Pre-K through Grade 12
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St. Austin Faith Formation brings our children and our adults (parents and catechists) together with the Holy Spirit. Together we develop children and adolescents who embrace their faith and go out and live it.
“Let the children come to me;
do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these..."Today there are so many questions for adolescents learning about the Catholic faith. We want them to go deeper and make connections with their faith through all avenues that the Church offers.
"Before they can care about what the Church teaches,
youth need to know that God exists.
Before we can expect them to be excited or invested
in the Mass and the sacraments, they need to know Jesus."- Amanda Grubbs, LifeTeen Dynamic Catholic
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A Message in the Time of COVID-19
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Dear Families,
We at St. Austin want to take this time to thank you immensely for your patience during these challenging time of COVID. The world is quickly changing and know that we at St. Austin's are praying for you and with you during this difficult time. As we hear in the Gospel, the Sower is planting seeds in three different terrains, praying that the seed will germinate and grow in one of them. While we may seem like we are planting seeds where they may not grow, know that the seed is being watered and cared for by the Holy Spirit. The seeds that will be planted and cared for this year are through you, the family. Pope Francis says “It is valuable to live as a family, that a society grows strong, grows in goodness, grows in beauty and truly grows if it is built on the foundation of the family.” We would love to know your thoughts going into this year's Faith Formation and the years to come. We want you to know that we are here for you, you are not alone. Please read over the below questions and let us at St. Austin know how you are sowing your seeds.
Thank you!
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Stay in the Know with Children's Faith Formation (FF) FlockNotes
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Flocknote Messages
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5 days ago“The last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16 We are continuing this week with Jesus’ Parables. This Sunday we hear the Vineyard parable where the landowner hires people to...
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Children's FF Flocknotes Signup
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Pope Francis on the Role of Family in Formation
“Family catechesis ensures the Gospel message is the lived experience of the entire family. As Pope Francis reminds us, “the family is not merely the sum of persons belonging to it, but a ‘community of persons.' And a community is more than the sum total of persons that belong to it. It is the place where one learns to love, it is the natural centre of human life. It is made up of faces, of people who love, dialogue, make self-sacrifices for one another and defend life, especially of the most vulnerable and the weakest.”
Address to Participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family, 2013
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Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLW)
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At St. Austin's 8:45 a.m. Mass we invite all children, from 3 years of age to those who've not yet made their First Communion, to CLW. It is a great time for the children of St. Austin to learn about the Mass, hear the Gospel readings, and create their own age-appropriate prayers. During different liturgical times through the year we have processions for the children to participate in too! Learn more about Children's Liturgy of the Word (currently under construction).
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CLW Videos On YouTube
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Faith Formation Curriculum for Children
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Our Faith Formation is a home-based family catechesis. Our lessons are liturgically-based and supported by Pflaum Weekly Gospels, weekly St. Austin Children’s Liturgy of the Word videos, weekly check-ins from our dedicated Catechists and weekly Spiritual Newsletters.
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Godly Play & Children’s Liturgy of the Word (videos)
Our Pre-K 3 and 4 children will have colorful hands-on activities providing a lively way for young children to experience the Gospel. With the Seeds curriculum we teach preschoolers the way they learn best: through talking, cutting and folding, listening and through singing out with love and joy! These activities are available online or in print.
Godly Play presents our life with God through song, movement art and storytelling, and is a method of Christian education and spiritual direction offered by St. Austin's for children ages 3 - 5.
In Godly Play, children meet God through prayer listening to God's word, working with different art materials, and working with each other. Young children learn about the world around them by using all their senses.
The goal of Godly Play is to teach children the art of using religious language (the language of our Christian tradition) to help them become more fully aware of the mystery of God's presence in their lives.
Gospel Weeklies
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Gospel Weeklies & Children’s Liturgy of the Word (videos)
The Gospel at Home (published by Pflaum) provides a short description of the Sunday Gospel and suggested activities and discussion starters for each age level. These easy-to-do ideas bring families together to share what each member has learned about the Gospel that they heard on Sunday.
