Children's & Teens' Faith Formation

The Catholic Parishes of the Blue Hills provide children and teens’ faith formation programs for grades Kindergarten through the celebration of Confirmation. Classes for Kindergarten – Grade 8 will be held at the offices of the Blue Hills Collaborative, 20 Como Road, Hyde Park, just behind St. Anne Church.
 

2026-2027 Faith Formation Schedule

The Confirmation Retreat for the Faith Formation class of 2025-2026 will be held on Saturday, September 19 at the Collaborative Center details will follow.

Confirmation will be held on Saturday, October 24 at Most Precious Blood at 1:00pm

REGISTRATION for 2026-2027 Faith Formation is open now! Click on the button to register your child for Faith Formation this year! 

Any questions please contact Anna Williams Cote, Director of Ministries at Acote@bluehillscollaborative.org

Making the Sign of the Cross

When we make the Sign of the Cross, it is good to remember that it is more than a routine to begin and end a prayer. It is a prayer in itself- a very profound one. This is a visible sign that we profess our faith in the existence of the Holy Trinity. It is a mini liturgy, that is, saying and doing something religiously. The Trinity, along with many other teachings by Jesus, are mysteries. However, these are not mysteries to be solved, but, rather, to be celebrated as they are revealed to us by God. May we pray this Sign of the Cross reverently, affirming our faith in the intimate closeness of a loving God.

Touching our fingertips to the head, we acknowledge our Father and Creator. Then, with our hand over the heart, we remember Jesus' love for us. Tapping each shoulder, we ask the Holy Spirit to energize and guide our good works.

-By Father James McKarns 

2025-2026 Curriculum

This year, the Faith Formation Program for youth will be titled, "The Mass."

Our programs will center around the importance of the Mass as Catholics. We anticipate that all those participating in Faith Formation will attend Mass regularly and request that you attend the Family Mass, which is the first Sunday of the month.

Grades K – 7 will use Pflaum “Gospel Weeklies” Faith Formation Program, as well as Christ Our Life, New Evangelization Edition (Loyola Press)

• Grades K-1 use Christ Our Life and “Promise”
• Grades 2 & First Communion Prep use Christ Our Life
• Grades 3-5 use ”Venture”
• Grades 6 & 7 use “Visions”
• Confirmation Prep, Grades 8 & 9, use Pflaum: "Visions" & "Gifted With the Spirit, as well as video material from Dynamic Catholic’s “Decision Point”.

Following their Baptism, children in Catholic faith formation receive three more sacraments, the final two Sacraments of Initiation (First Communion and Confirmation), as well as the first Sacrament of Healing, Reconciliation.

Grades 1 & 2: First Reconciliation/First Communion

Grades 1 & 2: First Reconciliation/First Communion: The sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion have traditionally been celebrated in grade 2, but many times, for one reason or another (like COVID), that does not happen. We always welcome families with children and teens who are older than grade 2 to prepare for these important Sacraments. The Catholic Parishes of the Blue Hills believes that preparing children/teens for Reconciliation and Eucharist is a wonderful opportunity for families and supports parents, grandparents, and Godparents as the primary educators of their children/grandchildren/Godchildren in our Catholic faith. We will do our very best to meet your family where you are and assist all of you on your faith journey.

Regardless of parish affiliation, students and their families are welcome to celebrate First Communion at any of our three parishes.

Grades 7 and 8: Confirmation

The Confirmation program for the Catholic Parishes of the Blue Hills is two (2) years, offered to students beginning at the start of Grade 7. Teens who attend Catholic schools are required to participate in Year II only.

For more information about sacramental preparation, please contact Matt O'Neil at Faithform25@bluehillscollaborative.org 

If you are not registered with any parish in the Archdiocese of Boston, please click here first, to register with one of the parishes of our Collaborative.

Check out our Faith Formation class resources below!