Faith Formation
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine is an association established in Rome in 1562 for the purpose of giving religious education. Its modern usage is a religious education program of the Roman Catholic Church, normally designed for children. In some parishes, CCD is called PSR, meaning Parish School of Religion.
St. John & St. Sebastian have a joint CCD Program that meets on Sunday morning from 9:30-10:45am for children in grades 1,4,5,6 as well as 1st and 2nd year Confirmation Classes for young adults in grades 7 and 8
There is also classes held on Monday evenings from 4:45-6:00pm First Reconciliation and First Communion for children in grades 2 and 3
To Register your child, please use the form below:
St. John & St. Sebastian have a joint CCD Program that meets on Sunday morning from 9:30-10:45am for children in grades 1,4,5,6 as well as 1st and 2nd year Confirmation Classes for young adults in grades 7 and 8
There is also classes held on Monday evenings from 4:45-6:00pm First Reconciliation and First Communion for children in grades 2 and 3
To Register your child, please use the form below:
| CCD Registration Form & Policies |
CCD Classes begin September 11th
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is a formal process of deciding if you want to become a Catholic. In RCIA Classes, you will learn about Catholic Theology, Doctrine, and the Sacraments among other beliefs that Catholics hold dear. This process is for anyone who has not been baptized, who has been baptized in another faith or another Christian denomination, or someone who did not receive the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation) and religious instruction (Catechesis).
The RCIA process has several distinct stages. These Catholic RCIA stages are a good model of faith development itself.
Note: St. John Church does all their sacraments at the Parish level and does not send their candidates to St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich.
If you are interested in becoming a Catholic, please use the form below to help the Parish Office, Father, and your RCIA Catechism Teacher with information about yourself.
The RCIA process has several distinct stages. These Catholic RCIA stages are a good model of faith development itself.
- Inquiry: the initial period before you decide to enter the Catholic Church. You’re asking questions and checking it out, but aren’t yet ready to commit.
- Catechumenate: those who decide to enter the Church and are being trained for a life in Christ are called catechumens, an ancient name from the early Church. In this stage, you’re developing your faith and are being “catechized” – learning catechism, or the basic points about Catholic faith and life.
- Purification and preparation: The Church will help you focus and intensify your faith as you prepare you to commit your life to Christ and be received into the Church at Easter. If you’re following the RCIA process, you’ll go through a beautiful series of Gospel-based meditations during Lent, which is the time frame of this period.
- Initiation itself, the culmination of the whole process! You’re received into the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass, where you’ll receive the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. (If you’ve already been baptized, you won’t be baptized again.)
- Mystagogy: after reception into the Church at Easter, this period lets you reflect and learn more about the mysteries of the Mass and the Sacraments that you now participate in fully.
Note: St. John Church does all their sacraments at the Parish level and does not send their candidates to St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich.
If you are interested in becoming a Catholic, please use the form below to help the Parish Office, Father, and your RCIA Catechism Teacher with information about yourself.
| Saint John Church RCIA Inquiry Form |