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Under Construction
Please contact Deacon Dan Wright
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Gospel Weeklies
The Gospel at Home provides a short description of the Sunday Gospel and suggested activities and discussion starters for each age level. These easy-to-do ideas bring families together to share what each member has learned about the Gospel that they heard on Sunday.
Sophia Institute
- Our curriculum, Spirit of Truth, provides interactive sessions for every week, including sacred art reflections, stories of the saints, games, role-plays, and critical thinking questions, all designed to capture student attention.
- Spirit of Truth treats the Catechism age-appropriately, to connect with children of diverse backgrounds and differing familiarity with our faith.
- While it's important for children to understand the faith, Spirit of Truth helps them internalize the Faith and apply it to their lives, providing ample opportunity for them to reflect on their lived experiences.
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Gospel Weeklies & Sophia Institute
St. Austin views faith formation as a total parish experience. Second grade curriculum includes sacramental preparation.
For Parents: We offer a unique program for parents whose children are preparing for the reception of first Sacraments (Reconciliation and the Eucharist) or whose children are enrolled in the RCIA adapted for children (Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation) as a component of their child’s formation and preparation.
Please find more information on our Sacraments page or contact Rachel Vaughn.
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Gospel Weeklies
These lessons emphasize social justice, moral reasoning, and service for junior high students through current articles, stories describing life dilemmas, and Christian life examples. Discussion starters allow young teens to explore links between today’s issues, the Sunday readings, and their lives.
Sophia Institute- Our curriculum, Spirit of Truth, provides interactive sessions for every week, including sacred art reflections, stories of the saints, games, role-plays, and critical thinking questions, all designed to capture student attention.
- Spirit of Truth treats the Catechism age-appropriately, to connect with children of diverse backgrounds and differing familiarity with our faith.
- While it's important for children to understand the faith, Spirit of Truth helps them internalize the Faith and apply it to their lives, providing ample opportunity for them to reflect on their lived experiences.
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Alive in Christ for Adolescents
We've selected this curriculum to empower our youth to become evangelizers by sharing their faith with others. Our hope is that, through the guides, our young people internalize the lessons of their faith in such a way that they not only apply them to their personal choices but can confidently communicate with their peers.
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More information on Youth Confirmation (usually celebrated in 10th Grade) is available on our Confirmation page.
Dynamic Catholic Decision Point
Decision Point is the first Confirmation program specifically developed to engage young Catholics in a meaningful conversation about the genius of Catholicism. It teaches and inspires teens to respond to God’s grace.
For Parents and SponsorsWith topics on decision making, relationships, prayer, and finding your purpose, Decision Point will nurture your spiritual journey and provides an easy way to join in your child's faith journey.
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After Confirmation, we encourage our youth to continue their Faith journey by participating in a number of our Adult Faith Formation offerings. We've also curated a selection of videos for them to watch, podcasts to listen to, and book suggestions for them to read. We look forward to continuing walking with them on their Faith journey.
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As Catholics, we believe that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. Each of us is sacred and our lives - body, mind, and soul - should be treated with respect.
- Called to Protect™ for Children is the safety education piece of our Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) program designed specifically for elementary grade students K-5. It focuses on understanding rules, appropriate touch, boundaries, how to respond to uncomfortable situations and introduces technology safety. Called to Protect for Children is not human sexuality education and is best described as age-appropriate safety education.
- Called to Protect™ for Youth gives our young people practical tools, in language and medium they can understand, to realize this fundamental teaching of our faith.This program is available to 6th through 12th graders in parishes and schools within the Diocese of Austin. The Diocese of Austin website provides parents with an overview of the program as well as additional resources.
For more about visit our Ethics and Integrity in Ministry page.
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More Information About Children's Faith Formation
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“Christ has confidence in young people
and entrusts them with the very future of his mission,
'Go and make disciples.'
Go beyond the confines of what is humanly possible and
create a world of brothers and sisters!”- Pope Francis
Welcome Ceremony at
Beginning of World Youth Day
Rio de Janiero
July 22, 2013
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