Jesus calls us to be his disciples. Will you come and follow Him?

We are all on a journey of faith, challenged to grow in our love of Jesus Christ, His Church, and His people. But to know things about Jesus is something very different from knowing Jesus. And so this journey begins with evangelization. Our first goal with children, teens and adults is to provide opportunities where we can encounter Jesus; then, because of that relationship, be motivated to learn more about our Catholic faith.

We also help our children and teens to prepare for the Sacraments they will receive, especially their First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. To supplement our more formal offerings, we also provide a library for all parishioners to use. It is located near the restrooms off the gathering space and is available whenever the church building is open.

Children aged 3 – 5 learn to participate in Sunday Mass by attending with their families. They can also enter the mystery of our faith through the program Catechesis of the Good Shepherd offered during the week.

To participate in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd or if you have questions, please contact Lorianne Aubut.

This year we will offer in-person formation through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for Kindergarten through grade 3 with an at-home option. Our 4th and 5th grade students will do At-home formation through textbooks and online presentations. We have increased the number of sessions of in-person formation to minimize the number of children present in the building at any one time. During grade school, children in their second year of Faith Formation also prepare and receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion.

For more information on our elementary faith formation program or to participate, please contact Lorianne Aubut.

This year our Middle School and Confirmation Programs on Sundays are going virtual (at least from October to December) using Alpha Teen online! Alpha is an invitation to explore life's biggest questions and a chance to look at the life and message of Jesus. Every question is welcome, and this is not meant just for students. Parents, we want you to join us, too. We will open in prayer, watch a video together, and as questions come up, we will break into parent and student groups to chat about them. We will end with prayer and hope that this will open many more conversations in your family. Sessions will be Sundays from 11:30-12:30 PM in-person or by live-stream.

For more information on our middle school faith formation program or to participate, please contact Deacon Jerome Buhman.

In order to provide some in-person faith formation, we are starting a youth group for students in middle and high school that will meet every other Monday and will focus on how to love God, love others, and make disciples. You are welcome to just one or all meetings! If you would like to receive a weekly email about upcoming events, classes, and how to take Catholic parenting to the next level, please text STAalltheway to 84576 to join our Flocknote account!

More information about the youth group is available at https://stamadison.org/re-registration. For more information on our high school faith formation program, Confirmation, or to participate, please contact Deacon Jerome Buhman.

All adults are invited to begin with Alpha. Alpha provides an opportunity to meet others and talk about some of life’s big questions in an open and friendly environment. Watch this video to learn more about the Alpha program, and contact Jennifer Ludtke if you want to know more.

Once people complete their Alpha experience, we encourage them to continue growing in their love of God and developing friendships with others who love God by joining one of our small groups. If you are interested in joining a small group, please contact Jennifer Ludtke.

A Community of Missionary Disciples

1 Corinthians 9:16: “If I preach the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for necessity has been laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel.”

St. Thomas Aquinas has partnered with i.d. (http://www.intentionaldisciples.com/) to provide content and inspiration in our journey to form young adults as intentional disciples of Jesus Christ.

The young adult community strives to promote the parish’s mission to become missionary disciples through personal spiritual growth, fellowship and service, and life-changing encounters with Jesus.

We welcome all Hispanic families to participate in our Faith Formation Programs. With our Hispanic staff and volunteers we are able to attend our families fully in Spanish. And with our bilingual priest, Father Bart, we can help families and their bilingual children feel welcomed and prepare for the sacraments.

Le damos la bienvenida a todas las familias hispanas que participen de nuestra Formación de Fe. Con nuestros miembros del equipo y voluntarios latinos podemos ayudar a nuestras familias completamente en español. Y con nuestro sacerdote bilingüe Padre Bart, podemos ayudar a las familias y a sus hijos bilingües para que se sientan bienvenidos y se puedan preparar para los sacramentos.

for some good reading