2026–2027

Vision of Faith Formation

We hope you and your families are doing well and enjoying the summer. We are excited to share with you the plans for the coming Faith Formation year! We continue to develop the program to be more family-oriented, balancing Church and home life, empowering, encouraging and supporting parents to be witnesses of the faith, and providing opportunities for families to experience God's loving presence in all they do and in all the places they are.

The National Directory for Catechesis points to the importance of Parents, Parish, and Catechists/Teachers working together in the ministry of Faith Formation.

Parents are the most influential agents of catechesis/faith formation/religious education for their children. They have a unique responsibility for the education of their children; they are the first educators, or catechists/teachers. They catechize primarily by the witness of their Christian lives and by their love for each other and the faith. Their participation in the life of the parish — above all in the Sunday Eucharist — their willingness to evangelize and serve others, and their dedication to daily prayer demonstrate the authenticity of their profession of faith.

The catechesis given by parents within the family “precedes, accompanies and enriches all other forms of catechesis.” When children are baptized, parents accept the responsibility to bring their children up in the practice of the faith and to see to it that the divine life that God gives them grows stronger in their hearts. At the same time, the Church promises to help parents foster their children's faith and assists them specifically in their role as catechists of their children.

Parish life itself is an aid to parents because it is here, at the Eucharistic banquet, that they are nourished by Christ himself. The vibrancy of the parish community, the beauty of worship, and the example of generous love and service of parishioners strengthen parents in the faith. (pgs. 234–235)

Catechists are more than “teachers.” Catechists participate in the divine calling to teach as Jesus did and to witness to the truth of the faith. Pope Francis tells us that in virtue of their baptism, “Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ and ‘missionaries,’ but rather that we are always ‘missionary disciples.’” (Evangelii Gaudium, 119) Missionary discipleship does not mean that we must travel to faraway places. Rather, we are called to simply reach out across the pew to another parishioner, to our neighbor, or to the stranger right here in beautiful Rocky Point, Shoreham, Wading River, Sound Beach, Miller Place, and beyond, and share the joy of knowing God's love.

How It Will Work

How will we work together toward implementing this at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Rocky Point?

Besides incorporating the specific calendar for each level and the approved curriculum (books, videos, etc.) directed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) — worked on both in the home with parents (for Levels 1 & 2) and at the parish with the Catechist — the schedule for 2026–2027 will support and encourage opportunities for parents and families:

to experience an encounter with Jesus in the celebration of the Eucharist;
to deepen their personal relationship with Jesus;
to meet and connect with other parents and families, thereby building up the community of faith;
to strengthen their connection with the pastor, deacons, catechists, and other ministers who witness to the love of God, allowing for more opportunities to meet Christ in one another;
to reflect on and incorporate, through community service, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and Catholic Social Teaching;
to engage in projects and experiences that put faith into action through participation in church ministries and service to the wider community;
to be presented with the teachings of the Church and have opportunities for questions.

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” — Acts of the Apostles 2:42

What to Expect in 2026–2027

Weekly Mass Attendance: As Catholics we attend Mass every Sunday. Six Sundays (approximately once a month) out of the year, each Grade/Level will be invited and encouraged to gather as a family at the 10:00 AM Mass. (Level 9 follows a different schedule — please see details below.) Detailed calendars will be posted on the website.

Level/Grade 1

Meets on the 1st Sunday of the month, November through April, with some exceptions which will be noted on the calendar. First class: Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Family attends the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass, followed by a 30-minute meeting for parents in the Parish Hall/Church while children meet in their assigned classroom with a Catechist. Child and parent complete the workbook at home according to the calendar. Workbooks will be reviewed by volunteers to see whether any assistance is needed and to positively reinforce the work your child is doing at home. To help your child understand and connect with the Mass, Mass Reflection Forms will be completed at home after attending Mass. Parents are expected to attend the parent meeting and to remain in the building while their child is in class.

Level/Grade 2

Meets on the 2nd Sunday of the month, November through April, with some exceptions which will be noted on the calendar. First class: Sunday, November 8, 2026.

Family attends the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass, followed by a 30-minute meeting for parents in the Parish Hall/Church while children meet in their assigned classroom with a Catechist. Child and parent watch videos online and complete the workbook at home according to the calendar. Workbooks will be reviewed by volunteers to see whether any assistance is needed and to positively reinforce the work your child is doing at home. To help your child understand and connect with the Mass, Mass Reflection Forms will be completed at home after attending Mass. Parents are expected to attend the parent meeting and to remain in the building while their child is in class.

Older Children's Sacrament Preparation (OCSP)

For children in Level/Grade 3, 4, or 5 who have not yet been baptized or have not yet celebrated First Reconciliation or First Holy Communion. Meets on the 2nd Sunday of the month, November through April, with some exceptions which will be noted on the calendar. First class: Sunday, November 8, 2026.

