Rose Strohmaier, Parish Catechetical Leader
(908) 303-9692
Faith Formation Office is located in the School Building
Wednesdays
4:15-5:30PM–Communion I through Year 4
6:30-8:00PM–Year 5 through Confirmation II
6:30-8:00PM–Sacrament Preparation and Religion Readiness
Saturdays, 5:00PM-6:30 according to the schedule below–Confirmation II
March
Wednesday 26— Faith Formation–1st Communion Banners go Home
Sunday 30—Year 3 Hosts–Arrive no later than 9:50AM
April
Wednesday 2— No Faith Formation-Catechist Night of Reflection
Saturday 5—Communion Retreat 10:00AM-12:00 Noon One Parent accompanies the child
Sunday 6— Year 3 Hosts–arrive no later than 9:50
Monday 7–6:30PM Confirmation Practice with Sponsor at St Peter and Paul
Wednesday 9— Reconciliation for all/Parents encouraged to attend
Friday 11–Confirmation at St. Peter and Paul Church, 5PM. Candidates arrive no later than 4:30
Wednesday 16—Faith Formation—Banners Due for Mrs. Leguizamon’s Class
**Communion Practice Older Communicants (Mrs. Taveras)
Wednesday 23—Easter Vacation
Saturday 26—7:00PM 1st Communion Older Children
Wednesday 30—Faith Formation 1st Communion and Confirmation Practice—Evaluations
May
Saturday 3—1st Communion–11:00/Children arrive 10:30AM
Sunday 4—May Crowning and Closing Mass
Catechists Hosts—arrive no later than 9:45AM
Wednesday 7—Faith Formation—Last Session
Dear Parents,
Registration is open. Everyone will receive a registration form on February 26 showing the payment for your family on the form. All re-registrations may be mailed in or dropped off in either the Faith Formation Office or the Parish Office. The hours for registration are as follows
***Thursdays at the Parish Office across the street:
10AM to 3:00PM Otherwise Contact Rose Strohmaier for Hours
No registrations will be received in the office during Faith Formation hours. During those hours you may leave your registration in the Faith Formation mailbox. NOTE: When paying in cash, please bring the exact amount.
Estimados padres,
Las inscripciones están abiertas. Todos recibirán un formulario de inscripción el 26 de febrero que muestra el pago para su familia en el formulario. Todas las reinscripciones pueden enviarse por correo o dejarse en la Oficina de Formación en la Fe o en la Oficina Parroquial. El horario de inscripción es el siguiente
Jueves en la Oficina Parroquial al otro lado de la calle:
De 10 a.m. a 3:00 p.m., de lo contrario, comuníquese con Rose Strohmaier durante horas
No se recibirán inscripciones en la oficina durante las horas de Formación en la Fe. Durante ese horario puedes dejar tu inscripción en el buzón de Formación en la Fe. NOTA: Al pagar en efectivo, traiga el monto exacto.
NOTA: Al pagar en efectivo, por favor traiga el monto exacto.
Registration Information:
(1) Early-bird discount: MARCH 5—MAY 7
$100 for one child, $150 for two, $200 for three or more children.
Preparation Fee (cost of gowns, banners, prayer book, retreats, Mass, etc.)
$25 First Communion $20 Confirmation I $50 Confirmation II
(2) Regular Registration Fee for 2025-2026: MAY 8-JUNE 31
$125 for one child; $180 for two, $220 for three or more children.
Preparation Fee (cost of gowns, banners, prayer book, retreats, Mass, etc.
$25 First Communion $20 Confirmation I $50 Confirmation
(3) Late Registration Fee for 2025-2026: JULY 1 to SEPTEMBER 1 (closed)
$175 for one child; $255 for two, $295 for three or more children.
Preparation Fee (cost of gowns, banners, prayer book, retreats, Mass, etc.)
$25 First Communion $20 Confirmation I $50 Confirmation
- Faith Formation Catechist Discount:
Cost per child if Mother or Father is Catechist $75 for one child, $100 for two, $175 three or more
⇔CLICK HERE FOR FORM Registration 2025-2026⇔
First Session: 4:15PM – 5:30PM
Communion I-Mrs. Ferise Communion I
Communion II-Mrs. Leguizamon Communion II
Year 3-Ms. Penafiel Year 3
Year 4- Year 4
Second Session: 6:30PM-8:00PM
Communion Preparation Youth/Teen-Ms. Taveras Communicants Youth and Teen Calendar
Year 5A & 5B-Mr. Strohmaier/Mrs. Feula Year 5 Calendar
Year 6-Mrs. Walsh Year 6 Calendar
Confirmation I-Mr. Cafferty/Mrs. Villar/Mrs. Dudas Confirmation I Calendar
Confirmation II — Deacon Paul Classes
Confirmation II — Mr. Nic Classes
Religion Readiness Youth-Mrs. Gonzalez/Ms. Penafiel Religion Readiness I & II Calendar
2024-2025 Handbooks
Handbooks are adapted and modified from: St. Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception, Portage, Wisconsin
2024-2025 Forms
HOSTING & CLASS MASS
MASS HOSTING–Four times during the Faith Formation Year, each Catechist is responsible for preparing and hosting 10am Sunday Mass with his/her children.
Not only does the Catechist plan for readers, servers, ushers, gifts, etc., but guides and instructs the children about true worship during Mass.
