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 Margarita Cabada.

All classes are in-person this year. 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 Margarita Cabada.

STA Youth Formation Mission Statement:
The aim of STA Youth Formation is to guide our youth to answer the call of personal discipleship, evangelization and leadership. This is accomplished by providing teens an environment through which they are empowered to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world and are drawn to participate in the life, mission and work of Catholic Church.

Middle School Youth Formation: The middle school youth formation program focuses on building an atmosphere for the youth so that they can build a strong and solid community with other youth and get answers to questions that they may have about the faith. Meetings will be held in person on Wednesdays from 6p-7:15p beginning Oct. 6^th.

High School Youth Formation: The high school youth formation program encourages all high school youth in grades 9-12 to deepen their relationship with Jesus and the Eucharist. It also focuses on encouraging teens to participate in the church/local community. This is done by having dynamic talks and fun activities that the teens may relate to. There is also opportunity for retreats and other diocesan events. Sundays from 5p-7p beginning Oct. 3^rd.

Sacramental Preparation (Confirmation): If you are looking for your child to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation, please contact Robert Rosa-Cruz.

For more information on middle school and high school formation, or to participate please contact Robert Rosa-Cruz.

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.

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