Forming Disciples (Catechesis for Children and Teens)

"At the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son from the Father...who suffered and died for us and who now, after rising, is living with us forever."

Are you think about becoming Catholic? Do you or your children want to receive the Sacraments? Do you want to just learn more about the Catholic Faith?

Then take look at all the programs offered here at St. Anthony's to receive the gift of Faith and to grow in it!

If you have any questions, please contact Br. Anthony at 732-747-0813 ext. 120 or re@stanthonysofredbank.net.

Why Forming Disciples?

The heart and goal of all that we do here at The Oratory Church of St. Anthony of Padua is this: to fulfill the mission that Jesus Himself gave us when He said, “Go; make disciples of all nations.” Everything that we do here is done with this in mind or it is not worth doing. And that is especially the case with our programs of faith formation for our children.

These programs are not about simply ‘getting all our sacraments,’ though they will prepare the children for the encounter with God and His grace that we experience in the sacraments. Nor are they simply about checking off the boxes of our religious obligations, though we do have serious obligations to God. After all, we owe Him everything.

When we do not focus upon forming our children as disciples, there is a danger that, after the children have completed their ‘formal’ classes to learn about the Faith, they will treat it like graduation and stop coming to Mass or practicing their faith in any demonstrable way. Our faith cannot survive if it is lived that way. It will have become an empty tradition that, while beautiful from the outside, has lost its meaning, purpose, and vitality.

The goal of our faith is a heartfelt love of God, evident in how we live and practice that faith within the Church He founded. Ultimately, our faith sets our eyes and hearts on Heaven, where, if we live and die in faith and love, we will live in God’s love, peace, and freedom for all eternity. The way we do all this is by following Jesus as His disciples. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The first task of the first disciples was simply to be with Jesus and to listen to Him at His feet. And this is what we aim to do in every session of Forming Disciples: to lead our children to be with Jesus, to encounter Him personally through our times of prayer, study, activity, and even fun. Through all these, we try and help each child to know Jesus personally in their head and in their heart, and so to experience His love for them and to love Him in return.

This is also why we insist upon the attendance of the children at Mass every weekend as part of being in Forming Disciples. It is in the Mass where the children hear God speaking to them personally in His Word and so begin to discover the unique plans and mission that He has for them in their life. It’s also in the Mass where Jesus offers us the Gift of His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist. He is the nourishment that we need to truly live. He told us in John 6 that, without receiving Him in the Holy Eucharist, we starve spiritually. And without being with Him and our family in the Mass every week, we cannot be His disciples.

If your children have been in Forming Disciples in the past, you have already seen the effect of Forming Disciples upon their lives. Our children don’t just ‘respect’ the Church as an ancient institution that does good things in the world. They love the Church as their real and living family. They love their Faith. They love Jesus. And they look forward to being here with their family at Saint Anthony’s.

To see that in the life of our children is a beautiful gift from God. And it is a privilege for the Fathers and Brothers of the Oratory and for our dedicated staff and volunteers to be a part of that moment when the children choose personally to follow Jesus and to begin to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are all volunteers in this program. We want to be here. All of us do this because of our love for you, your children, Jesus & His Church. There is no other reason.

I would like you to keep all this in mind as you register your children for Forming Disciples this year. That is our goal: to form our children as disciples of Jesus, who know Him personally and love Him with all their heart; and to form them as disciples whose faith is evident in their participation in the Church and in how they strive to live and love others. This isn’t a new goal. It’s as old as the Church herself. Jesus gave us this calling. But it is also the mission that God gave you when He entrusted you with the gift of your children at birth. We are here to support you in this mission in every way that we can.

The Plan of Forming Disciples

There are eight levels of Forming Disciples. And just as the children attend school every year when they are of age, so do the children attend Mass every weekend and the classes of Forming Disciples ever year in order to be formed as disciples. They must attend each year and complete each level, which includes, above all, keeping the 3rd commandment of God by attending Mass every Saturday evening or Sunday.

Children should begin Forming Disciples when they are entering into first grade and continue every year afterwards until they are formed in all eight levels of the program. If your child is entering Forming Disciples after first grade, please speak to the office so that we can determine a way for them to make up what they have missed.

