Welcome, Parents and Guardians of the Children of our Parish!

Mater Dei Parish is here to help parents/guardians fulfill their God-given role and their promises!

Priest: "You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?"

Parents: "We do."
-- Catholic Rite of Baptism

“Parents are the primary educators in the faith. It is for this reason that parishes must give very special attention to parents. By means of personal contact, meetings, courses and also adult catechesis directed towards parents, the parish must help them assume their responsibility - which is particularly delicate today - of educating their children in the faith.”
--General Directory of Catechesis, Articles 255 and 227

Mater Dei's Faith Formation program is based on the Catholic Church's teaching that you, parents or guardians, are the first and primary educators of your children in our faith. Parents teach the faith not only in word but also in deed. Children watch; they learn; they know! And no one knows them or loves them like you do!

We are building a comprehensive system of Faith Formation for our families that is introduced with marriage preparation and baptism of children, initiated in children's pre-school years, intensified in the grade school years, strengthened in Confirmation preparation, expressed anew in youth groups, and launched into early adulthood and selection of a college, career, and life vocation. This brings us full circle back to marriage prep, new couples and young families...and
God-willing some seminarians and religious order novices!

We don't leave parents on the sidelines! No one loves and cares more for children than parents. Yet none of us is perfect. At Mater Dei we seek to provide the support parents need to grow in their faith along with their children. Parents should know that we support them in their baptismal promise to be the first teachers of their children.

Here is an overview of our offerings, from youngest ages up to oldest.

Ages 3-6: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

For children aged 3-6, we are proud to offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS). Children enter a very sacred, beautiful and intriguing room called an Atrium where they can receive and enjoy God's love, experienced through Jesus, the Good Shepherd. In the Atrium children consider God's word and materials revealing the life and teachings of Jesus, articles used on the altar, gestures used in Mass, and much more, and are thus immersed in the mysteries of faith. CGS can only accept a limited number of children. Meets @ IC on Wednesdays, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. There is one additional session (Wednesdays, 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.) which is pending. If you are interested in CGS for your child, during the registration process please check every session that would be a possibility for your child to attend (marking the later session will secure you a spot if there is room). In the fall we will inform you whether the pending earlier session will be offered and the rosters for the class(es). Linsey Hoard (linseymhoard@gmail.com, 740.219.3041) is the CGS lead catechist if you have any questions.

Grades 1-6: Family of Faith

In our Family of Faith program we empower you to help teach your children while learning the faith better yourself! This is accomplished beginning when children are in grades 1-6 (those in grades 3-6 should have already received First Communion). Family of Faith includes second graders, but if you have a second grader please also see the section on First Confession and First Communion below.

The "Family of Faith" curriculum from Sophia Institute Press is a four-year program that is based on the four parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Thus, anyone completing this four-year course of study has a rounded understanding of the Catholic faith. Our program combines a Small Family Group component along with parent-led lessons and activities to be carried out at home.

Families meet in Small Groups one Wednesday per month (at Immaculate Conception) and carry out home lessons three times per month. For your monthly Small Group session you have two choices of times. During the registration process please select either the Early Wednesday session (4:30 to 5:45 p.m.) or the late Wednesday session (6:30 to 7:45 p.m.). You will then be assigned that session on either the 1st, 2nd, or 4th Wednesday of each month.

You will also be asked whether you would like to form your own Small Group of families, or whether you would like to be assigned to a Small Group. 

If your family wishes to form a Small Group of families for the monthly Wednesday sessions, you are free to work on putting that group together. Having children of similar ages would help but is not strictly necessary. Small Groups must be four families minimum and you can request one or two families to be added to your group.

If you are interested in being a Small Group Leader, you will have an opportunity to mark that on the registration as well (along with other volunteer duties for which we have need). Small Family Group Leadership includes a training session and ongoing formation and more information will be available soon. 

During these important formative years, families are encouraged to work on whatever needs they have, such as children learning basic prayers, regular attendance at Mass and use of Confession, healing of relationships, and family prayer in the home. Your family's spiritual growth is the goal of the Small Family Group community that you are a part of, lovingly guided by your Small Group leader.

First Confession and First Communion (Grade 2+)

For second (and some third) graders, the fall of the year is spent preparing for First Confession, which is scheduled for the Third Sunday of Advent, December 11. First Communion preparation starts in January and the Mass is scheduled for April 23, 2023. 

