K-1st; 3rd-7th Grade Faith Formation 

Sunday mornings, starting September 20

Immaculate Conception Church & Hall

9:00 AM Mass Followed by Class Time

~ 10:10 AM - 11:20 AM

Over the last few years, our parishes have been in a transition within our Faith Formation program of more whole-family involvement. We continue that this year. The understanding of the Church has always been that parents are indispensible and central in the project of passing the faith onto children. Our intention is to equip parents in the months and years ahead to feel more comfortable in this task. 

Although we meet in person at IC about twice a month, regular Faith Formation, previously called "CCD", takes place nearly every weekend. The understanding is that children will receive materials to work on with parents at home on weekends when we don't meet at IC. We also have periodic "family festivals" to celebrate important moments in the Church Year: All Saints, Lent and Easter, specifically.

K-1st; 3rd-7th Grade schedules

2nd Grade - Sacramental Preparation

Sundays & Tuesdays starting September 20 & 22

Immaculate Conception Church & Hall, Newburyport

For those looking into Sacramental Preparation for their children in the coming years, please consider that K and/or 1st Grade faith formation (at least a year) is important as a foundation before beginning. 2nd Grade is the ordinary year in the Archdiocese for children to prepare first for Reconciliation/Confession (Sept. - Dec.), then First Holy Communion (Jan. - May).

After careful discernment, given the importance of and amount of learning prior to the sacraments, beginning this year, we will move back to holding in person classes at IC for sacramental preparation on MOST Sundays/Tuesdays* (except holiday or vacation weekends) rather than sending children home with work to do every other week. This ends up being 3 of the 4 Sundays most months. *Because Tuesday group isn't influenced by holiday weekends, that group meets even more often.

8th Grade - Confirmation Preparation

The ordinary year of receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation has recently changed to 8th Grade in the Archdiocese. Our process of preparation is 6-7 months long, with the understanding that recent previous years of faith formation have been completed. We will begin 2026-2027 preparation with...

parent-Teen Kick-off Meeting

Two options (both in IC Parish Hall):

1. Tues. Sept. 15 at 6:15 PM
2. Wed. Sept. 16 at 6:15 PM

Followed by a...

Sponsor-Teen Meeting at IC Church, Newburyport

Sunday, September 27 at 10:10 AM (after 9:00 AM Mass)

Following the Sponsor-Teen Meeting, we will have 12 catechesis sessions on Sunday mornings at IC: