Children’s Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation


St. Paul’s Parish
Religious Education Program
(904) 249-2660

St. Paul’s Religious Education welcomes all children to our program.

 

 

It’s never too late to begin learning about your faith.

“Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years…Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith.”  (CCC #2226)

Faith Formation is offered for students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade.  Classes meet on Wednesdays.

4:30 – 5:45 (K-5) and 6:30 – 7:45 (K-8).

Download Our Registration Form for the 2025-2026 year

Rel. Ed. Parent-Student Handbook

RE Calendar 2025-2026

Faith Formation classes are for children in grades K-8 who do not attend Catholic school. Families must re-register each year. Registration forms can be found online or emailed.

 

Sacramental  Preparation

NOTE: St. Paul’s follows the diocesan requirements of two full, consecutive years of faith formation prior to celebrating the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. If you have any questions, please contact the religious education office.

Preparation for First Communion is a 2-year preparation process.

Children must participate for two full, consecutive years in a Catholic school or parish religious education program prior to receiving the sacrament. Classroom preparation begins in 1st grade & continues through 2nd grade.

Preparation for Confirmation is a 2-year preparation process. Young people must have participated for two full, consecutive years in a Catholic school or parish religious education program prior to being confirmed in February.  Preparation begins in 6th grade and continues through 8th grade.

 

If your child is 8 years old or older and has not been Baptized or received First Communion, and you have not already spoken with Carol Burns, please contact the Religious Education office as soon as possible.

First Communion Retreat

April 12th or 19th from 2:15-5:15

In The Family Life Center

 

 

Divine Mercy Sunday Fact Sheet

The best way to truly celebrate this devotion with children is for parents to understand it. Here’s a quick overview of Divine Mercy Sunday:

  • The image of Jesus has a red ray and a blue ray coming out of his heart. One symbolizes water, and one symbolizes blood.
  • St. Faustina is the one that had the apparition of Divine Mercy Jesus.
  • St. Pope John Paul II is the pope that canonized St. Faustin and instituted Divine Mercy Sunday. When Jesus appeared to St. Faustina, he came with the message, “Jesus, I Trust In You”
  • The “Divine Mercy Chaplet” is a prayer that can be prayed using a rosary,
  • Many families like to attend confession the week before or after Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Divine Mercy Chaplet

  • Make the Sign of the Cross; if you’re using rosary beads, this would be on the crucifix.
  • Say the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), the Hail Mary (once), and the Apostles’ Creed.
  • For each of the five sets of beads, on the large bead, say:
  • ETERNAL FATHER, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
  • On each of the ten smaller beads, say:
  • For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
  • After reciting this set of prayers five times (on all five decades), conclude by saying the following prayer three times:
  • Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Carol Burns
Director of Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation

cburns@stpaulsjaxbeach.org
 (904)249-2660