Faith Formation

Our elementary formation helps children come to know and love Jesus through weekly classes, prayer, and the life of the parish. Faith Formation also assists parents of both parish and school children in preparing for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, with preparation resources, parent and child meetings, and retreats. First Reconciliation is celebrated in the fall and First Eucharist on a weekend after Easter, within our parish liturgies. See our Reconciliation page and our First Communion page for how preparation works.

Uninterrupted, ongoing formation is essential preparation for the Sacraments; students who come to us with an interrupted formation process complete a year of Faith Formation before registering for sacramental preparation.

Learn more: Grades K-5

Youth Discipleship Ministry

Blaze (grades 6 – 7). A two-year discipleship cycle covering the essentials of the Catholic faith: the Creed, the Sacraments, the moral life, a life of prayer, and salvation history, all in a safe, fun place where youth find solid Catholic community and get real answers to their questions.

Ascend (grade 8). Created especially for St. Therese eighth graders: basic Christian apologetics and teaching on how to live a Christian life, helping them understand what they believe and why, and fall in love with Christ.

Charge Nights. Monthly social nights for middle schoolers with food, games, music, talks, and prayer. Free and open to anyone in grades 6 – 8, even friends who do not attend St. Therese.

Extreme Faith Camp. A high-adventure Catholic summer camp for middle schoolers: high ropes, zip lines, tubing, climbing walls, archery, and water activities, with daily Mass, Adoration, and Reconciliation woven through every day. Campers are grouped with other St. Therese kids and mentored by our own teens and adults.

Learn more: Middle School · Extreme Faith Camp

Youth Discipleship Ministry

Embark. Wednesday night high school gatherings. Life is messy; faith is real. Students grow in their Catholic faith, build lasting friendships, and see how following Christ shapes everyday life.

Small groups. The primary means of high school formation at St. Therese: a weekly hour with friends to build community, pray, and learn, with flexibility to choose what you study.

Confirmation preparation. See our Confirmation page for the full path, from ASCEND through the Sacrament.

Steubenville Youth Conference. A summer weekend packed with music, powerful messages, and high-energy fun with Catholic teens from across the country; the parish’s generosity covers most of the cost.

Extreme Faith Camp leadership. High schoolers serve as missionaries at camp on the Extreme Team (guiding small groups of campers) or the Prayer Team (interceding for the whole camp), with intentional formation and mentorship along the way.

Prayer Corps. Volunteers commit to praying daily for a list of 10 – 15 youth, parents, and volunteers throughout the school year. That is hundreds of people prayed for by name, every single day.

Learn more: High School · Confirmation

Each June, our campus comes alive with a week of Vacation Bible School for children in Pre-K through fourth grade: songs, games, and saints, all pointing little hearts to Jesus. Details and registration are published here each spring.

Learn more: Vacation Bible School

Formation does not end at Confirmation. Adult studies run from September through May, meeting twice a month in morning and evening sessions — led by Father along with guest speakers, and walking through entire books of Scripture, the documents of Vatican II, and the history of the Church.

Visit the Adult Faith Formation page for the current study and the full archive of past studies with their handouts.

Considering becoming Catholic, or completing your Sacraments as an adult? See our Becoming Catholic (OCIA) page.

Learn more: Adult Faith Formation · Becoming Catholic (OCIA) · For Women · For Men