Faith Formation

Children in first and second grade are invited to attend Children’s Liturgy of the Word during 10:30 A.M. Mass on Sundays.  The children are dismissed following the opening prayer to hear scriptures and a reflection in an age appropriate manner.  The children rejoin the community before the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Please Note: This is not for children that have already received their First Holy Communion. These children should remain with their family and listen to the Liturgy of the Word.

Children in preschool through kindergarten are invited to attend Children’s Church during 10:30 A.M. Mass on Sundays.  The children are dismissed following the opening prayer to be introduced to the Sunday scripture through the Pflaum “Seeds” program.  The children are also introduced to sacred gestures and prayers that we, as Catholic Christians, use regularly.  Children’s Church is a bridge to encourage the children to continue their faith formation from the Sacrament of Baptism to the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist. The children rejoin the community before the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

All students meet on Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. for faith formation sessions.

Faith Formation Cover Letter                                 2019-2020 Registration Form

Parent Student Handbook

Beginning in 2019 the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade faith formation will be taught using Our Sunday Visitor Alive in Christ for Young Adolescents. This program is grounded in the Divine Pedagogy – in a gradual and relational way that God teaches us so that you can know Him and His truth, be guided by the Holy Spirit to respond with faith and love, and accept the gift of new life in Christ. Alive in Christ Faith Guidebooks invite young people to develop a deeper relationship with Christ.

Grade 9 starts their Confirmation prep by using the Ascension Press Confirmation program, Chosen. The Chosen program is designed to help teens prepare for the sacrament and also develop a closer relationship with Christ.

Grade 10 continues to use the Chosen program to dive more deeply into learning about The Sacraments. The students will also learn the Why behind the What of the Mass.

Grades 11 & 12 use a variety of learning materials to help them understand more about their Catholic faith as they begin to get closer to graduating from high school. Junior and Seniors are encouraged to attend a Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) weekend.

St. John Bosco Youth Ministry includes the four parishes located in the Jasper area – Holy Family, St. Joseph, Precious Blood and St. Mary in Ireland.

Director of Youth Ministry –  Jacqueline Ripberger
Associate Director of Youth Ministry – Ann Hayden
Middle School Youth Minister – Josh Morrison

St. John Bosco Youth Ministry also has a team of youth and adults that help coordinate and supervise activities to provide fellowship, fun, service and spiritual growth on an ongoing basis throughout the year for all area youth.

To learn more about St. John Bosco Youth Ministry click here.

Adult Formation is offered ongoing basis for those adults who would like to meet and learn more about their Catholic faith.

Topics include the Gospels, the Eucharist, Reconciliation and Forgiveness, Mary our Mother, and much more.

The bulletin will have information regarding dates and times for adult formation programs.

Adults who feel called to join our Catholic faith are encouraged to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.  This process, better known as the R.C.I.A., consists of sessions of inquiry, catechumanate, and mystagogy.

Sessions begin mid September or the first week of October.  Dates and times usually depend on those going through the process. Inquiry is designed to help interested individuals become more aware of the beliefs and practices of the faith.  There is no pressure for a commitment to join the faith.  All are welcomed to participate as much or as little as they prefer.

After one inquires and discerns that they are ready to move into a deeper discussion of  the faith, the individual will start meeting weekly with a team of individuals who will discuss in more detail our faith traditions and practices using prayer and scripture.  The individual has now entered into what we call the catechumanate.

Once the individual has made a firm commitment to join the Catholic faith, they enter into full communion with the Church through the sacraments of Baptism (if one has not been baptized in a Trinitarian tradition), Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Holy Saturday Vigil. After receiving the sacraments of initiation, the neophytes (newly initiated) individuals meet weekly to grasp the paschal mystery and discover how to make it a part of their daily life.  As the neophytes begin to strengthen their walk in the Catholic faith, all are encouraged to discern what ministry in our parish family they feel called to serve. This is called the period of Mystagogy.

Welcome (formerly known as CRHP) is a spiritual renewal program held in a weekend retreat format. These retreats – one for men, one for women – are held once a year in February or early March, and are combined with the other parishes in Jasper/Ireland. The retreat team consists of parishioners who have made previous CRHP weekends. These weekends are wonderful opportunities for individual spiritual growth, as well as fellowship and friendship-building with fellwo parishioners and other from our faith community.

Over 200 parish members have experienced CRHP since it began at our Precious Blood Parish in the fall of 2000. The program is supported and maintained by a Continuation Committee that meets periodically to pray together, plan and ensure the ongoing success of the program.

Contact:
Niki Peter – 812-639-0222 or jnpeter@gmail.com
David Julian – 812-631-9180

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is offered in the summer for students entering their second year of preschool through fifth grade.

VBS is a week filled with awesome stories about people from the bible, creating crazy crafts, learning fun songs, eating yummy snacks and doing fun recreation activities! On Friday evening of VBS week we have a closing ceremony where the children sing songs they have learned for their family and friends. Afterward there is a family picnic and fun activities for everyone!

VBS is normally held in the month of June. Registration forms and more details will be published in the bulletin during the month of April.