Sunday Family Formation

Our Faith Formation program is open to all families and serves both children (grades K4-11th grade) and adults. 

We meet September through May as a family. We'd love to have you join us! 

If you have questions, please contact Chris Mancheski, Director of Faith Formation, at 414-762-6810 ext. 3212.

The 2024-25 Master Schedule is now posted! 

We look forward to growing in faith with you!

Divine Mercy's Christian Formation Program is now enrolling for the 2024-25 Formation year!

Scroll down for all the details!

Flyer for Christian Formation Family Program  Register for faith formation 

Christian Formation Sunday Morning Family Formation Class Dates/Schedule
All Formation classes are in the Divine Mercy Marquette Ave. campus lower level on Sunday mornings from 8:15-9:15 am unless noted otherwise.

• 8:15-9:05:  Lesson time for students and parents
• 9:05-9:15:  Family Faith Sharing, Announcements, & Prayer
• 9:15:  Dismiss for 9:30 Mass

September 2024     October 2024      November 2024     December 2024
8, 15, 22                    6, 13, 20               3, 10, 17, 24             8, 15, 22

January 2025          February 2024     March 2025            April 2025          May 2025
5, 12, 19                    2, 9, 16                  2, 9, 16, 23              6, 13                    4, 11

Family Formation Key Dates for Students Receiving Sacraments:
All events are at the Divine Mercy Marquette Ave. campus unless noted otherwise.

• Saturday, December 14, 2024:  10:00-11:30 am, 1st Reconciliation (2nd grade)
• Friday/Saturday, March 28/29, 2025:  Fri. from 4:00 pm – Sat. 9:30 pm, Confirmation Retreat in  Menasha, WI (11th grade), **Pick-up/Drop-off for retreat is at the College Ave campus** 
• Saturday, April 26, 2025:  1:00-5:00 pm, 1st Comm. Aft. of Reflec. & Prep. (2nd grade)
• Saturday, May 3, 2025:  Noon-5:00 pm, Conf. Afternoon of Reflec. & Prep. (11th grade)
• Sunday, May 4, 2025:  11:00 am, 1st Communion Mass (2nd grade)
• Saturday, May 10, 2025:  4:00 pm, Confirmation Mass (11th grade)

DMCF Circle of Grace (COG) Sessions:
Every parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is required to offer the Circle of Grace lessons for students in K4-11th grade.  These lessons provide an opportunity for parents and children to learn and talk together about safe relationships with others and build awareness of making safe choices as we interact with the world around us.  Sessions are offered free of charge once/month for a particular age group and are open to both Christian Formation and Catholic School families.  Parents and children attend together, and a Divine Mercy Staff or Catechist facilitator guides the discussion.  If a family is unable to attend a session, they may opt to do the lesson at home, and will need to sign a document stating such.  Divine Mercy is mandated by the Archdiocese to account that every family was offered the opportunity to participate in the COG program.

All COG sessions take place in the Marquette Ave. campus lower level and last approx. 1 hr.:

• High School (9th, 10th, & 11th grades):  Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 @ 6:00 pm
• Middle School (7th and 8th grades):  Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 @ 6:00 pm
• Upper Elementary (5th and 6th grades):  Wednesday, January 22th, 2025 @ 6:00 pm
• Middle Elementary (3rd and 4th grades):  Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 @ 6:00 pm
• Lower Elementary (1st and 2nd grades):  Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 @ 6:00 pm
• Kindergarten (K4 and K5):  Wednesday, April 30th, 2025 @ 6:00 pm
   

Family Advent Meal
Formation and School families are invited to share in a meal, engage in fellowship with each other, and interact with Divine Mercy Parish parishioners.  This optional event will be in the Gathering Space at Marquette Ave.  A meal will be provided by Divine Mercy and the group will watch a Christmas movie and sing Christmas carols with the Divine Mercy Adult Choir.  Activities and games will be available for the children!  Each family is asked to make a minimum $10.00 donation to help offset the costs of food/materials.

• Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 from 6:00-7:30 pm at DM Marquette Ave.

He is Risen!  Family Fellowship Meal
Formation and School families are invited to share a meal, engage in fellowship with each other, and interact with Divine Mercy Parish parishioners as a community in celebration of our risen Lord.  This optional event will be in the Gathering Space at Marquette Ave.  Activities and games will be available for the children!  Each family is asked to make a minimum $10.00 donation to help offset the costs of food/materials.

• Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 from 6:00-7:30 pm at DM Marquette Ave.

LoveEd Program:
The LoveEd curriculum provides a Catholic perspective on understanding the human body, puberty/adolescence, different types of relationships between people, and love.  Discussion is facilitated by Divine Mercy Staff and Catechists.  This winter program is open to Divine Mercy Formation and School students in grades 5th/6th and 7/8th along with a parent.  This OPTIONAL program requires a specific sign-up and fee for families that would like to participate.  Watch the Christian Formation News emailed and school newsletter for updates and the sign-up!