Family attends the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass, followed by a 30-minute meeting for parents in the Parish Hall/Church while children meet in their assigned classroom with a Catechist. Child and parent watch videos online and complete the workbook at home according to the calendar. To help your child understand and connect with the Mass, Mass Reflection Forms will be completed at home after attending Mass. Parents are expected to attend the parent meeting and to remain in the building while their child is in class.

Levels/Grades 3, 4, and 5

Classes meet every other week, for the most part, for one hour and fifteen minutes at the parish, according to the schedule below. Detailed calendars will be posted on the website.

Level 3: Tuesday 4:00–5:15 OR Wednesday 4:30–5:45

Level 4: Tuesday 4:00–5:15 OR Wednesday 4:30–5:45

Level 5: Tuesday 4:00–5:15 OR Wednesday 4:30–5:45

First class: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 or Wednesday, October 21, 2026, depending on the day you select.

Mass Schedule: Families are invited and expected to attend Mass on the 3rd Sunday of the month, November through April, at the 10:00 AM Mass, with some exceptions which will be noted on the calendar. Families bring packaged baked goods and juice boxes for Hospitality, which takes place in the Parish Hall immediately following the 10:00 AM Mass on the 3rd Sunday. Mass Reflection Forms will be completed and submitted online at home after attending Mass.

Levels/Grades 6, 7, and 8

Classes meet every other week, for the most part, for one hour and fifteen minutes at the parish, according to the schedule below. Detailed calendars will be posted on the website.

Level 6: Tuesday 5:30–6:45 — First class: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Level 7: Tuesday 7:00–8:15 — First class: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Level 8: Monday 6:30–7:45 — First class: Monday, October 19, 2026

Mass Schedule: Families are invited and expected to attend Mass on the 4th Sunday of the month, November through April, at the 10:00 AM Mass, with some exceptions which will be noted on the calendar. Mass Reflection Forms will be completed and submitted online at home after attending Mass.

Level/Grade 9: Immediate Preparation for Confirmation

Mondays from 6:00–7:00 PM, except for the Retreat on Saturday, September 19th. First session: Monday, September 14, 2026. You will be emailed a detailed calendar regarding the following meetings:

September 14 — Review of Confirmation and distribution of Confirmation robes
September 19 — Retreat at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island
September 28 — Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession
October 5 — Confirmation Practice: the Sponsor or a Parent must attend with the student

Date of Confirmation: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Further details will follow.

Class Placement: Level 9 students do not select a class at registration. Your child will automatically be placed with the same teacher they had for Level 8.

Mass Schedule: Confirmation candidates and their families are invited and expected to attend the 10:00 AM Mass on September 13, September 20, September 27, and October 4.

Individualized Faith Formation Program for Children with Special Needs (IFF)

Did you know that we have an Individualized Faith Formation Program for children with special needs?

We have been blessed with volunteers who are educated and experienced in working with children with special needs and their families. If your child has special needs and has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, a reading disability, cognitive speech delay, ODD or other behavioral concerns, sensory processing disorder, or another health impairment, please know that there is a place for your child in the St. Anthony Faith Formation and Sacramental Program!

Schedule: IFF meets every other Tuesday, 4:00–5:15. First class: Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Class times may be adjusted to the needs of the child, as determined by the IFF Coordinator and parent.

When registering, please select the Faith Formation Level that matches your child's school grade for the coming year. If your child would benefit from more support or a smaller class, select Individualized Faith Formation Program for Children with Special Needs (IFF) as the Faith Formation Level, and we will contact you to work out the details.

Registration Information

Registration will be available online until Monday, August 24, 2026, so that we can plan classes and prepare materials accordingly. If you need assistance with registration, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 631-821-0872 and we will be happy to assist you.

Family ID Number — returning families only. If your family is returning to our program, your Family ID Number is required. This number may be found in the email you received regarding registration. If you do not have it, please contact the Faith Formation office. Families who are new to the parish or program do not need a Family ID Number.

Required fields. Please complete every field marked with a red asterisk. The form cannot be submitted until all required fields are complete.

Choosing a class. Please choose the day and time that corresponds to your child's Faith Formation Level for the coming year. Your child's current formation level is listed in the registration email you received. (Level 9 students do not choose a class — see above.)

Sacrament records and documents. If a child is new to our program or transferring, you will be asked to provide that child's Baptism and First Holy Communion information and to upload the corresponding certificates. If a child is transferring from another parish or program, you will also be asked to upload a letter of completion or transfer, which you will need to request from your previous parish.

Save and finish later. If you need to stop partway through, you can save your progress and receive a link by email to pick up where you left off. Your registration is not complete until it is submitted and payment is made.

Registration Fees for 2026–2027

One child: $125.00

Two children: $175.00

Three or more children: $225.00

Payment. Registration fees are paid securely by credit or debit card at the end of the online form.

Financial assistance. We strive to keep the program affordable for all. If you are experiencing financial hardship, or if these fees would be a burden for your family, please select Request financial assistance on the registration form and we will contact you to see how we can help. Cost should never keep a child from Faith Formation.