Faith Formation Office for Chidren and Youth

724 Elder Lane, Deerfield, Illinois 60015
Phone: 847-945-0581
Fax: 847-945-0582

Our goal is to assist children and youth on their faith journey and to make Jesus Christ known and loved. Please review the different areas of our ministry and feel free to contact us if you would like more information. We are here to serve your family!

Faith Formation Staff

Rev. Vincent F. Costello, Pastor

Becky Phillips, Director
bphillips@holycrossparish.net

Camille Brigagliano, Administrative Assistant
cbrigagliano@holycrossparish.net

Terry Lazaretti, Administrative Assistant
tlazaretti@holycrossparish.net

INDEX

Faith Formation Registration

Registration for the Religious Education Program, the LOAVES Program, and the Confirmation Mass has begun!

We invite you to explore the publications listed below to learn more about the programs that Holy Cross offers for children and youth.

Brochure

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition Explanation

After reading about our programs and making your choices, you will have two forms to complete. The first one is the Faith Formation Registration Form for your children's programming and the second one is a Volunteer Form, giving you an opportunity to serve in these programs. You may also visit the Faith Formation Office to register on-site.

Print the Registration Form

Register Online

Print the Volunteer Form

Volunteer Online

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Liturgy of the Word

During certain 8:30 Mass celebrations, children ages 5-10 are invited to come forth from the congregation and go to another space where they explore the “Word of God” in ways that children can easily understand. They re-join the community for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Religious Education--Pre-K- 8th Grade

This program is designed to help parents and guardians nurture their children’s faith by sharing Catholic beliefs and traditions, scripture stories, seasonal celebrations, sacraments, music and prayer. The creative small group sessions will be led by catechists.

Children and parents will be invited to put their faith into action by participating in service opportunities, prayer, and liturgical celebrations.

Parents can choose the session that is most convenient for their family's schedule.

Click here for the Sunday and Tuesday calendars.

Pre-K- 5th Grade Options
Sunday: 9:45-11:15 am
Tuesday: 4:15-5:45 pm

6th- 8th Grade Options
Sunday: 9:45-11:15 am
Tuesday: 7:00-8:30 pm

LOAVES--9th-10th Grade

LOAVES is our Confirmation preparation program. Youth gather in small groups for faith sharing, fun, and fellowship. The small groups meet in the homes of their adult facilitators on the dates and times determined by each group.

Participants are required to do service work, complete reflection exercises, participate in a retreat each year, and attend Mass celebrations and large group events.

LOAVES participants will have the unique opportunity to:
• embrace their baptismal call and experience deeper initiation into a welcoming Church community
• grow in knowledge of the person, mission, and message of Jesus
• understand the nature of the Church and appreciate the role of the sacraments in the Church's life and their own lives
• recognize the activity of the Holy Spirit in their lives and in the life of the Church
• understand the rite of Confirmation and prepare to celebrate it in a meaningful way

Confirmation is celebrated in the fall of the candidates' junior year. Young people are invited to formally commit to a deeper understanding and involvement in their Catholic faith. A reception in the gym immediately follows the Confirmation Mass. Candidates must participate in our LOAVES program for two years before celebrating this sacrament.

1st Year Documents
1st Year Large Group Calendar
Service Reflection Form

2nd Year Documents
2nd Year Large Group Calendar
Confirmation Covenant
Confirmation Name
Sponsor’s Information
Saint Essay
Letter of Intent
20 Questions
Service Reflection Form

Youth Ministry

Our vibrant youth ministry program offers many activities that encourage 6-12th grade students to:
• Get involved in our parish and world wide community
• Meet new people
• Live as disciples of Jesus Christ
• Strengthen their relationship with God
Our programs are fun and faith-enriching! Young people can participate in as many or as little activities as they are able.

Peer Ministry: High school students gather on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm to sing, reflect on a certain topic, and pray in a variety of ways. You do not need to sign up to attend.

Footprints Retreat: This retreat is required for our sophomore Confirmation candidates. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors, who have already participated in this retreat are invited to lead future retreats. The leaders’ formation meetings will begin 8-10 weeks before the actual retreat and are held on Wednesdays from 7-9pm in the Youth Ministry Room.

Catholic Youth Organization Basketball: Teens are invited to play basketball in our winter league. Our teams play teams from other Catholic parishes in the area. Games are played in December—February. Registration begins in November each year.

High School Service Trip: Each year, our teens travel to Flint, Michigan for a week-long service trip. Participants will do service projects such as yard work, painting, cooking, cleaning, and home-building. They will also spend time with community members at soup kitchens, churches, and nursing homes. To access our registration packet, please click here.

KAIROS Retreat: Kairos is a retreat for high school seniors and a limited amount of juniors that takes place at the Cabrini Retreat Center in Des Plaines, IL each year. Although Holy Cross is hosting this retreat, teenagers from other parishes are invited to participate as well! The purpose of Kairos is to give teenagers a strong sense of their relationship with God as well as their relationships with family and friends. Registration begins in January each year.

Milwaukee Youth Mission for 6th-9th Grade Students: During the week of July 7-12, 2013, a group of young people from our parish will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, doing work projects and spending time with the community members. For more information about this mission experience, please read the informational packet and watch the video.

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Sacraments

First Reconciliation and First Eucharist

Families with children in 2nd grade (or older) are invited to prepare for and celebrate First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Preparation for these sacraments consists of formation sessions that parents and children attend together. Candidates must be actively participating in our Religious Education Program or Holy Cross School for two years before celebrating this sacrament. First Reconciliation celebrations occur during the winter each year. First Communion celebrations occur in the spring.

Click here for this year's schedule.

Confirmation

In the fall of their 11th grade year, young people are invited to formally commit to a deeper understanding and involvement in their Catholic faith. A reception in the gym immediately follows the Confirmation Mass. Candidates must participate in our LOAVES program for two years before celebrating this sacrament.

This year's Confirmation Mass will be celebrated on September 8 at 1pm.

Click here for information about our 2-year Confirmation program.

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Service Opportunities for Children and Youth

As Disciples of Christ, we are called to serve the world.
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25: 34-40
Click here for a list of service opportunities that families can do together!

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Volunteer Opportunities for Adults

Our parish has approximately 800 children and youth enrolled in a formation program or the school. Sharing the Faith with this many young people is a great joy, but it is also a tremendous responsibility! We need your help to accomplish this. There are many volunteer opportunities, from a one-time commitment like donating baked goods or serving as a greeter for an event to a year-long commitment like being a lead catechist for a designated grade level. Please see the back side of this form for more information. Being involved in the faith formation process allows you to enrich your own faith, meet new people, and build our parish community. We are certain that you will be able to find some way to be involved where you can effectively use your God-given gifts, your energy, and your precious time to serve God’s people!
Click here for a list of volunteer opportunities.

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Advisory Board

John Powen, Chairperson
Kevin Butler
Colleen Aufderheide
Tomas Rivera
Teresa Yap
Tiffany Hubbard
Father Vincent Costello, Pastor
Becky Phillips, Director of Faith Formation

The Faith Formation Advisory Board meets every other month. If you have an item that you would like included on the agenda, please contact Becky Phillips.

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Holy Cross Catholic Church