K-12
Faith Formation consists of three groups:
- Cross Walk (Rising Kindergarten–5th grade students)
- Cross Train(Rising 6th–9th grade students)
- Cross Road (Rising 9th–12th grade students)
All three programs are designed to make your child feel “at home” while attending faith formation classes. St. Francis is a safe place where your child can have fun and be themselves while knowing they are valued members of our community and loved by God!
All of our groups consist of small, group-based models and are centered on the Sunday Masses.
- Cross Walk meets immediately after the 9:00 AM Mass
- Cross Train and Cross Road meet immediately after 5:30 PM Mass.
Sessions are approximately twice per month from September through May. Our groups offer monthly family events, retreats and ample social time, designed to provide your child with opportunities to grow in faith with their families and their peers
Cross Walk (Rising Kindergarten–5th Grade Students)
Cross Walk occurs immediately after the 9:00 AM Mass on Sunday mornings by breaking open the treasures of the faith that were just proclaimed. Children hear a short “proclaim” in the Church presented by a dynamic speaker who challenges them to put their faith into action by living the Word heard at Mass. Just as the USCCB’s National Directory for Catechesis says, “Catechesis both precedes the Liturgy and springs from it.”
Children then break out into small groups with their grade level peers. While in small groups, adult volunteer leaders build trusting relationships through prayer, games, hands-on activities, discussion on Catholic teachings, and service projects. The session ends with prayer and presentation of their mission for the week followed by a dismissal to glorify the Lord with their lives.
For more information or questions, please contact Marisa Ferrara at Marisa.Ferrara@stfrancisraleigh.org
Cross Train and Cross Road
Youth and their families are encouraged to attend our youth-focused Mass at 5:30PM on Sunday evenings. Immediately following Mass, Cross Train and Cross Road participants join together for a snack, fellowship and a catechetical lesson. Youth participants break into designated small groups, led by adult group leaders to engage in deeper discussion of the evening’s lesson and participate in specially designed activities.
Small groups allow youth participants to build relationships within the groups and create a sense of community. After small groups have concluded, youth participants gather together as a large group for prayer, final thoughts and dismissal. Cross Train and Cross Road meet roughly twice per month after 5:30 PM Mass on Sundays. In addition to regular Sunday evening Youth Group sessions, youth are provided with opportunities to participate in retreats, socials and service projects throughout the session year.
Registration for the K-12 formation programs is via Realm, the parish ministry database. Registration typically opens in March and continues until late August each year. If you are interested in registering for one of the programs outside of this timeframe, please contact the staff member associated with each program for more information.