The age to receive the sacrament of Confirmation has been lowered to 8th grade. 

WE ARE PLANNING A SPECIAL YEAR FOR YOUR FIRST GRADER!

These children are just starting in faith formation structured experiences. Grade 1 will use materials from St. Mary's Press.

Typically, these students have received their First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, or are preparing to do so through our supplemental  First Sacraments preparation program.

Grades 3-5 will use materials from St. Mary's Press and the Catholic Children’s Bible (Also from St. Mary's Press).

Typically, these older children are starting to explore on their own, asking good questions and seeking more challenging experiences. We strive to offer engaging, interactive experiences for young teens, using a variety of styles that are rich in content while prioritizing personal formation.

Children in Grade 6-7 will continue to use materials from St. Mary's Press and the Breakthrough Bible (Also from St. Mary's Press).

Confirmation for Teens

Our goal with Teen Ministries is to create a community where all teens can actively live and grow in their Catholic Christian faith. Confirmation is the final Sacrament of Initiation, and an exciting milestone in their faith life, NOT a “graduation”.

 This program currently uses:
Confirmation First Year and Confirmation Second Year

Confirmation Prep. meets on Sundays at St. Theresa Church, beginning with the Mass at 5:00 PM.

Teens will attend the 5:00 pm Mass together, then transition over to the hall behind St. Theresa church for the remainder of the night.

Teens will need to sign in at both Mass and class separately to get credit for attendance. Please view the Make-Up and Absences tab for information regarding missing Mass or class.

The following is required of all teens preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, including those enrolled in Catholic School.

• First Reconciliation Information
• First Eucharist Information

Our Youth Faith Formation provides opportunities and support for the families who seek God’s grace for their grade 1-8 children through the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. At least 1 year of formal faith formation is preferred before a child prepares for these sacraments. 

Sacramental preparation includes the following:

 1. BOTH family adults and children working together.

 2. Completing all at-home material provided.

Preparation for these sacraments is separate and distinct.
 Karyn Moody coordinates First Sacraments.

Please sign up your child for the school grade they are going into in the fall. 

If you have further specific questions, please contact us!

It has been the custom, but not a requirement, for someone to take the name of a saint, biblical figure, or other name associated with Christianity when they receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Frequently in the bible, when someone has a major conversion experience, their name is changed.

For an excellent explanation of this question, please visit Zenit news by clicking here.

Each person’s needs are unique. Any of the Faith Formation Team would be happy to discuss your family’s individual situation and needs .

Parents are always welcome to attend faith formation activities with their children, and they are uniquely able to best serve their special needs child. Many of our volunteers are not trained to work with special needs children, unlike the adults your child works with in a school setting.

The Faith Formation offering partially offsets the costs of administering our faith formation program.  The total cost per student is greater than what we charge – the remaining balance is paid for by the parishoners of St.Matthew the Evangelist parish.

The Church’s mission is to evangelize and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, which includes our faith formation programs.  However, it would not be fair to expect the parishioner-in-pew to completely support faith formation, as participating families should also contribute to the faith formation of their children.

The offerings we request offset the costs of supplies (books, materials, technology), overhead (heat/lights), and especially salaries.

While most of the faith formation ministers (Catechists, Aides, Small Group Leaders, Hall Monitors and other helpers) are volunteers, they are supported, trained, and led by a dedicated team of paid staff.  Billerica has, for many years, been able to offer faith formation with a variety of part-time Faith Formation professionals.

Candidates for Confirmation and their families often ask about what clothing is appropriate for the ceremony.  It is suggested that you think of what you would wear for Easter Mass, than be one step more dressy. Hair should be prepared to keep the forehead open, as the Bishop will be making a cross with oil on the forehead. Please do not wear a hat, as even dress hats often get in the way. There should be no gum or food in the church.

Guys’ Details:

Suits are fine, sport jacket is good, neither is necessary.

Nice pants, can be khakis, but no jeans.

Collared shirt, better if it’s a dress shirt.

Ties are fine (with appropriate content).

Dress shoes – no sneakers.

Girls’ Details:

Comfortable dress shoes, but with no big heels, as they are too easy to trip on.

Skirts and dresses are fine, but not required, and please be mindful of modesty.

Conservative makeup.

Flowers are fine.

If you have further questions, please contact Tony.

Normally, our registration deadline helps us plan adequately for materials and preparing everything for a smooth beginning of our programs.

Given that your registration does not specify your signing up for a specific day and time, we ask that you sign up by September 10 to start participating when we begin the various programs. The final registration deadline for the 2024-2025 year is December 1, 2024.

Requests to register for the current school year after the final deadline will be handled on a case-by-case basis.  Please contact us!

Beginning in mid-August, we will e-mail you with verified program placements for your children.  Registrations received after August 1 will receive notification roughly two weeks after we receive the registration paperwork.

All grade 1-8 children and families use at-home materials for their individual portion of faith formation. See your child’s grade-grouping section for details. 