The children are to arrive to their assigned Mass at 9:50am, sit with their class and fully participate in the celebration of Mass. The dates are clearly stated on the calendar. Thank you for adjusting your schedule to be sure your child is at Mass on those four Sundays.
COMMUNION PREPARATION CLASS MASS and RELIGION READINESS—
Four times during the year all children ages 6 through 17 seeking Communion, or having newly received, will meet their Catechists no later than 9:50 (for 10:00AM Mass) on four scheduled Sundays for Class Mass. Children are taught about the Mass and the Catechist guides them throughout the Mass to engage and participate in worship.
NOTE: Both Mass Hosting and Class Mass are an integral part of formation and is essential for formation. If a child is unable to attend the scheduled Mass for either hosting or class Mass, Mrs. Rose will schedule a make-up.
Thirty-seven Ideas for Confirmation Service Projects:
Craft, Cook, and Create
1. Take a meal to a widow, homebound member, single mom, or recent divorcee in your church or community.
2. Bake goodies, such as cupcakes, and deliver them to your local police or fire station.
3. Pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.
4. Write letters or send cards to missionaries. Call the office for contact info.
5. Gather together to assemble no-sew fleece blankets for a local children’s home or women’s shelter. Shelter lications found in the handbook.)
6. Knit or crochet prayer shawls and lap blankets for church members and friends that are facing health challenges.
7. Sew some pillowcase dresses for children in another country.
8. Cut out shoes for Sole Hopean
9. Put together and distribute homeless bags.
10. Host a sandwich making party and pass them out to the homeless in Phillipsburg or give to the Assumption Food Pantry.
11. Fill a freezer with meals for a new mom in your neighborhood.
12. Create birthday bags for your Assumption food pantry (birthday cake, hats, candles, balloons)
13. Paint and decorate the teacher’s classroom before the start of school.
14. Create a garden on the church grounds.
15. Provide a meal for families at your local Ronald McDonald House.
Random Acts of Kindness
16. Deliver bags of groceries, firewood, or gift cards to a local family in need.
17. Tape quarters or dollar bills to the vending machines in the waiting room of your local hospital.
18. Leave quarters and washing detergent in local laundromats around town.
19. Pass out water bottles to construction workers on a hot day.
23. Leave bottles of bubbles at the park for families to use. Add bible scripture cards to the bottles or an invitation to come to Mass.
24. If you have a pool, host a pool party for kids who have no where to swim.
25. Purchase coloring books and crayons and leave them in hospital waiting rooms.
26 Work a shift at the local soup kitchen.
27. Find a local field or farm that allows you pick vegetables.
28. Clean the home of an elderly person or homebound member of your church or community.
29. Take care of some yard work or handyman chores for one of the widows in your church or community.
29. Volunteer to complete tutor for a child younger than you.
30. Visit a nursing home and play a game with a resident.
31. Christmas carol at a nursing home or children’s hospital.
32. Cheer at a Special Olympics or special needs sports event.
33. Plan a Habitat for Humanity workday with your parents.
34. Clean the roadside – your family can select an area in Hackettstown to keep clean.
35. Help with landscaping to church.
36. Call the office and inquire about shut-ins. You and your parents csn plan a visit to their home and bring them something nice to eat.
37. Organize a clothing drive.
38. Give free computer lessons to an adult.
39. Host a free dog wash.
40. Along with your peers, host a bake sale for Assumption Parish
Pilgrimage Mama Mary–Does your family desire to spend a special week with Mary?
On Sundays at 10AM Mass, our Pilgrimage Statue of Mary will be sent home with a Faith Formation Family to venerate for the week. She will be returned the following Sunday to be gifted to another family for the week. There is a sign up sheet outside the Faith Formation Office in the school for all who wish to participate in the opportunity to have this beautiful and blessed statue of Mary in their home.
There are a variety of ways you are able to use your gifts and talents in the Faith Formation Program. Once you have been Confirmed you are able to volunteer, including teens! Contact Rose Strohmaier, 908-303-9692 for info. Thanks!
HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION=SUNDAY MASS
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- Solemnity of Mary, January 1
- Ascension of Jesus, May 26 — Celebrated on the sixth Thursday after Easter Sunday
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15
- Solemnity of All Saints, November 1
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8
- Christmas Day, December 25
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Your child’s faith development ultimately depends on the sharing of your faith with them by going to Mass on Sundays, Holy Days of Obligation and living Christian values at home. It is through your efforts, example and personal relationship with God, more than anything else, that your children will come to know Jesus and grow in love and faith. We thank you for allowing us to support you in this process. We look forward to working with you and your children.
RCIA-Adult Education
RCIA stands for “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”. It is a program run by adult members of the parish. RCIA requires a modest commitment in time but we think you will find the process a lot easier than you might expect. In addition, we have found that everyone who becomes involved, young or old, highly religious or moderately so, finds it to be a wonderful experience. An invitation is extended to
- Those who are unbaptized.
- Those baptized in the Catholic Church who have not received the sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation.
- Those baptized in another Christian Church who are interested in learning more about the Catholic Church.
There are many reasons for wanting to learn more about the Catholic Church. The good news is that the Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish has an excellent program for you. Classes meet weekly, every Sunday after the 9:00 am Mass from September through Pentecost. How do I join and what does RCIA involve? Signing up is easy. Just contact Deacon Walter Pidgeon, our Director of the RCIA process, by calling the parish office or email us at walter.p257@comcast.net.