Faith Formation Ministry

Following the call to bring people to a closer relationship with Jesus, Faith Formation promotes, nurtures and offers life-long formation for those ministering to children and adults by providing courses on faith formation and catechetical topics, catechetical certification and retreats in both English and Spanish. Faith Formation also oversees the implementation of policies of Catholic Faith Formation for parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation during COVID

The Faith Formation and Youth Ministry offices have developed guidance and resources to ensure we can continue with our mission of teaching the faith while keeping everyone safe and healthy.

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Catechetical and Lay Formation Programs

Catechetical Certification Program (CCP)

A foundational, sequential pastoral program for parish staff, volunteers, adult learners and parents of homeschoolers.

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Ongoing Formation

Programs to develop pastoral and competent ministers our parishes and faith communities.

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Pre-K to High School Religious Education

Pre-K to 8th grade

Curriculum with grade level expectations for all children participating in parish and school faith formation, and listing of approved textbooks.

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9th to 12th grade

Approved textbooks for youth in parish and school faith formation programs, USCCB doctrinal framework and chaste living documents and resources.

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Sacramental policies and preparation

Approved resources and information on catechetical preparation for the sacraments of penance, first Communion, baptism, confirmation and the Rite of Christian Initiation.

Infant baptism

Baptism preparation programs

First penance & reconciliation

Penance & reconciliation programs

First Communion

Communion preparation programs

Confirmation

Confirmation preparation programs

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

RCIA preparation programs

RCIA (adapted for children & teens)

RCIA supplemental resources for youth

Confirmation retreats

The Faith Formation Office is offering Confirmation retreats for parish Confirmation preparation groups. If your parish would like to attend one of these retreats located at Camp Hamilton in Monroe or Camp Don Bosco in Carnation, please contact Lisa Hillyard at lisa.hillyard@seattlearch.org for availability.

These retreats are one-day events ending with Mass, by 5:00 pm.

Depending on the size of your group, capacity limitations, and your Confirmation date at the parish, a suggested date will be determined. Scheduled dates for 2024 will be available soon, with one or two retreats in the fall. More information will be provided for those dates and locations. For programming questions, please contact Carlos Carrillo at carlos.carrillo@seattlearch.org.

Confirmation age revision

In late 2019, the Archdiocese of Seattle made the transition for the age of Confirmation from eleventh grade or sixteen years of age to seventh grade or the equivalent age. In order to help our parishes with the transition process, the Confirmation policies were revised and a variety of resources were made available in order to facilitate the various programs and age levels in our parish communities. Please visit the Confirmation Revision page for more information.

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Sacramental records policies

For other archdiocesan policies, click here.

For Archives and record management policies, click here.

Formation resources

Videos and other resources for your faith formation ministry, from knowledge of the faith to help with supplementing a lesson plan.

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En Español

Catechist Tools and Resources

At Home with Faith

Anti-Racism Resources

Catechetical Materials

The Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Catechism draws on the Bible, the Mass, the Sacraments, Church tradition and teaching, and the lives of saints. Using the tradition of explaining what the Church believes (the Creed), what she celebrates (the Sacraments), what she lives (the Commandments), and what she prays (the Lord's Prayer), the Catechism of the Catholic Church offers challenges for believers and answers for all those interested in learning about the mystery of the Catholic faith. For more information on the Catechism, check out the FAQ page on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's web page.

United States Catholic Catechism for Adults: The presence of the Catholic Church in the United States reaches back to the founding days of our country through the leadership of Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States. His story, like other stories at the start of the chapters in the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, gives us a glimpse into the lives of Catholics who lived out their faith throughout our country's history. Each chapter includes stories, doctrine, reflections, quotations, discussion questions, and prayers to lead the reader to a deepening faith.

General Directory for Catechesis: The General Directory for Catechesis provides religious educators, teachers, and catechists with a single point of reference for all aspects of catechetical instruction.

National Directory for Catechesis: A companion to the General Directory for Catechesis, building on some of the core themes of the GDC, like catechesis's relationship to evangelization and worship, and provides practical tools for doing catechesis well.

National Directory for Catechesis Leader's Guide: A resource for diocesan and parish leaders who want to present the new National Directory for Catechesis (NDC) to others. The guide consists of a book, a CD with PowerPoint presentations, and scripts to support the PowerPoint slides. Includes instructions explaining how to give an NDC workshop, outlines for eight workshops and two presentations, and a detailed script for one of the presentations.

Directory for Catechesis 2020: Lays the how-to guidelines for catechesis and presents universal norms to guide pastors and catechists in the work of evangelization. The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization presents the Directory to guide the proclamation of the Gospel by the Christian faithful to people of all ages and in all seasons of life.

Our Hearts are Burning Within Us-A Pastoral Plan for Adult Formation in the United States In four parts, the plan examines the challenges and opportunities faced today, the key qualities of a mature faith, the principles and approaches for providing sound adult faith formation, and the critical roles of parish leadership and diocesan support.

Catechesi Tradendae: On Catechesis in Our Time-Pope John Paul II: This apostolic exhortation describes the important and unique roles the Church, the laity, and the family play in ensuring that all Catholics not only understand the Faith, but are prepared to live it fully.

Safe Environment for Faith Formation

Six Tasks of Catechesis

TASK 1-KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAITH-Students explore, profess, and reflect on our Catholic faith, which is the content of God’s revelation found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and lived out in the Creed and
Church doctrine.

TASK 2-LITURGICAL EDUCATION-Students recognize the presence of Christ and enter into communion with Him through active, full, and conscious participation in the Liturgical celebrations and Sacraments of the Church.

TASK 3-MORAL FORMATION - Students develop a moral conscience that is informed by Church teachings and conformed to Christ, as modeled in a personal life of virtue, and demonstrated in service of the Gospel’s demands for society.

TASK 4–LEARNING TO PRAY – Students experience and engage in Catholic expressions of prayer to deepen their relationship with God and the Church.

TASK 5-EDUCATION FOR COMMUNITY LIFE - Students study and participate in the life and mission of the Church—the Body of Christ and the community of believers—as expressed in the Church’s origin, history, ecclesiology, the Communion of Saints, and their family, the Domestic Church.

TASK 6-MISSIONARY DISCIPLESHIP AND SERVICE- Students acquire and demonstrate skills to recognize their gifts from God and their vocation to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed in the world.

The Essential Concepts come from the Table of Contents for the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). They have been re-organized to fit under the Six Tasks of Catechesis. Referencing CCC article numbers is a recommended resource for catechist preparation.

Online Programs from Religion Publishers

Please take a look at this concise table for a quick glance at what our approved publishers have to offer for parish faith formation programs. If offering an all online or hybrid approach for your parish program, many publishers have adapted their programs to fit both scenarios.

Faith Formation in the Home Options

Online Youth Ministry

Safeshare Video TV

Faith Formation Newsletters

April 2023

March 2023

February 2023

January 2023

Events and Workshops

Events

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Workshops

Ron Ryan Presentations

Invite Ron to present on a variety of faith formation topics for your parish or faith community.

More info

Ministry Clearance for Visiting Laity Information

Visiting Laity Brochure

Visiting Laity Form

Tech Tools for Catechetical Leaders

Find helpful resources to make your online formation classes, meetings and events successful. Tips on how to prepare for an online event, templates, and other curated resources can be found here.

View here

Follow Faith Formation on social media

Contact

Carlos Carrillo

Director of Faith Formation

carlos.carrillo@seattlearch.org

206-654-4644