Please refer to details in the Individual Formation drop-down section entitled First Sacraments: Reconciliation and Eucharist

No. Parishoners attending Catholic schools are already receiving faith formation during their regularly scheduled school day.

This may also apply to families who home school their children for all of school (not only faith formation) and who use their own materials for faith formation.

However, these children and teens do need to register for sacramental preparation, which are kept distinct from the catechetical portions of faith formation. This is because Catholic Schools (typically) do not offer sacramental preparation, since sacramental preparation and celebrations are intended to happen in parishes.

Younger children who need to prepare for Reconciliation and Eucharist should sign up through the registration process , make a notation stating they attend Catholic school, and at the payment section choose “other” and not pay. There is no charge for sacramental preparation.

Teens who need to prepare for Confirmation should sign up through the registration process , make a notation stating they attend Catholic school, and at the payment section choose “other” and not pay. There is no charge for sacramental preparation.

Please contact us if you have further questions.

Please contact us to discuss your specific situation.

We enrolll families (or give you the needed information to do so yourself) into the appropriate curriculum materials with our publishers.

We would prefer – and think it more beneficial for you – to use the online resources, as your child will be able to track their progress and your family will have access to much more information.

If you have a strong preference for using paper materials, please contact us to discuss your situation and arrange for materials to be given to you.

If you have a rising second grader who missed faith formation (Religious Education, CCD, etc.) in Grade 1, we strongly encourage that the child to participate in one year of faith formation in order for your child to be better prepared for receiving the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist in the following year.  We ask that you sign up your second grader for the Seekers program, and postpone sacramental preparation until the second year of faith formation, when the student is in grade 3 at school.

Please contact the faith formation staff for more information.

Your family is making an offering, a contribution, to support the work of the church in sharing the faith. We have specifically removed any fees or additional costs associated with sacraments.

For the 2024-2025 year, the offering for faith formation (religious education, CCD) will be:

1 child = $160

2 children = $260

3 or more children = $310

If financial assistance is needed, please choose the payment option “other” and make a note in the box as available. Our Finance and Operations Manager Chris will be handling all the financial aid requests and payment plan arrangements.

COME AND SEE GATHERINGS

Come & See Gatherings focus on the teachings of Jesus, the bible, and the Church.  Through topic-based prayer, bible stories, games, crafts, music, Works of Mercy, and other interactive activities, children and families can practice “living” their growing faith and friendship with Jesus within their community.  Our Gatherings are cooperative experiences where Faith Formation staff, committed volunteers, and family adults work together for the benefit of children and their families.  

• Gatherings take place at the Parish Hall behind St. Theresa Church
  

• Families choose and sign up online for Gatherings, using SignUp Genius (link is emailed to registered families)

• Gathering are offered monthly for roughly 90 minutes each. Each month, Gatherings options will be offered as follows:

  • Week 1 options: Monday – Wednesday, 4:00 – 5:30 pm

  • Week 2 options: Monday – Wednesday, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
    
    These options are subject to change based on participant need, holidays, etc. Gathering weeks are NOT usually consecutive; schedules will be sent to registered families.

All parish ministers (volunteers, staff and clergy) are required to submit an annual background check (CORI) form with the Archdiocese of Boston. This includes liturgical ministers, faith formation, pastoral ministry, and parish leadership. More details about these specific roles is below.

When Do You Collect CORI Background Check forms?

Typically from July-September each year, or whenever someone begins involvement in a ministry.

You may also come the Parish Office during business hours to submit your CORI forms.

We typically collect CORI background check forms during one or two weekends in August-September after all the Masses.

You will be asked to complete a CORI form and present it with your photo identification. We will verify that the CORI has been completely filled out and will securely send them to the Archdiocese of Boston.

You are invited to download the CURRENT CORI FORM form in advance, print double-sided, and bring the completed form with you to save time. This is very helpful to us!

What is the Notary section on the CORI?

Starting in 2020, an individual may complete a CORI, submit it to a Notary for verification, and mail the completed CORI to the parish office. An individual using this option may still need to meet with a staff member prior to being admitted to serve in a ministry. Some find this option helpful if they are unable to get to the parish office during office hours.

Who needs to complete a CORI:

Everyone who serves in any capacity as a representative of St. Matthew the Evangelist parish, regardless of contact with minors (contact with minors also requires the Protecting God’s Children Virtus training). This includes:

Liturgical: Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Lectors, Music Ministers, Hospitality, Mass Assistants, etc.

Faith Formation: all faith formation roles, including RCIA and faith formation programs and events

Pastoral Ministers: Homebound Ministers, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Missions (such as the soup kitchen), etc.

Leadership: clergy, staff, routine contractors, and volunteers; Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Finance Council, CAP Team (Child Abuse Prevention), etc.

The celebrations of First Eucharist will happen in the spring, usually starting after Easter. 

Please contact the Coordinator of Children’s Ministrieshttps://billericacatholic.org/contact-us if you have further questions.