burning hearts
We believe that young people are born with burning hearts. Our role is to help parents as they feed those heart fires with instruction, guidance, and love. We believe that children’s hearts burn brightest when parents and children alike are growing in community.
Register for the Young Disciples Family Formation Program
A letter to the parents:
Dear Parents,
Welcome to a new year of Family Formation! We pray you and your family are well, especially while we enter a school year that is looking unlike any other ‘first day of school’ experience. What I hear from most kids who want to go back to school in person is to see their friends! We are losing our sense of community and camaraderie, and here’s the deal: God didn’t intend for us to live in isolation. He specifically designed us to crave and thrive in relationships with others. We all need community, it is life-giving. Scripture says that is because we’re better together than we are alone (Romans 12:4-5)
We are excited to share the path of St. Thomas Aquinas Family Formation for 2020-2021! Unlike any season before, this year we are seizing the opportunity to grow and strengthen small church communities! During the past two years St. Thomas Aquinas has dedicated our mission to Family Formation, focusing on the Domestic Church.
During registration we asked your thoughts on how you would like to participate in Family Formation. With that information, guidance from our Church and community of families, we have two options to choose from to best serve your individual family’s needs.
Family-Led Family Formation
“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
One of the greatest blessings in life is having children of your own, it is also a huge responsibility, but God gives each one of us the graces to guide us on this journey.
Family-Led Family Formation will feel very similar to the past two years at St. Thomas Aquinas, except all will be completed in the home due to not being able to use the school facilities.
How will this look?
Each family will be emailed a weekly newsletter. The beginning of each month will include adult formation on the monthly topic, a video for family movie night, Catholic games, as well as support and guidance in leading home lessons. The following three weeks of the month the home lessons will be emailed. Home lessons are also available in printed form.
New this year, each family will be paired with a volunteer Family Group Leader who will individually reach out to your family for support throughout the month.
Family Formation Small Groups (Online)
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst with them.”
(Matthew 18:20)
We are each called to lift each other up, learn from one another and be a friend that our heart desires. Everyone has something to teach and to learn. We know it can be hard to commit to community, especially if we are introverts and prefer solitude, but community is God’s desire for us because at the end of the day, when we grow in our relationships with others, we’re growing in relationship with Him!
How will this work?
Like Family-Led Family Formation, all families will be emailed weekly newsletters. In addition, you will be assigned a Family Formation Small Group to meet virtually. These will be determined based on requests received directly from you. We know each family is unique. Groups will be led by a volunteer Small Group Leader and divided by couples, moms only, dads only, families with one practicing Catholic, children’s ages, etc. Through God’s guidance and discernment, we will pray to the Holy Spirit to place those called together to form a small group. After your group is formed you and your Young Disciple Leader will determine the best time to connect over video chat at a minimum of each month for community, adult formation, as well as supporting one another with Home Lessons.
What if my child is in Sac Prep 2?
The options are the same as above, Family-Led or Small Groups, with the addition of a workbook for preparing your child for the sacraments of Reconciliation and the reception of First Holy Communion. The small groups, facilitated by a volunteer Small Group Leader, will be specific to children in Sac Prep 2 and will include an additional portion while you accompany your child in preparation.
Interested in joining our team as a volunteer?
We are seeking adult volunteers to facilitate online family formation small groups. All materials and training will provide for an even deeper journey into your life-long formation. To join the team of volunteers, please contact either Erin Antosh or myself for more information, or see the information provided HERE.
MINISTRY description
St. Thomas Aquinas Young Disciples Ministry recognizes the partnership with our families to form disciples of Jesus Christ through our baptismal call to live the Faith, build community, serve others, and celebrate our unity through the Sacraments. St. Thomas Aquinas Young Disciples utilizes whole family ministry for children entering Kindergarten - 6th grade. The mission of Young Disciples is to help parents/guardians respond to the Church's call to be "the first and foremost educators of their children." Our purpose is to aid families as they grow in their love and knowledge of the Catholic Faith. Each family that is involved in this ministry is supported by our staff, Catechists, and volunteers investing their time to share the love of Jesus Christ. This is done by providing Family Formation, Young Disciple Sundays, family socials, service, and family retreats. Our goal is for each family to be the Domestic Church they are called to be.
What makes up the Young Disciples Ministry?
Featured
Want to Learn More?
We're ready to answer your questions!
Our ministry Team
Who is the team?
Although there are many staff members supporting this ministry, the real team consists of the Parents, the family, Teachers, Priests, Volunteers, Small Group Leaders, Catechists, and our almighty God. You are the ministry. Thanks for all you do!