps two to three times per month (Rotating Schedule with other Front Desk Attendants – One Front Desk Attendant Scheduled at a time – Schedule Sign-Up via Sign-Up Genius)
> Receive phone calls from parents (ex: Student Sick/Unable to make class), take notes of student’s names and grades for Faith Formation Coordinator to reference
> Help give Parents directions to classrooms for where to pick-up students
> Check-Point for students to wait to be picked up (if leaving early or needing to go home because not feeling well, etc.)

Hallway Monitor
> Helps two to three times per month (Rotating Schedule with other Hallway Monitors – At least 2 Hallway Monitors Scheduled Together at a Time – Schedule Sign-Up via Sign-Up Genius)
> Watch for students when leaving classrooms – going to the bathroom and back, etc. – keeping an eye on students and noting their location when outside the classrooms
> Watch for students horsing around outside classrooms, making sure students are respectful when moving from classrooms
> 4:45 p.m.: one to two Hallway Monitor(s) to go around to classes and help monitor the amount of students in the hallways.
 

Volunteer Positions Needed for Sunday School Program 2020-2021
> View the Sunday School Calendar HERE for your convenience to see when classes are scheduled for this upcoming 2019-2020 Faith Formation Year (please reference schedule key for abbreviations).
Class schedule to be posted shortly.

Sunday School Teacher *specific number of teachers needed subject to change as necessary per grade level
> Helps Teach Classes three times per month (Family Mass Days are scheduled each month, Holiday Breaks)
> Teaching Lesson Plans and Activities in Classroom to students
> Needed at HNOJ 10-15 minutes earlier than class time to set out materials for students when arrive (All class materials are brought to the classroom for each class)
> Teaching Materials, Lesson Plans and Activities are Prepared for Teachers (Teaching Materials given to teachers for year, Lesson Plans and Activities are updated and available 1 week in advance for prep/planning for each class session)
> Option to Teach Alone or Teach with a Partner (Can list name for Teaching Partner Preference)
> Subs are available if unable to make a class (24-hour notice preferred)

Sunday School Substitute
> Availability one to three times per month (Availability per month dependent on the need for subs each month – will be asked via e-mail regarding Sub for Classroom or as needed elsewhere – typically 24-hour advance notice for ask of help)
> Available to help as Classroom Sub – Teach Classroom Lesson Plans/Activities (All Lessons/Activities Pre-Planned – see Sunday School Teacher position above)