Elementary (Grades 1-5)
Grades 1, 3, & 4 Faith Development Class Curriculum
Our Elementary Faith Development program is designed to help children encounter Jesus Christ, grow in relationship with Him, and begin to witness to their faith in age-appropriate and meaningful ways.
Each class session begins as a large group, where students gather for praise, worship, and prayer, creating a joyful and welcoming environment centered on Christ. Students are then sent into small groups, where they “break open” the theme of the evening through engaging and hands-on activities.
We follow the Christ in Us curriculum from Sadlier Religion, which provides a strong foundation in Catholic teaching while encouraging children to connect their faith to everyday life. In small groups, students are invited to know God, love God, and serve God by engaging their minds, hearts, and hands through discussion, prayer, creative activities, and service-focused experiences.
Throughout the year, students explore:
- How we know God loves us
- Who God is and who Jesus is
- How we can love others as Jesus loves us
- How to build a relationship with Jesus through prayer and the sacraments
- What it means to belong to the Church and live as part of a faith community
Our small groups are intentionally structured to become small faith communities where children feel safe, welcomed, and accepted for who they are. Through shared experiences and trusted relationships, students grow not only in knowledge of their faith, but also in confidence, belonging, and love for Jesus.
Grade 2 Faith Development Class Curriculum
These students will be preparing to receive First Reconciliation and First Communion. One of the resources we use to prepare for these two sacraments is the Blessed Series by Dynamic Catholic. This curriculum uses world-class animation along with workbooks that are kid-friendly. Our program meets our children where they are at and leads them, step-by-step, to where God is calling them to be. The students learn about Christ’s love and mercy constantly offered to us in the sacrament of reconciliation while learning about His presence in the Eucharist.
Our second graders will be paired with a Prayer Partner from our community who will pray for them on their journey. Before receiving first Communion the students participate in a half-day retreat that promotes fun and laughter while more importantly reinforcing the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and our daily lives.
Christmas Program
Faith Development class students in 1st – 4th grade sing Christmas carols and the 4th grade students perform a short Christmas play for their families during normal class time.
Thank you to all the students and community who came on December 10th to our Christmas Program! Stay tuned for the 2026 date!
What a wonderful 2025 Christmas Program by our Faith Development students!
Youth Mass
Grades 1-3 celebrate a 10 a.m. Sunday Mass as readers and as the choir.
Our next Youth Mass will be Sunday, February 1st at 10 AM Mass, where the liturgy will be lead by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students from our St. John’s Community.
Please reach out to Becca at rmeier@stjn.org if your child would like a reading role. All 1st-3rd graders are asked to join us in the choir!
Vacation Bible School
This popular one-week event occurring July 20th – 24th for any Kindergarten through fourth grade students re-engages our young people in learning about their Catholic faith through prayer, crafts, music, dance and various games and activities. Each year has a fun theme that is related to scripture.
THANK YOU to all of our youth and volunteers who made Vacation Bible School 2025 one to remember! Watch for more information on registration for VBS 2026 come end-of-May 2026!
Family Nights
St. John’s Faith Development & Youth Ministry host Family Nights to spend quality time together as a Family on regularly scheduled Faith Development nights.
Thank you to all who have joined us at our past Family Nights!
Little Flowers Girls Club ®
St. Johns offers a modified version of Little Flowers, which is a Catholic girls group centered on learning virtues by studying individual saints. Virtues are learned through presentations, crafts and activities. Each year a “wreath” is worked on for the blue Blessed Mother sashes the girls wear at the meetings. The wreath is made up of 9 flower petals for the 9 virtues studied that year. Petals are earned by participating in the monthly meetings, service projects, and completing follow-up activities at home.
National Day of Prayer
The National Day of Prayer is observed on the first Thursday in May across the United States every year. This day asks people to turn to God in prayer and meditation. During our Wednesday Faith Development classes that week, we proudly walk as a group to the Little Chute Windmill Plaza, displaying signs with messages of faith, hope and prayer. Once at the Windmill, a short prayer service is held.
St. John Nepomucene Catholic Community 