“At the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son from the Father. . .who suffered and died for us and who now, after rising, is living with us forever.” To catechize is “to reveal in the Person of Christ the whole of God’s eternal design reaching fulfillment in that Person. It is to seek to understand the meaning of Christ’s actions and words and of the signs worked by him.” Catechesis aims at putting “people . . . in communion . . . with Jesus Christ: only he can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity.”
– Catechism of the Catholic Church, 426
Catholic Faith Formation (CFF)
Welcome to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Faith Formation! Our CFF program offers a truly comprehensive program, which provides classes and formation programs students ranging from first grade through their senior year of high school.
In a normal environment, our 1st – 4th graders meet each Sunday from 9am to 10:30am (we strive to work with the Haywood County school calendars). Our 5th – 8th graders meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Currently, we meet with one grade group (1, 3 & 4, 5 & 6, 7) once a month in the Family Life Center. Sacramental preparation years (grades 2 & 8) meet weekly.
All sacramental preparation is two years. A child must attend formation the year prior to receiving a sacrament and the year of receiving the sacrament. First Holy Communion takes place during a child’s 2nd grade year. Our Confirmation Program currently uses the Dynamic Catholic Decision Point. We plan to incorporate the Ascension Press CHOSEN Confirmation Program. into our overall formation plan also.
All our catechists are volunteers. Training is available through the Charlotte Diocese Catechist Certification Program. Background checks for all adults and teens working with children are mandatory as well as full participation in Protecting God’s Children/Virtus. This requires a three hour initial class and the viewing of monthly bulletins.
The Catholic Church tells us that the parents are always the primary educators of their children, so we see our role as an auxiliary one. We are here to help parents, not to replace them, and we strongly encourage parent involvement in our CFF program, which will only flourish by the good will of our volunteers. Parents can’t be bystanders in the faith formation of their children, and still expect their children to take seriously their faith. Your faith-life at home is important, and family activities are an integral part of Catholic Faith Formation. There is no better place for children and adults to meet Christ than within the loving arms of the people with whom they live.
Our Mission Statement and our purpose are one and the same. As members of the Teaching Ministry of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, we strive by word and example to follow Jesus’ commands to “Go teach…” and “Let the children come to Me.” We are called to help our children grow in their Catholic Faith not only through classroom instruction but, even more, through our living-out the Gospel message in our own daily lives.
As Catechists, we are called to be Christ for others and to see Christ in others: everyone we encounter in this ministry (John 13:35). Through prayer, study, and faithful adherence to the teachings handed down to us through the Catholic Church, we hope to develop in children and adults a desire to know, to love, and to serve God. Through that knowledge, love, and service, we hope to help each other follow Jesus here on earth so that we may join Him in Heaven for all eternity.