All LoveEd sessions are held in the Marquette Ave. campus lower level and last approximately 2 hours:

• Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, Parent only session @ 6:30 pm
• Wednesday, February 12th, 2025, 5th/6th Grade Parent and Student session @ 6:30 pm
• Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, 7th/8th Grade Parent and Student session @ 6:30 pm

Student-Led Masses
Student-Led Masses are a special opportunity for Formation and School students to participate in Mass in various roles:  ushers, greeters, serving, lector (read the 1st/2nd readings from the bible), prayer intercessions, bringing up the gifts, etc…  Students sign-up online for a role that works for them!  All Student-Led Masses are held at the Marquette Ave. campus unless noted otherwise:

• Sunday, September 15th, 2024 at 9:30 am Mass-Catechist/Teacher (Catechetical Sun.)
• Sunday, October 13th, 2024 at 9:30 am Mass
• Sunday, November 10th, 2024 at 9:30 am Mass
• Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 9:30 am Mass-Formation Students Highlighted
• Sunday, January 26th, 2025 at 9:30 am Mass-School Students (Catholic Schools Week)
• Sunday, February 16th, 2025 at 9:30 am Mass
• Sunday, March 9th, 2025 at 9:30 am Mass
• Sunday, May 4th, 2025 at 11:00 am Mass-1st Eucharist Mass

Arrival and Dismissal
Parents and students are asked to be punctual and arrive at or before 8:15 am. Dismissal will occur at 9:15 am.
 

Attendance
All students and parents enrolled in the program should make a diligent effort to attend each Formation session.  Absences should be kept to a minimum (rule of thumb is 3 or less absences for the Formation year) and communicated ahead of time to the Catechist(s) and Director of Faith Formation via email.

Excessive absenteeism can result in a meeting with the Director of Faith Formation to make a plan for improvement or to determine whether or not a student/family should continue in the program.

Excessive absenteeism in a Sacramental year (typically 2nd and 11th grades) can result in a student not receiving his/her sacrament due to not being adequately prepared.  A meeting with the Director of Faith Formation, Catechist, student, and parent(s) may be scheduled in order to make a plan for improvement or to determine whether or not a student/family should continue in the program.

If a child is ill, please stay home and notify the Catechist and/or Director of Faith Formation via email. Make-up materials will be given upon a family’s request.
 

Participant Behavioral Expectations
Participants should be orderly and respectful.  If any incidents arise, parents will be immediately informed.  If serious problems persist, the student will be dismissed from the program after the 3rd violation.  If a participant is caught bringing any weapon, drug paraphernalia, or is acting violently against another student/Catechist/adult, the student will be immediately dismissed from the program.
 

Non-Discrimination Statement
Divine Mercy Parish admits people of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to those at the Parish.
Divine Mercy Parish does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its policies.

Cell Phone Policy
Cell phones are expected to be on silent/do not disturb mode during all class sessions; unless directed otherwise by a Catechist/Asst., please make sure cell phones are put away or face down on the table.
 

Emergency Procedures
In the case of building evacuation, please exit the building and proceed to the parking lot before finding your child; students will remain with their Catechist(s) until picked up by a parent in the parking lot.
 

Inclement Weather
In case of inclement weather, please check your email, Remind, and WISN 12, TMJ4, or FOX 6 for any cancellations.  Every effort will be made to communicate cancellations by 7:00 am the morning of a session.  For reasons of practicality, we are NOT ABLE to directly call families if we cancel.  

Program Fees

• Single child family fee: $150
• 2 or more children in a family:  $300
• Confirmation Fee: Additional $100/child
• 1st Reconciliation/1st Communion Fee:  Additional $50/child

SPECIAL NOTE: No family will be turned away from the program due to inability to pay. Please contact the program director if your family has a special finanical circumstance and would like to talk confidentially.

Refund Policy

• Refunds are only available if a family leaves the program before Session 1.

It is important for our youth to have the tools and resources to develop a deeper understanding of the faith tradition and how their faith impacts their lives and the lives of others.

Confirmation preparation at Divine Mercy reconnects youth with Catholic truths and doctrines in a learning environment that is informational yet challenging, encouraging them to explore a deeper, more genuine relationship with God and others.

Confirmation Readiness

Candidates must be a junior in high school or at least 16 years of age, baptized Catholic, and have received the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation prior to the beginning of the Confirmation year.

Whenever possible, two years of prior formation participation should occur in order for the candidate to prepare for and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Confirmation must be the free choice of the individual.  Parents may require their children to attend preparation sessions; however, no individual will be confirmed unless it is their desire.

Confirmation Program Highlights

Session attendance - Students must maintain consistent attendance to their class sessions (rule of thumb, 3 or fewer absences = consistent attendance).  If circumstances beyond the student's control require them to miss class, it is the student/family's responsibility to contact the Catechist and/or Director of Faith Formation to make other arrangements, and it is also the student's responsibility to review what was missed in class. 

Weekend Retreat - A weekend retreat is planned in the Spring for all candidates to get to know each other and begin to reflect on their relationship with God and with their faith community.

Day of Reflection - A day of reflection is held in the Spring. This is an opportunity for the candidates to reflect on their faith journey and to examine their readiness to receive the Sacrament and make a commitment to live the life of faith.

Discipleship Service - Discipleship is a central component of the mission of the Church.  Candidates provide service through various volunteer opportunities at church, school, and within the community.  Discipleship is not just measured in hours but in the experience and assessment of the service through the eyes of faith.

Exit Interview - Each candidate will complete an Exit Interview as a culmination of their preparation for Confirmation.  It will measure and evaluate their desire and readiness to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Confirmation Program Fees

Scroll up for Fee Information.