Welcome to
the Religious Formation PreK4-5 Home Page!
- Glad you stopped by to learn a little more about this faith-filled ministry at St. Thomas More (STM).
- For immediate questions answered, Trish Pabis, Director of Religious Formation, can be reached via email at: [email protected]
Registration for Religious Formation PreK4-5
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PLEASE NOTE: It is never too late to register for Religious Formation PreK4-5 (RF PreK4-5). We'd love to have your youth join our gatherings to share stories about our Catholic faith and how we are living out our call to be missionary disciples. Please contact Trish Pabis directly or complete the online registration form to have your youth participate.
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The fee for the Religious Formation PreK4-5 is $40 per youth; $100 maximum per family (fees are pro-rated if entering the program mid to late year).
No child / youth will be denied Religious Formation based on inability to pay the registration fee.
Partial and full scholarships are available. Please contact Trish Pabis to discuss your situation in confidence.
Religious Formation Catechists who have children enrolled in the program will have the registration fees waived. “Adult Helpers” in the classrooms will have their children's registration fees reduced by 50%. Interested in sharing your gifts and talents, please contact Trish Pabis at [email protected] to learn more about volunteering with this ministry.
No child / youth will be denied Religious Formation based on inability to pay the registration fee.
Partial and full scholarships are available. Please contact Trish Pabis to discuss your situation in confidence.
Religious Formation Catechists who have children enrolled in the program will have the registration fees waived. “Adult Helpers” in the classrooms will have their children's registration fees reduced by 50%. Interested in sharing your gifts and talents, please contact Trish Pabis at [email protected] to learn more about volunteering with this ministry.
Religious Formation PreK4-5 Schedule
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Vision for Religious Formation PreK4-5: |
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For the 2026-2027 academic year, the Religious Formation PreK4-5 (RF PreK4-5) Program at St. Thomas More Catholic Church will continue to be a combination of traditional individual grade-level format as well as Family Catechesis.
The RF PreK4-5 gatherings will occur on most Sunday mornings from 9:45 am (please note start time) until 10:45 am. This time enables RF PreK4-5 youth to meet at the same time as our Middle School youth (grades 6-8) and the High School Youth (grades 9-12) providing opportunities for collaboration and mentoring between the different age groups. As previously mentioned, two different types of gatherings will occur on Sundays during the 9:45 am until 10:45 am time slot. The first type of gathering is the individual grade-level format which will be referred to as "RF PreK4-5 Gathering." Youth will attend with their individual grade level peers for catechesis and faith sharing. Parents do not attend. The second gathering, "Family Catechesis," is an opportunity for the parent(s)/grandparent(s)/guardian(s) of the elementary aged youth (Prek4-5) to attend the session as a family. This is different than the previous "Sunday Summer Family Activities." The format of "Family Catechesis" includes: Prayer, Song, a short catechetical teaching, and hands-on family activity (ie: craft, challenge, scavenger hunt) to build upon the teaching. The teaching will be liturgical in nature either relating to Sunday's Gospel, the liturgical season, or a Saint Feast Day. Additional resources for home use will be provided to continue growing and sharing the faith in each family's Domestic Church. |
By virtue of faith and our baptism, we, the parents and catechists at STM, are called to be "a witness of faith and keeper of the memory of God." (Directory for Catechesis, pg 73, para 113). As parents, we have the primary role in educating our children about the Catholic faith.
As Catechists, we support and accompany the parents as we proclaim the Gospel and God's love for all of creation. At St. Thomas More Catholic Church, the Catechists follow the Catechetical Curriculum set forth by the Richmond Diocese to help supplement the parents’ teachings at home. It is the Religious Formation’s vision to explore the 6 Key Concepts at an age-appropriate level for each student in a nurturing, faith-filled environment. The Key Concepts are: 1. Knowledge of Faith 2. Liturgical Education 3. Moral Education 4. Teaching to pray 5. Education for Community Life 6. Missionary Initiation |
Ways to volunteer with the Religious Formation PreK4-5 Program
There are several ways to be involved with the RF PreK4-5 Program at St. Thomas More Catholic Church (STM). You can either volunteer as a lead or co-Catechist being responsible for lesson plans and sharing of the faith. There is also a need for classroom assistants / helpers who are present in the classroom to provide assistance with activities and redirection of behavior.
You do not need to have children enrolled in the program to volunteer. Please keep in mind, in order to work with children, you will need to have had VIRTUS training as well as a background check. It is the policy of the Diocese of Richmond that any adult over the age of 18 years who is interested in volunteering and interacting directly with children is required to attend the Protecting God’s Children (PGC) course to become VIRTUS certified.
You do not need to have children enrolled in the program to volunteer. Please keep in mind, in order to work with children, you will need to have had VIRTUS training as well as a background check. It is the policy of the Diocese of Richmond that any adult over the age of 18 years who is interested in volunteering and interacting directly with children is required to attend the Protecting God’s Children (PGC) course to become VIRTUS certified.
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PGC is a 2 to 3-hour course that involves watching a video and having participant discussion. VIRTUS training is provided in various locations throughout the Diocese of Richmond including STM as well as virtually online.
Please refer to the Diocesan website (www.Richmonddiocese.orgrichmonddiocese.org/registering-for-an-upcoming-virtus-training-program/) for training dates, locations, and to register for a course. During the online registration process, you will also have the opportunity to fill out a background check request form. Please note, STM will cover the costs associated with the background checks. If you have any questions, or to inquire more about this requirement, please contact Trish Pabis, [email protected]. |
