If children & teens are coming to the Catholic Church for the first time with their parents, the entire family  will be prepared to join our Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.) Process.  We look forward to meeting and getting to know all of you.  Please contact Marilyn Torborg, Director of Faith Formation, 392-6700, ext. 111 or mtorborg@stfrancisholland.org. so that an initial meeting can be set up and our process can be explained to you. 

BELOW IS INFORMATION ABOUT BAPTISM FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS WHOSE PARENTS ARE ALREADY MEMBERS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

First graders who have not yet been baptized will be prepared for baptism through the Christian Initiation of Children (CIC) process. 

Preparation: 

Children attend weekly sessions.  CIC-English schedule of sessions

Parents

• attend monthly sessions.   CIC-English schedule of sessions
• attend the Baptism Preparation Session which is normally scheduled on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. 
• attend the Covenant Program, a day-long retreat offered on four Saturdays each year.

Celebration:   Tuesday, January 19, 6:30 p.m. during class time.

Children in grades 2nd through 7th grade who have not yet been baptized will usually be prepared for Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Communion through the Christian Initiation of Children (CIC) process.

Preparation:

Children attend weekly sessions.  CIC-English schedule of sessions

Parents

• attend monthly sessions.   CIC-English schedule of sessions
• attend the Baptism Preparation Session which is normally scheduled on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. 
• attend the Covenant Program, a day-long retreat offered on four Saturdays each year

Parents and children attend the Parent/Child Communion Retreat on Saturday, April 17, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Multi-purpose Room in church.

Celebration of Baptism:   Tuesday, January 19, 6:30 p.m. during class time.

Celebration of First Reconciliation:  Tuesday, February 23, 6:30 p.m. during class time.

Celebration of First Communion: Saturday, April 24, 5:00 p.m. Mass

Teens in grades 8-12 who have not yet been baptized will usually be prepared for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation through the Christian Initiation of Children (CIC) process.

Preparation:

Teens

• attend weekly sessions.  CIC-English schedule of sessions
• attend 4 Confirmation sessions over 12 months.  Each session will be offered twice.  The first will be on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. and will be conducted bilingually.  The second option will be on the following Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and will be in English. 
• attend 2 retreats over the 12-month preparation time:  1) A day-long retreat at Aquinas College on Saturday, February 20, 2010; and 2) An overnight retreat in the Fall of 2010, close to the time of Confirmation.

Parents

• attend monthly sessions.   CIC-English schedule of sessions
• attend the Baptism Preparation Session which is normally scheduled on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. 
• attend the Covenant Program, a day-long retreat offered on four Saturdays each year.
• attend 3 of the 4 Confirmation sessions with their teen.

Parents and teens attend the parent/child Communion Retreat on Saturday, April 17, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Multi-purpose Room in church.

Sponsors attend 2 of the 4 Confirmation sessions with their teen candidate.

Celebration of Baptism:   Tuesday, January 19, 6:30 p.m. during class time.

Celebration of First Reconciliation:  Tuesday, February 23, 6:30 p.m. during class time.

Celebration of First Communion: Saturday, April 24, 5:00 p.m. Mass

Celebration of Confirmation:    The Celebration of Confirmation will be at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids during the Fall of 2010.  The specific date will be set by Bishop Walter Hurley, Bishop of Grand Rapids