General Faith Formation

Parish Family Faith Formation
2019-2020 includes opportunities for adults, teens, and children.
All parishioners are encouraged to participate.

Online Registration for 2019-2020
Faith Formation Classes

Si necesita asistencia con este formulario, por favor contactar a Denice (denice@stthomascamas.org).

It’s not easy keeping Holy Days holy in quarantine but we have some suggestions.

CLICK HERE to see a one-page summary on Celebrating Sunday as a Domestic Church

Faith Formation Classes Suspended until further notice

As of Thursday, Mar. 12, 2020, following the decision of the Archbishop of Seattle on Mar. 11 to suspend public Masses in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, St. Thomas Aquinas has suspended parish faith formation classes until further notice.

During this period, as mentioned by Fr. Raja in his letter linked to this website's homepage, the parish is eager to continue to support inividuals and families in their prayer life, their lenten experience, their sacramental preparation, and their ongoing formation as missionary disciples. Accordingly, a number of resources will be shared via this website for your consideration. I'm sure you have your own favorite devotionals and resources (whether books, blogs, radio, TV, or other online content) and you are encouraged to use them and share them with family, friends, and classmates.

While in-person classes are suspended, we will continue to engage with three groups preparing to receive sacraments later this spring. These groups will continue any remaining lessons via self-study with parents of books and related videos as directed by their catechists. More to follow on the status of retreats and rehearsals currently scheduled during the month of April.

As of May 5, 2020, all public parish events are suspended or cancelled through at least May 31, 2020. At St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, this impacts the following sacramental preparation efforts:

RCIA: we have three children preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist but these Sacraments of Initiation will not be celebrated at the Easter Vigil this year (previously scheduled for Apr. 11). These will be deferred to a later date and a new date cannot be determined at this time. The Archbishop will designate a date for the Sacraments of Initiation in the Archdiocese of Seattle as soon as it is possible to do so. In this way, we can celebrate these important rites together.
Confirmation: we have 35 youth preparing for Confirmation. The original date of Apr. 28 at St. Thomas needed to be rescheduled because the suspension on public Masses was extended, initially through May 4, and then through May 31. Accordingly, the Confirmation Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church has been rescheduled to 6pm on Monday, Sep. 21, 2020.
First Eucharist: we have 21 children preparing for their First Holy Communion but the original date of May 2 at St. Thomas now needs to be rescheduled because the suspension on public Masses has been extended through May 31. On Apr. 6, Gov. Inslee announced that all public schools will remain closed through the end of the school year (typically mid-June). As a result, it is now unlikely that public Masses will be authorized to resume before that time. A new date for our rescheduled FHC Mass (as well as the retreat and rehearsal) will be set soon after we receive authorization to resume public Masses.

Recommended online resources

Visit our Engaging Your Faith Page

Parent Faith Formation

Since all parish efforts at children's faith formation support the ongoing formation within each family, it is necessary that parents (or legal guardians) participate in faith formation as well. Accordingly, special Parent Faith Formation (or "Parent FF" or "PFF") sessions will be offered each month as indicated on the below calendar. Parent FF sessions will be held in the parish hall at the same time as the children's classes. At least one parent from each family needs to attend each of the monthly Parent FF sessions. Additional adult faith formation sessions will be offered on most of the other Sunday mornings and all parents are encouraged to participate.

FF Calendar suspended as of Mar. 12, 2020

Sessions

Preschool (Grades PreK4 - K) - Sundays, 9:45 - 10:45am
Elementary School (Grades 1 - 6) - Sundays, 9:45-10:45am
Middle School (Grades 7 - 8) - Sundays, 9:45 - 10:45am
High School (Grades 9 - 12) Sundays, 9:45am - 10:45am. (Teens will be placed in a small discipleship group with their peers; groups can meet at any mutually agreeable time & place, including Sunday mornings at the parish.)

Sacramental Preparation:
- First Reconciliation: Four sessions on Thursdays, 6:30pm - 7:45pm, beginning in early-October (in addition to grade-specific Sunday classes). Eligibility confirmed after interview; norm is at least 7 years old / 2nd Grade and one year of prior parish faith formation. A brief parent meeting will be held on Sunday, Sep 15, at 10:15am in the parish hall to distribute books.
- First Holy Communion: Four sessions on Thursdays, 6:30pm - 7:45pm, beginning in February; includes retreat April 18, 8:30am - 12:30pm (in addition to grade-specific Sunday classes). Eligibility confirmed after interview; norm is at least 7 years old / 2nd Grade and one year of prior parish faith formation. A brief parent meeting will be held on Sunday, Sep 15, at 10:15am in the parish hall to distribute books.
- Confirmation: Sundays, 9:45 - 10:45am; retreat Nov. 8-10, 2019 (anticipate Confirmation Mass in late April 2020). Eligibility confirmed after interview; for 2019-2020, norm is at least 9th Grade and one year of prior parish faith formation.

Tuition

Pre-School (Grades PreK4-K): $20 per student
Elementary (Grade 1-6): $30 per student
Middle School (Grade 7-8): $30 per student
High School (Grade 9-12): $40 per participant
SacPrep (Reconciliation/First Communion): $40 per student (includes fee for Sunday classes)
Confirmation Prep: $130 per student (includes weekend retreat and participation in all HS Sunday activities)

Payments may be made either online, or via check payable to:
   St. Thomas Aquinas Church (memo: faith formation)
   and delivered/mailed to the parish office:
   (324 NE Oak Street, Camas, WA 98607)

Additional assistant catechists are still needed

We can use your love of The Faith in the classroom this year as a catechist in our faith formation program on Sunday mornings.

We have many returning catechists to show you the ropes. You can also volunteer as an assistant or as an occasional substitute, both of which are very helpful as well. More details online or contact Denice Twyman (denice@stthomascamas.org) for more information or Ted Meany (ted@stthomascamas.org or 360-834-2126, ext. 215).

You can click on the following links to check out information regarding
  Adult Faith Formation
  Children's Faith Formation
   Youth Ministry