Faith Formation

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED AS OUR CLASSES ARE FULL FOR THE 2026-2027 CATECHETICAL YEAR.

Welcome to Faith Formation at St. Bernadette Parish. The first catechists in any child’s life are the family members with whom he or she lives. What happens at home – both positive and negative – provides lessons for life. In the family, faith is shared as part of the unfolding of daily life. The home or “domestic church” provides a real place in which a child learns to live his or her faith as well as understanding it. Thank you for making our Catholic faith a priority with your family.

To enroll in classes families must be registered parishioners at St. Bernadette and complete a registration form for each child.

Use the below links to access online payments and current calendars.

Make a Payment for Faith Formation

Schedules for Faith Formation Classes:

See Below for the Catechesis Methods at St. Bernadette Parish.

Family Formation (Pre-k through 5th Grade)

Family Faith Formation 2026–2027: A New Chapter Rooted in the Mass

We are excited to share a beautiful development in our Faith Formation program for the 2026–2027 year! As a parish, we continue striving to follow the guidance of the Church and the recommendations of the USCCB by placing Christ at the very center of all we do.

Beginning this year, we will be transitioning to a more Mass-centered model of Family Catechesis. This approach invites families to encounter Christ where He is most fully present—in the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith—and to grow together in understanding and love of the Mass.

What will this look like?

We will offer two Sunday sessions, each centered around the Mass:

One session including the 9:00 AM Mass
One session including the 11:00 AM Mass

Families will arrive 15–20 minutes before Mass to check in with our welcome team and receive materials for the week. After check-in, families will be seated together in the church where we will begin with a brief parish-wide lesson on the Mass, the liturgical year, or another aspect of our faith. Together, we will also pray a decade of the Rosary before entering into the celebration of the Mass.

Following Mass, families will gather in the Family Life Center for a 30–40 minute lesson, designed to deepen understanding and encourage faith-filled conversation at home. These sessions will generally meet two-three times per month, while weekly Mass attendance remains essential.

Supporting Parents as Primary Catechists
Parents will continue to receive monthly formation opportunities, including presentations by clergy or guest speakers. On weeks without a speaker, there will be either a video presentation or time for fellowship and connection with other families.

Weekday Option (Final Year)
We will continue to offer a Tuesday evening class (approximately one hour) for the 2026–2027 year. Families choosing this option will attend Mass on the weekend at a time that works best for them and complete a weekly activity sheet to bring to class.
Please note: this will be the final year for weekday classes, as we transition fully to Sunday Mass-centered formation in 2027–2028.

Living the Faith Together: The Six Spiritual Pillars
Throughout the year, families will also participate in special opportunities to grow in faith, including:

Family Faith Events
Family Holy Hour
Family Stations of the Cross
Family Reconciliation
Family Rosary
Divine Mercy Sunday

Why This Change?
Our desire is to be rightly ordered with Christ at the center of our lives. By placing the Eucharist at the heart of catechesis, we are not simply teaching about the faith—we are inviting families to live it, encounter it, and be transformed by it.

We are truly excited about this next step for our parish family and look forward to journeying with you as we grow closer to Christ together.

Discipleship Teams ( Middle School, High School and Confirmation)

St. Bernadette has embraced a new vision for youth ministry with the Diocese of Palm Beach. This relational vision invites young people and their families to an encounter and conversion to Jesus Christ through small, mentored communities of faith that we call young discipleship teams or simply small groups. This process begins in middle school with groups of young people who will meet with two mentors who will walk with them on their faith journey. They will get to know them personally so that the gospel will be better received and be more open to responding to the gifts of the Church. Not every 9th-grade 14-year-old will be ready on a given day at a specific time because it’s expected. This process leaves room for the Holy Spirit to inspire the individual young person, grow in a deeper relationship with God and develop a desire for the Sacrament of Confirmation which has the potential for a fuller life of discipleship.

These Discipleship teams will meet 2-3 times per month on Wednesday evenings from 6pm-7pm.

For more information on youth ministry and Confirmation CLICK HERE