Director of Lifelong Faith Formation: Aaron Giard / 978-462-2724 x 405 / agiard@hriccatholic.org

Assistant to Lifelong Faith Formation: Melinda Burrell / 978-462-2724 x 420 / burrell@hriccatholic.org

All volunteers need to fill out a CORI Form before assisting with children. Download the 2025 form here.

2025 3rd-8th Grade Summer Faith Formation Week

Mark your calendars: June 23rd - 27th, 2025; 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Immaculate Conception Parish Grounds, Newburyport

Every year, we host a Faith Formation Week after school ends in June for rising 3rd-8th Graders in our parishes. The week is filled with formation in our faith through class time, but also through skits, prayer and song together in large group gatherings. It is a great way for children to delve deeper into our faith as they spend the week together learning, having fun and praying on parish grounds!

The registration form can be found by clicking HERE.

NOTE: If your child is preparing for Sacraments (First Reconciliation, First Communion or Confirmation) we only offer preparation during the school year. If your child is entering 8th grade in the Fall, but has not received Faith Formation in recent years, enrolling them in the Summer Faith Formation Week is a great way to catch them up and get in a prerequisite year before they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation (8th graders can only begin preparation for Confirmation if they have recent Faith Formation with us).

K-10th Grade Faith Formation 2024-2025

For Immaculate Conception Parish Faith Formation School-year schedules, click HERE.

For Holy Redeemer Parish Faith Formation School-year schedules, click HERE.

Confirmation Changes to 8th Grade

Beginning this year, Confirmation in the Archdiocese will be moving from 10th/11th Grade to 8th Grade. We have formed a plan for implementing this change in our parishes in the coming years. 

Confirmation Change FAQs

"Who will be eligible to receive Confirmation in 2024-2025?" 

• As planned, 11th Graders were confirmed October 5th, 2024.
• 2024-2025  10th graders will be able to receive the Sacrament on May 10th or 30th, 2025 after they finish their formation process Fall-Spring.
• 2024-2025 8th & 9th graders will be able to receive the Sacrament on March 1st, 2025, after a six-month formation process, provided that they have received faith formation in recent years (6th & 7th grade, at least). 

"What will preparation entail for Confirmation?" 

1. There is a prerequisite of recent faith formation entering into the sacramental preparation year.
2. Formal sacramental preparation will be 6-8 months long, down from 2 years in the past.
3. A Parent-candidate session Thurs. September 5th at 6:15 PM kicked things off 
4. A Sponsor-candidate session Sunday, September 22nd at 3:30 - 5:00 PM 
5. 8 catechesis sessions (see IC Parish schedule HERE and HR Parish schedule HERE)
6. A day-retreat (Saturday or Sunday) for 5 hours, including Mass and Confession. This will take place a week or so before the Sacrament of Confirmation. TBD
7. A service project.

"What if my son or daughter has not received Faith Formation at a parish or Catholic school recently?"

• If your son or daughter has NOT received any faith formation for a few years, we will ask that he or she complete a year of Faith Formation before beginning formal sacramental preparation next year.

Call or email with any questions you may have. See the top of this webpage for contact information for Aaron Giard.

Adult Faith Formation

We now have a separate page with Adult Faith Formation offerings: CLICK HERE