December is the month in which we have the opportunity to prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I will take an opportunity to share a theme used by the Knight of Columbus to guide our reflection with families and children in our programs: "Keep Christ in Christmas."

While most of the people in society will be focusing on buying presents, travel or preparing parties, we can focus on the values of the Gospel integrated into our Pastoral Plan: Encounter Jesus Christ, accompany others and live the Gospel. As Catechists, we can implement activities that can fulfill these areas.

Our children and families love this time because there is a climate of joy, peace, generosity, and unity. We want to thank you for making this liturgical time an opportunity for families to rejoice around the coming of Jesus Christ into our lives. Let's make sure that there is room for the Holy Family in our hearts and homes.

The office of Faith Formation wants to also take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Archbishop Etienne is reinstating the general obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation starting December 8, 2021, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Click here to watch video.

For those where were not able to attend the six-session virtual event or would like a refresher on the new Directory for Catechesis, we have made all of the recorded sessions available with the corresponding handouts. Visit the Faith Formation Online Resource website, select "Recorded Resources" in the topic menu to access the information - click here to go directly to the page.

Pope Francis invites all the baptized around the world to journey together in a global listening process called, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” This global consultation process will provide guidance for the Church to discern “the signs of the times and interpret them in the light of the Gospel” (GS,4).

Learn more about the resources available!

The following guidelines have been established for Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation programs.

For more information visit the Archdiocese COVID webpage

January 29, 2022 (Middle School at Camp Don Bosco)

March 5, 2022 (Middle School at Camp Hamilton)

March 26, 2022 (High School at Camp Hamilton)

April 23, 2022 (Middle School at Camp Hamilton)

We need assistance in helping with set up, assisting with the activities, helping during lunch time, picking up, etc. If you are interested, please send us your name and the date(s) of the retreat(s) you can help at formation@seattlearch.org. We will be scheduling a Zoom meeting on the first week of January 2022. We will need your name and contact information by December 10^th.

Please join us for our December PAFF support meeting. Please note the dates and join other PAFFs and the Faith Formation staff for networking and collaboration opportunities!

Advent is here! Be sure to check out the Advent and Adviento page for updated materials!

Be sure to check the Liturgical calendar pages in both English and Spanish. These pages will contain who and what the Church celebrates specifically in the month of December.

New pages in Spanish:

Pages that have been recently updated with new resources:

Domestic Church (seasonal activities)

Liturgical Calendar (every month!)

We would like to once again begin to share with you and provide resources for the essential concepts that are covered in religion education curriculum for both parish and schools. For the month of December we feature Task 3 - Moral Formation.

Please feel free to use these resources linked below in your lesson planning and use our Faith Formation resource page - each essential concept has a dedicated page of resources for you to share.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass - December 4, 2021-11:00 at St. James Cathedral. Click here for more details.

Simbang Gabi - December 11, 2021 at St. James Cathedral. Click here for more details.

Discovering God’s Will as a Young Person: Discernment Retreat for 11 & 12 Grade - December 17-19, 2021 at Archbishop Brunet Retreat Center. Click here for more details.