This year the Diocese of Amarillo has requested that Faith Formation be done off the Church campus and in homes or small faith communities. We have spent quite a bit of time in research, planning, and preparation and have decided with the guidance of our priest and catechists that our Faith Formation program at St. Mary’s Catholic Church will be transitioning to Family Based Catechesis. The home is the Domestic Church and everything that we can do to strengthen the family, builds the community of faith. Faith, friendship with Christ, and discipleship is best given, grown, and strengthened within the bounds of the family home supported by the Church Community. By supporting and enabling Family Based Catechesis we make Faith Formation more flexible for different family scheduling needs, we strengthen the confidence that parents and guardians have in their own personal faith, and we show the importance and place of primacy that the family has in sharing the Life of Jesus Christ in the life of the young Christian.

Each month our families will have 3 opportunities to meet at St. Mary’s for students to spend some social time with their peers, as parents and guardians meet with Father Tony to learn about that month’s theme. These Catechetical Training sessions will also be available through Zoom for those who need to maintain limited exposure. We will begin the week of September 27- October 4th. On the Sundays, September 27th and October 4th, we will meet at 1:30 in the Reception Room. On Wednesday
September 30, we will meet at 7:00pm. Families need to choose one of the three times to attend. The Wednesday evening meeting will be available by Zoom and login information is available by calling Yvonne at the church office.

Each Month’s theme will contain 4 weekly lessons that will take about an hour and a half of time each. In each week’s lesson parents and guardians will receive that week’s catechesis, supplemental information for questions and adult personal enrichment, and at least two family prayer services (one prayer service more liturgical in nature, the other based on scripture reflection suitable for all ages in the family). The children will receive age appropriate activities, online resources, a weekly Patron Saint’s story and coloring image for the younger students, and family discussion questions.

We know that this change will cause some anxiety. I want to assure you that we will not leave you alone and on your own. Father Tony and I will be available to support you, answer your questions, and assist you in sharing your stories of faith in Jesus Christ with your families. Our goal in Faith Formation is the call, formation, and sending of Christian Disciples into the world equipped with the ability to share their own stories of Faith in Jesus Christ.

This year we place our Family Based Catechesis under the protection and intercession of St. Andrew, the first disciple to bring another to the Lord Jesus. After meeting Jesus, Andrew went to his brother Simon Peter and said, “We have found the Messiah.” We are certain that your families will bring each other closer and closer to the Jesus Christ the Son of God and our Salvation.


In Christ,
Yvonne Vasquez
Coordinator of Religious Education