Each level of classes of Forming Disciples focuses upon a unique aspect of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. All our classes meet in person. As the children move through each level, they also build up their own personal library of books that will help them to grow in their faith for years to come. Here is a quick summary of the levels:

Level 1 – Introduction to the Faith, Prayer, Lives of the Saints, and the Stuff that we see in the Church

Level 2 – The Sacraments of Confession & the Holy Eucharist

Level 3 – The Creed, the Sacraments, the History of the Church, and Saints Around the World

Level 4 – Living as a Disciple: the Virtues

Level 5 – Spirituality Year of Prayer, Devotions, and Saint Philip Neri

Level 6 – The Harmony of Faith, Science, and Reason

Level 7 – Bible Year (The Story of the Bible and How to Read It)

Level 8 – The Sacrament of Confirmation & Becoming an Evangelist

Summer Program for Children (Levels 1 to 8)

There are three sessions of religious education each summer for children in 1st to 8th grade. These classes meet in the parish center and outside for two weeks in June, July and August, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 12:15pm. Click the button below for more information and to register for this program.

Year-Round Program (Levels 1 to 7)

These classes for children in 1st to 7th grade meet on Sundays from 11:45am to 1:15pm in the parish center, beginning in September and continuing to April/May. Click the button below for more information and to register for this program.

Wonderfully Made: Forming Disciples for the Exceptional

We are excited for another awesome year of Wonderfully Made with your children!

If this is the first year for your child in Wonderfully Made, we are so happy that you have found this program to help your child to grow in the gift of faith and to prepare them to receive all the graces and blessings that the Lord wants to pour out upon them in the Sacraments! If your child is returning for another year, you already know the beautiful blessing that Wonderfully Made is for your child! We are so happy with their growth this past year. We can’t wait to see all the amazing things that the Lord is going to do in them this year to come.

In Wonderfully Made, our dedicated and highly specialized volunteers create a unique program tailored to the needs of each individual child, based upon their exceptional abilities. So, you can know that when the children are in the classroom, they are getting the best that we can offer them and that they deserve.

There are two parts of Wonderfully Made: a retreat over the summer that allows us to work with the children during a more focused and dedicated time period; and classes during the year. Please have your children attend both parts of Wonderfully Made. To register your child, please come by the office or stop by the information desk after one of our weekend Masses or speak with Fr. Alberto, Fr. Nicholas or Br. Anthony after Mass.

Click here for the information and registration packet.

2025-2026 Dates:

· Summer Retreat – August 18 to 22 (6 to 8pm each night)

· Classes during the Year – begin September 28 (8:30 to 10am)

Baptism for Children over 7 years old

Baptism should be received within six weeks after the birth of your child. If, for some reason, your child is over seven years old, you should contact us as soon as possible so that they can start in the program and be baptized. Children over seven years old who have not been baptized will be baptized at the Easter Vigil after completing their first level of Forming Disciples.

Click here for the registration packet.

First Confession & Holy Communion Preparation for Children (Level 2)

These classes for children in their second level of our religious education program take place in one of our four sessions of Forming Disciples and continue during the year with six additional classes on the first Sundays of the month from 11:45am to 1:15pm, beginning in October and continuing to April. The parents also meet during these six Sundays to prepare alongside of their children and to get to know the other parents.

If your child is eligible to prepare for their first Confession & Communion after their first level, we will send you the registration forms. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Confirmation Preparation for Children (Level 8)

These classes for children in their eighth level of our religious education program begin over the summer during one of the two-week summer sessions and continue during the year with additional classes on Saturdays from 11:45am to 1:15pm (usually 2 to 3 classes a month), beginning in October and continuing to April. There is a special program for parents and the sponsors of the Confirmation candidates to prepare alongside of their children. There are seven of these meetings and they take place at the same time as the children meet on Saturdays.

Order of Christian Initiation for Teens

This program is for high school age children who are unbaptized and would like to become baptized Catholics or who are baptized and would like to receive the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Confirmation . The program begins with a two week retreat over the summer in August, Monday to Friday, 6:30 to 9pm each night. It continues for two years of classes on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30pm, from September to April, and a second summer retreat at the start of their second year of classes.

Order of Christian Initiation for Adults

These classes are for: those who would like to become baptized Catholics; those baptized Catholics who would like to receive the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Confirmation; and those adults who would like to just learn more about their Faith. Classes are on Wednesdays, 7 to 8:30pm, from September to April.

Registration (English) for Children in Levels 1 to 8

Registration (Spanish) for Children in Levels 1 to 8

Registration (English) for Order of Christian Initiation for Teens (Year 1)

Registration (Spanish) for Order of Christian Initiation for Teens (Year 1)

Registration (English) for Order of Christian Initiation for Adults

Registration (Spanish) for Order of Christian Initiation for Adults

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