The mission of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all God's people by word and action.
FAITH FORMATION
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Special Needs Faith Formation
Special Needs Faith Formation offers families with Special Needs school-age children the opportunity for faith development in a safe, nurturing environment. In a developmentally appropriate way, the children are invited and encouraged to answer the call of Jesus, to learn about His story and to celebrate the Sacraments. A certified Special Education teacher teaches this program and caring catechists with a loving desire to work with this special community provide support and assistance. We strive to provide an inclusive environment, so it is not necessary for the child to have any particular special needs to participate.
Please contact Rita Cabello at 210-494-1606 ext #320, rcabello@stmarkevangelist.com for more information, to set up a time to visit the class or to discuss the needs of your child.
To provide the needed consistency for our Special Needs children, this program meets every Sunday during the 10 am Mass beginning 1st Sunday of September through Father's Day Sunday of June.
Children's Faith Formation
Children's Faith Formation (CFF) offers families with children in grades K through 5 a classroom environment to learn about their Catholic faith. It is through a blending of classroom, family and whole community that the richness of our Catholic faith is passed on to our children. To register your student in our Elementary School Faith Formation Program contact Rita Cabello. For additional questions, please contact Rita Cabello at 210-494-1606 ext #320, rcabello@stmarkevangelist.com for more information.
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL FAITH FORMATION
OUR MISSION:
To make missionary disciples who spread the Good News
of Jesus Christ to all God’s people by word and action.
HOW DO YOU BECOME A MISSIONARY DISCIPLE?
The journey is a continual process of conversion and growth, characterized by three movements:
Called
You are called to a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ and a personal
relationship with Him.
Gifted
You are gifted with the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church among other disciples.
Sent
You are sent to make disciples and proclaim the Father’s love through ministry and mission.
EDGE NIGHTS
Edge Nights enable middle school students to strengthen their knowledge of and relationship with Jesus Christ as well as foster community with their peers. (MS)
LIFE NIGHTS
Life Nights are an inviting space for high school
students to form community with other young
disciples. These dynamic sessions encourage youth to ask questions, find belonging, and participate in the life of the Church. (HS)
BIBLE STUDY
Community and mentorship for young people navigating the crossroads of faith and everyday life. Teens will deepen their friendships and form new ones through prayer and conversation about God’s Word. (MS, HS)
SEASONAL RETREATS AND SUMMER CAMPS
Every semester there are opportunities to rest in prayer, rejoice in play, and grow in friendship through youth-focused retreats. (MS, HS)
CONFIRMATION
All high school teens who have participated in at least one year of Life Teen and desire to be confirmed are encouraged to apply for Confirmation Prep. This formation journey will invite the candidate into a deeper understanding of Jesus, the Church, and life in the Holy Spirit. (HS)
For more information, please visit our website www.stmarkym.com or all the Youth Office at (210) 494-1959.
MS – middle school, grades 6-8
HS – high school, grades 9-12
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Adult Faith Formation
Faith formation is a process of having our faith become conscious, living and active in a relationship with God and God's people. Adult Faith Formation encompasses Catholic Scripture Study (CSS), Tuesday Bible Study, Adult Faith Formation during the Elementary, Middle School and High School Sessions, ACTS Retreats, Catechist Workshops, Adult Confirmation Sessions, Baptism sessions, and Theology of the Body.
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is a process of initiating adults and young people of catechetical age (6 years and older) into the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist (First Communion.) The Catechumenate for Children and Teens here at St. Mark the Evangelist is a part of the RCIA.
The Canon Law of the Church promulgated at Vatican II dealing with the restoration of the Catechumenate of the Early Church, came into being in the late 1960’s. In 1988 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) called for this process to be implemented in every parish in the United States as the way of initiation into the Catholic community of faith for all unbaptized people of catechetical age, those baptized into another Christian tradition, and Catholics baptized as infants or toddlers who have had NO religious education nor baptismal catechesis and have not celebrated BOTH Confirmation and First Eucharist (Communion) RCIA is a process of seeking, developing and enriching one’s relationship with God, themselves, and the community of faith. It is a journey of conversion to God in Christ with a sponsoring companion to support seekers, pray for them and with them, witness to their faith and guide them along the Way. It is a process of forming disciples of Jesus Christ through a gradual, complete, and comprehensive mentoring in the Catholic way of life.
Those individuals preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist gather together as apprentices in the conversion process in intentional RCIA communities each week, with sponsors (children gather with parents) RCIA Team members, and the wider community at Sunday Mass to learn what it means to be and live as Catholic Christians. Various Rites are celebrated during this journey of faith. After a long period of prayer, study, and discernment, the initiation sacraments are celebrated--all during the same liturgy in the presence of the Catholic community at the Easter Vigil or at a Rite of Full Communion if
previously baptized. Movement through the process is determined on an individual basis.
For more information please call the John Farrell at (210) 494-1606.