These classes meet most Wednesdays of the academic year with catechist Mrs. Ruth Smith. There is a parent-led home lesson component in this program. Families will enjoy a memorable, informative and spiritually rich year as the children receive their Sacraments!

Second graders are also encouraged to participate in Family of Faith lessons and activities at home (see above); parents are invited to be in a Small Family Group one Wednesday per month. Participation at some level in the Family of Faith program in the second grade year ensures the child gets some exposure to the Catechism subjects of that year. Parental participation in Small Family Groups in the child's second grade year prepares the family for Small Groups when the child moves on to third grade.

OOSBOT Class

First Communion late-comers are welcomed with open arms at Mater Dei Parish. For students 4th grade and up who are baptized Catholics but have not yet received First Communion, we are pleased to offer our "Out-of-Sequence, Back-on-Track" (OOSBOT) class for the children and their parents. The class meets on Wednesdays, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., in the Immaculate Conception Church basement.

After First Confession and First Communion these students and their parents will merge into a Family of Faith Small Family Group and start home lessons directed by the parents.

Confirmation Preparation

Students entering 7th and 8th grade (and anyone older who needs Confirmation) will be starting Confirmation Preparation on September 28 with classes being held Wednesday evenings at Nativity school, 6:45 to 8:00. These students will be slated to be confirmed in the fall of 2023. For more information and dates, see the Confirmation page.

If you are registering those to be confirmed September 25 or December 4, 2022, please follow the directions on the parent letter.

Youth Groups (for students having been confirmed)

Our Post-Confirmation youth program features small faith sharing groups led by trained mentors. We offer opportunities for service, fun, helping younger students, trips to diocesan and regional conferences, etc. Also, To Heaven's End is a service group that helps out around Sioux City.

Adult Faith Formation: Bible Basics Class

On the third Wednesdays of each month of this academic year we will offer a Bible Basics session for adults from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. This session is highly recommended for all parents with children in our programs and is open to all adults and confirmed teens in our parish. We will be working on making sure all attendees complete the year with a good basic understanding of the Bible. This understanding is crucial to all we do in Faith Formation and in the parish.  St. Jerome, one of the greatest of Biblical scholars said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." No matter your level of understanding of the Bible, these sessions will be informative and will help deepen your relationship with God.

Bible Basics and Faith and Fun Schedule: 
Wed. Oct. 19
Wed. Nov. 16
Mon. Dec. 14 (to avoid the Wednesday evening before Christmas break)
Wed. Jan. 18
Wed. Feb. 15
Wed. Mar. 15
Wed. Apr. 26 (fourth Wednesday, backed up due to Holy Week and First Communion practice)

Faith, Fun & Service Night

The same evenings and times of Bible Basics we offer children fun activities, music, learning and service work in our "Faith and Fun" night. Children will meet our adults and volunteers in the IC school gym at 6:30, after which parents can go over to the IC Parish Center for Bible Basics, which will end in time for the adults to go over to school to pick up their children and head home. Don't miss this great night of fun and learning the Bible!

Wednesday Black Out Dates

Wednesdays are usually our "big night" with classes, small groups, meetings, etc. However we have certain Wednesdays that are off due to holidays, holy days, etc. Those dates in 2022-2023 are: 
Nov 23 (Thanksgiving weekend)
Dec 8th (Holy day of obligation, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception)
Dec 21 and 28 (Christmas)
April 5 (Easter Break)

PROPOSED OFFERINGS (but we need more volunteers!)

Child Care

We hope to offer child care (with a specified minimum age) for the times when parent attendance at our programs would be required or desired but we need to find the help to do so. If you know someone who would be interested in helping with that effort please let us know. Any grandmothers out there need more time with children?

How can we help you?

If your family has unique needs, we welcome a conversation on how our staff at Mater Dei Parish can help you in your faith journey. We seek to serve all who come to us desiring a relationship with God.

If you would like to register for our programs, please visit our registration page (except October through April).

Questions? Need more information or a conversation about your family's situation? Please contact our Faith Formation Coordinator, Deacon Rick Roder, rick.roder@materdeisc.org, office phone 712.226.4317.