In light of the ongoing pandemic restrictions, the vast majority of our Faith Formation programming will be home-based throughout the 2020-2021 Catechetical Year. We are able to offer the Early Childhood programs listed below as well.

Early Childhood formation at home will focus on the Sunday Gospels and on other Bible stories using the Jesus Bible Storybook because it relates every story to Jesus. We chose Bible stories that relate to the Sunday Gospel whenever possible. We invite you to read the week’s materials and talk about what you found interesting. We will also email you weekly with optional additional resources like worksheets, craft suggestions, and YouTube videos.

At every level of formation, we will provide additional optional resources, occasional physical resources for your family to pick up, and optional in-person events so your kids will know their parish is also their spiritual family. We also want to give your family the freedom and flexibility to have one family faith conversation each week while still being able to gives your kids what they need for their developmental stage. We hope to have volunteers check in with your family by phone periodically throughout the year as well.

As always, please let us know if you need help personalizing this experience for your unique family. Our goal has always been not to bend your family to fit our program but rather to tweak our program to fit your family.

Click here for Faith Formation Registration

Making Music Praying Twice is a parent-participation music education class for children from birth through age 5 that fosters the Catholic faith and enriches education and family life.  The variety of music, movement, and color is excellent for brain development.  The prayers, religious songs, and structure of the liturgical year introduce the basic prayers and vocabulary of Catholic life. Following each session, families are welcome to meet one another while children work on a coloring page, simple craft, or take-home project related to a saint or liturgical season.

Parents' Role in Making Music Praying Twice 

Deepening friendship with the Good Shepherd with the Montessori method
We offer multiple sessions of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the Beaver Valley. Because of the significant differences from traditional Faith Formation, it is best for children to begin in Level I, which is for children from 3-6 years old. Questions? Please contact Chris Patsch, Beaver Valley Director of Early Childhood Formation, at cpatsch@greatgrouping.org or (724) 266-6565. 

As early as the day of birth, when a parent talks to their child, they refer to their loved ones by name. Does the baby really understand the concept of Grandma? No, but you call them that anyway as a way to teach it to them. So why do we not introduce God as early as day one. In modern culture? Once a child is Baptized, we haven't had any programs for them until they reach Kindergarten. We offered them a chance to come to Vacation Bible School at 3 years of age, but that's only for one week out of the year. Just as your child takes your word that Grandma is an important person, even though they may not see her every minute of every day, your child needs to be told about God from day one of birth to better understand and learn about him and his love for everyone. 

Questions? Please contact Chris Patsch, Beaver Valley Director of Early Childhood Formation, at cpatsch@greatgrouping.org or (724) 266-6565.