St. Francis de Sales Parish

Sign up your children to participate in the Christmas Eve 5:00pm Mass Christmas Pagent.

Christian Initiation of Children - Spanish (Grades 1-12)

This program prepares children and teens for the following sacraments:  Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation.  It is held on Sundays 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the lower level of church - weekly for children and teens, monthly for parents. 

It is similar in design to the Christian Initiation of Children - English Program on Tuesday evenings.

For questions or concerns about any Faith Formation class, contact the Faith Formation Office, 392-6700, ext. 109, Emily Alba, ealba@stfrancisholland.org or ext. 111, Marilyn Torborg, mtorborg@stfrancisholland.org.

Small Christian Community for Youth (Grades 9-12)

For more information, contact Kevin Hilgert, Director of Youth Ministry, khilgert@stfrancisholland.org.

For questions or concerns about any Faith Formation class, contact the Faith Formation Office, 392-6700, ext. 109, Emily Alba, ealba@stfrancisholland.org or ext. 111, Marilyn Torborg, mtorborg@stfrancisholland.org.

Children's practices for Christmas Eve Family Mass:  Monday, December 21; Tuesday, December 22; and Wednesday, December 23.  All practices are at 6:30 p.m.  If children are not signed up in advance, they are still welcome to come the first night, when costumes will be distributed.  For more information, contact the parish office at 392-6700.

Due to weather conditions, classes for Tuesday, December 8th have been cancelled.

Mary Vaccaro serves as Associate Director for Program Design at the Catholic Information Center and an Adjunct Faculty Member in Theology and Women’s Studies at Aquinas College. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Aquinas College and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College.  She served on the board of Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism (GRACE) from 2002-2006 and is a member of the speakers’ bureau for the Interfaith Dialogue Association. Mary has served for several years in various types of parish ministry in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.  She is an Associate of the Grand Rapids Dominicans.

Mary has been on staff at the Center since May of 1999.  Her ministry includes preaching, teaching and various kinds of public speaking.  She also coordinates the Center’s education and formation programming.  As a teacher, she especially enjoys offering courses on Scripture, Sacraments, Social Justice, Ecumenical/Interfaith Dialogue, Vatican Council II and Women’s Studies.  Mary integrates theology and human experience into all of her teaching through exploring works of literature, art, music, storytelling and humor.   She also strives to inspire and foster critical thinking, theological reflection, contemplative prayer and social activism in all capacities of her ministry.

Below is summary information about Faith Formation Programs offered at St. Francis for children, teens, and families.  Click on the program for detailed information and schedules:

Click below for information about

Click below for

• Topics for Independent or Small Group Study

Click here for Catechist Certification Guidelines for the Diocese of Gr

St. Francis de Sales Parish has a variety of offerings for adult faith formation:

St. Francis de Sales Parish has a variety of programs geared to children from infancy through 5^th grade.

At the bottom of this page are many of the forms used by the Family and Adult Faith Formation department.

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