is ongoing! If you are new in the parish or have a child (5 or older) and would like to begin Faith Formation, please call the parish office to obtain registration materials, or complete and return the form provided online under the Faith Formation tab.  

Please Google Sadlier "Christ in Us" to find additional informaition and family/children's activities.

Our current teachers sometimes need coverage due to illness, car trouble, etc.  We would like to have a list of 5-6 adults who could periodically act as a substitute, most likely no more than once each per year.  Materials and lessons will be provided.  If interested, please contact the Parish Office at (518)234-2892.

                                                                                                                                 August 30, 2020
Hello St. Vincent DePaul Families,
Welcome to a brand new year of Faith Formation!  We have all experienced many challenges and new adventures in parenting this year.  As I reflected on the strengths and weaknesses of last year’s program and the needs of families for this coming year, I have found it necessary to try new material that lends itself better to a blended learning approach. 
What is blended learning for St. Vincent’s?  It is an educational model that fully supports weekly home instruction accompanied by once a month in person instruction with a catechist.  Though many schools are moving to a blended approach due to COVID regulations, our main reasons for using a blended approach are a lack of family attendance at weekly masses and a lack of catechists.  Please keep this in mind as we experiment with this learning model.  Both of those reasons can be eliminated by you, the parent, by coming to Mass weekly and volunteering to be a catechist. 
We will be using the Sadlier “Christ In Us” curriculum for K-6 and “We Live our Faith” for 7-8.  Please note that 7-8 is not set up for total blended learning yet but should be for the 2021-2022 year.  Textbooks and online resources will be used at home for all levels. There are many changes to talk about, including adhering to COVID regulations during in person instruction, but let’s take things step by step.
Please be aware that once you are registered, you have the ability to teach your children completely at home if at any time you are uncomfortable with in person learning or if regulations do not allow for it. Attending class is not required to complete the year, but weekly home participation is.  With four young children myself, I understand how difficult this is, and I am here to listen to any frustrations and help you find solutions.  We are all in this together.

Step 1: Register your children: K-6
Please go to www.christinus.com/@PAR120432892.  This should bring you to St. Vincent’s page. If not, you can look up our parish.
Choose “register”
Choose “student” for registration. You MUST register child before parent can register.
Fill out the required fields. Choose a username and password per child.  Don’t forget to write it down!
Fill in the registration code per grade they will be in this fall:
K: 38I70G  (that’s I as in ice cream, not #1)
1: S405KC
2: 597Q84
3: 668N63
4: 54C14K
5: 088P96
6: Y276YC
After your children are registered, go back and register as a parent. You will need your children’s usernames, passwords, and class codes, so keep a record as you sign them up.
This process took me about 5 minutes total.
You will receive an email that will activate your parent registration.  Once it is working, please view a brief course on how to use the online learning:
Login and pick a grade (it doesn’t matter which)
Click on “getting started” and go to “Christ in Us Companion”
Click on “courses” and go to “getting started for parents”
All the videos are only 2 to 3 minutes long. The most important one is “How to use the Home Guide”.
*IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS it’s ok.  Please call or text me at 518-366-6139 to register.
Every child K-8 will receive a textbook that is very user friendly for parents.  It is yours to keep. If you do not have internet access and would like more than the textbook to work from, I will happily order you a catechists’ guide.

Register your child: 7-8 and Youth Group/Confirmation 2021:
Paper registration will be done as in the past.  Registration forms are available on St. Vincent’s website under the “faith formation” tab: www.stvincentdepaulcobleskillny.com or by calling the office at 518-234-2892.  If you cannot reach the office please email me at dmca12043@gmail.com or call me at 518-366-6139.
BECAUSE OF COVID regulation planning we need numbers in advance.  A few late registrations are ok but not for all.  Please email a scanned copy or mail your registration form as soon as possible to:
St. Vincent de Paul parish
138 Washington Ave, Cobleskill, NY 12043
ATTN: faith formation
Email: dmca12043@gmail.com

Step 2: Attend the orientation meeting and pick up textbooks
Date: Sunday, September 20 after 8:30am mass. Late registrations accepted at this time (and of course throughout the year).

Planned dates for K-8 faith formation:
Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6, Jan 10, Feb 7, March 7, April 18, May 2, June 6. 

Please contact me at any time with questions. I am available all day at 518-366-6139 by call or text or by email (above).
God bless,
Debra McAllister
Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation


 

Sacramental Preparation: 
Any child who wishes to be prepared to receive a sacrament must be registered and participating in Faith Formation for at least one year prior to beginning preparation.

Preparation for First Reconciliation 
            Preparation normally takes place when the child reaches the age of 7. Parents may always choose to delay this if they feel their child is too young to understand the concept of reconciliation.
              The sacramental preparation program takes place in the fall on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Parents who work and are unable to provide transportation from school are asked to please contact the parish office (518-234-2892) to make arrangements. The sacrament is celebrated in November and is followed by a pot luck celebration.  The fall 2019 class schedule is as follows:

Children's Classes:  October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and November 12
Parent and Child Class:   November 6 at 6 p.m.
Reception of the Sacrament:  November 19 at 6 p.m.


Preparation for First Eucharist
            Children who have been prepared for First Reconciliation are eligible to be prepared for First Eucharist. The program takes place on Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
It begins in February or March and concludes with the reception of the sacrament in late May or early June. The spring 2020 schedule is as follows:

Parent/Child meetings:   Sunday, March 29 at 9:30 am and Tuesday, May 19 at 6 pm
Enrolllment Ceremony:   
Preparation Classes:       March 24 & 31, April 7, May 5 & 26, June 2
Reception of the Sacrament:  
             


Preparation for Confirmation
            Young women and men who have been baptized and received First Eucharist and who are in their Sophomore/Junior year are eligible to enter the preparation process for Confirmation.  Four sessions occur in late Fall, six sessions during Lent and four final sessions in September/October of their Junior/Senior year just prior to the reception of the sacrament. In addition to attendance at all sessions, students are required to participate in Youth Ministry and a retreat and to complete a service project.   

CONFIRMATION (2020) classes:  Sundays 6 - 7:30 p.m.
     
Parent/Student Meeting:  November 3 at 6 p.m.
Enrollment Ceremony:  November 10 at the 8:30 Mass
Fall Preparation Classes:     November 10, 17, & 24, December 1 at 6 p.m.
Spring Preparation Classes:  January 5, February 9, March 8, 15, 22, & 29, April 5
Living Stations: 
Confirmation Retreat:  
Fall 2020 Classes:  
Reception of the Sacrament:  November 18 at 6:30 pm