Sacred Heart Family Faith
Sessions are offered twice monthly in-person, on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings.
Sacred Heart offers a non-traditional approach to assist parents in forming the faith of their children. “Family Faith Formation” is exactly what it says – families sharing and growing in faith. This process consists of:
- Gathering together in a large group setting for opening prayer and introduction of the theme, and then breaking into smaller groups led by a volunteer catechist.
- Reflecting on the Sunday Scripture, including participating in a variety of learning techniques to engage all of the members of the family, such as Jeopardy, crafts, Bingo, faith sharing, and more. This is a conducive way for us to share our faith.
Sessions are held twice monthly, September through May – from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings -OR- Sunday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the auditorium at the North Campus (3515 N. Florida Ave). Spaces remain for Wednesday sessions for the 2024/25 Catechetical Year. Sunday sessions are fully registered and unavailable.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed in all sorts of roles:
- Catechists
- Office staff, Administrative and more
If you love working with children and their families and admire their eagerness, curiosity, and playful spirit, and you love sharing your faith with others, our Faith Formation ministries might just be for you.
- Time Commitment: As scheduled throughout the traditional school year:
- Twice a month for an hour and a half.
- Sunday and Wednesday sessions available!
- Responsibilities: Varies depending on the activities you choose to participate in during the year, but could include:
- Leading or supporting twice monthly sessions or workshops
- Putting together lesson plans
- Clerical support as needed
- Training: Training is provided by the parish along with all materials needed. Please note: the Diocese of St. Petersburg requires background checks with fingerprinting and Safe Environment Training for all who participate in ministry with children.
Faith Formation FAQs
Do you have to be a member of the parish to participate in Sacred Heart’s Faith Formation program?
Yes. Our Faith Formation programs have been created to provide the best formation opportunities for our parishioners. We work together to help one another grow in faith and into an ever-closer relationship with God. We ask all participants to register as parishioners here at Sacred Heart and become actively engaged in our ongoing Faith Formation programs and our parish community.
Please note: If extenuating circumstances exist where a child or youth belonging to another parish desires to participate in Sacred Heart’s programs, consultation with the pastor of the parish of membership must occur before contacting Sacred Heart’s Faith Formation Office.
When do Family Faith Formation sessions begin and are they every weekend?
Sacred Heart’s Faith Formation sessions are every other Sunday OR Wednesday , from September through April, unless otherwise noted due to holidays or special occasions.
What time is your Faith Formation Program?
Sunday sessions begin promptly at 10:30 am – 11:30 am and Wednesday evenings 6:30- 7:30pm via Zoom.
When is Faith Formation registration?
Registration for Faith Formation sessions begins in May/June each year and lasts through September. To register, please print and complete registration forms and return them to the Parish Office along with a valid baptismal record*. If mailing your completed registration forms, please mail to our PO Box address:
Sacred Heart Church
PO Box 1524
Tampa, FL
33601-1524
Please note: NO mail is ever delivered to the 509 N. Florida address. As stated above, a copy of the Baptismal Certificate must accompany all NEW registrations.
*If you have previously registered, please call the Faith Formation Office to verify that a valid Baptismal Record is on file.
Do I need to submit a copy of my child’s Baptismal record?
Yes, unless you have submitted one previously. Otherwise a copy of the Baptismal Certificate must accompany registration forms. Even if a child was baptized at Sacred Heart, a copy of the certificate must be on file in the Faith Formation Office and must be included for all children who are registering for the very first time. If a child was baptized at another parish, a record can be obtained by calling the church of Baptism and requesting a copy.
My child was in a Faith Formation program at another parish. Can they join your program?
Yes! We welcome all new parishioners! If children are joining mid-year, our Director of Faith Formation is happy to consult with the parents to discuss their best placement.
Are there costs for the program?
Yes. In order to cover the costs of curriculum and supplies for sessions and special events, the parish has established the following program fees:
Program Fee: $110.00 / child
*Please note, there are typically early registration discounts, which will be announced accordingly as registration begins for the new catechetical year.
Does my child need to attend Faith Formation even if they are not preparing to receive Sacraments this year?
Yes. Faith Formation is a lifelong process. It doesn’t begin or end with the Sacraments. Throughout our ongoing journey, we never finish learning about our faith. Sacred Heart offers Faith Formation sessions from Pre-K through High School, with even more opportunities for Adult Faith Formation later in life.
