Faith Formation

The faith formation or catechesis of any individual begins in childhood and ends at death. A child’s first teachers are his/her parents and family members. His/her ongoing faith formation continues when he/she enrolls in school or in the parish religious education class.

Kids’ Word | The children’s Liturgy of the Word occurs during the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays from September through late May. Children in grades 1-5 leave the church for their opening of the Word on their appropriate age level. Catechists guide them through the Word with various activities and end with the Creed and the Prayer of the Faithful. The children return to the church at the Offertory of the Mass.

Pre-School Ministry | There are two options in the Pre-School Ministry. The Sunday Preschool program provides appropriate religious activities for children ages 3-5 coordinated by our catechists. Classes are held every Sunday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., in Classrooms 1-4 which are located on the lower level of the Parish Center. The Tuesday option is held from 10:00 a.m. - noon, during the Walking With Purpose sessions.

Religious Education Grades 1-5 | Grades 1-5 meet weekly after school in the Parish Center classrooms, Mondays at 4:00 p.m. -5:15 p.m., Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.- 7:45 p.m., or Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Sacramental Preparation | Our Sacramental classes prepare our students for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. This is a two-year program in which the children learn their prayers, become acquainted with Jesus and learn about God’s love for us through the sacraments. Sometimes an older child is late in his/her preparation for the sacraments. During his/her first year, he/she is enrolled in a regular class. In the following year he/she enrolls in the Sacramental Preparation class.

Welcome to the 2024-2025 year of religious education and faith formation at San Rafael!

Classes will meet on Mondays (4 p.m.), Wednesdays (6:30 p.m)., and Thursdays (3 p.m.). 

All new families must first be registered in the parish before registering for religious Education classes.  To register your family in the parish, you may visit the parish office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), or you may register on our parish website – www.sanrafaelparish.org, hover over “FAITH FORMATION” on the menu bar, then look for the "Faith Formation Forms".

GRADES 1-5: If your child has not been baptized or has been baptized in another faith, please register but it is imperative that we are informed as soon as possible as these students will need to be placed in the Rite of Christian Initiation.  Please contact Quyen Skiano at (858)487-0491 to discuss that option.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are registering your child(ren) in San Rafael’s Religious Education Program for the first time (all grades), you can upload a copy of your child(ren)’s baptismal certificate when you register or email a copy to [email protected] or drop off a copy in the mail parish office. ALSO, if we do not have a copy and you were enrolled previously, we will contact you for a copy. All children must have a certificate on file before placing them in a class.

Registration Fee: $100

There is an additional $50.00 per child for those children in their 1st and 2nd year of Sacramental Preparation.

All fees are due on the day of registration.  If tuition assistance is needed scholarship applications forms are in the office. Please note that there are a limited amount of scholarships available. Application deadline is September 12, 2022.

IMPORTANT DATES GRADES 1-5:

First and Second Year Sacramental Preparation: Tuesday, September 3th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

All Classes start: September 9-12

That first week there will be a meeting for all catechists, parents, and children in the Parish Hall during class times.

Class Schedule 2024-2025- San Rafael Religious Education

To keep up with the most up to date details please text @24-25SRRE to 81010

The Preschool program provides appropriate religious activities for children ages PreK (3YO)-Kinder coordinated by our catechists.

Classes are held:

Sundays, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 :30 a.m. during the 10:30 Mass (Sunday School, open to 3yo-Kindergarten) or

Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to noon, during Walking with Purpose (Preschool) in Classrooms 1-4 which are located on the lower level of the Parish Hall Building.

Registration fees are:

Sunday School – $100
Preschool – $400

No fees are being asked of at this time. Please register so we know how many families are interested. When we have more solid numbers and catechists lined up you will be sent more information on how to pay and when classes will start.

If you have any questions, please call Quyen Skiano at (858) 487-4314, ext 1216

VOLUNTEERS | We are always looking for catechists and classroom assistants.  Anyone who volunteers as a catechist will get a 20% discount on their religious education fees.  Instruction for catechists is provided by our Catechetical Program Coordinator, Quyen Skiano.  Please be sure to email us at [email protected] if you are interested in helping with this wonderful ministry or fill out the volunteer inquiry form.

All Religious Education volunteers must complete background screening.

• Safe Environment Training & Background Screening Instructions
• CMG Connect Training for Volunteers

Reporting Sexual Abuse:  Complaints about sexual abuse by a member of the clergy or by a parish or Catholic school employee or volunteer can be made by calling at (858) 490-8353, by emailing [email protected] or visiting www.safeinourdiocese.org.

Sexual Abuse Compensation Program| The Independent Victim Compensation Program (ICP), a program sponsored by the Diocese of San Diego to assist victim-survivors who were abused as minors by priests of this diocese, has begun accepting applications.  The ICP is independent and not controlled by the Church.  There is no time limit on when the abuse may have taken place.  The program will consider all claims, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.  No attorney is necessary and there are no fees of any kind.  U.S. Residency is also not required.  For more information go to their website  www.CaliforniaDiocesesICP.com.

• Sexual Misconduct Brochure (English)
• Sexual Misconduct Brochure (Spanish)