Faith Formation Handbook

• Parents/Guardians should watch for reminder notes that are emailed and/or sent home with the students, as well as look for notices in the bulletin.
• Parents/Guardians and students are encouraged to visit our WFC Online page found HERE, which will include more resources for you throughout the year. This page will be password protected and will be accessible to you after registration.

All Core Team Leaders, Catechists, and Assistants will provide a loving Christian atmosphere within the classroom, so that youth will be able to learn and recognize that they are special children of God. They are also positive Christian role models who are prepared to teach and discuss the designated curriculum.

All Leaders, Assistants, and Volunteers will have completed either the VIRTUS or the CMGConnect Online Training Program, as required by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), and St. Bernadette Parish. All individuals listed above must have submitted to a criminal background check through the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston prior to ministry or volunteer service.  In addition, all individuals listed above must complete the mandatory renewal training upon the 5-year anniversary of the prior training, and submit to a new criminal background check as a condition of continued ministry or volunteer service.  Parent phone numbers and e-mail addresses may be provided to the catechists, core team, and aides. They will be used strictly for Faith Formation communications, and be done in conformity with the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Policy as outlined in the CMGConnect online training program. 

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston currently offers two online safe environment training programs through Catholic Mutual Group (CMG). 

1. The initial training, "Safe Environment MANDATORY Training - Safe Haven Training" which includes a short video series entitled 'Safe Haven, It's Up to You" must be completed prior to the start of employment and/or volunteer service.   It is a three-part video series that provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying, and neglect of minors, all of which can lead to abuse.  Each part of the video series is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding, concluding with a criminal background check.  The amount of time to complete this program can vary, but please allow up to 90 minutes.

2. The refresher training, "Safe Environment MANDATORY 5 Year Renewal Training" includes a video entitled 'Protecting Vulnerable Adults' and  is offered five years after taking the initial training. This training course is one 20-minute video providing information on how to recognize and report suspected abuse and neglect of adults who are unable to care for themselves, concluding with a criminal background check. Please allow up to 30 minutes to complete this program.

These trainings are each good for five (5) years and are available in both English and Spanish.

• Circle of Grace is a Safe Environment education program for all children in PreK-12th grades. Its primary focus is to help children and their parents develop the knowledge and skills needed to keep children and youth safe and protected from sexual abuse. Circle of Grace is an ongoing program which will provide annually age-appropriate lessons to children.
• Retreat Formation is a required course within our Archdiocese that must be completed by adult volunteers and teens who are selected to participate in helping with a youth retreat. This course focuses on the components of comprehensive youth ministry to provide a framework that will meet the needs of young people in a retreat setting.

• Kindergarten Students: All students entering Kindergarten must be age 5 or older by September 1 of their enrollment year.

1. Registration Form: Faith Formation Registration Form for Pre-K through 12th Grade is offered online HERE. On the form, mark the grade your child will be ENTERING in the FALL, as well as the Sacraments he/she has received.

• Please be accurate and supply complete information on your Registration form.
• Actual room assignments for Pre-K-5th grade students will be posted prior to the start of Faith Formation in September. For Jr. High and High school students, the class assignments are randomized each year so that students have a better opportunity to know more of their peers.
  • Classroom Locations:
    • PreK - PreK Classrooms in the Church Building
    • Elementary - Parish Life Center (PLC)
    • Jr. High and High School - alternate Gym and Brandsma Classrooms
    • Notice: On First Sundays Jr. High and High School will alternate PLC and Gym and Elementary will be in Brandsma Classrooms.

2. Attendance Policy: Regular attendance in our Faith Formation programs is an important factor in helping your child deepen their understanding of church teaching, scripture, prayer and community. Any missed lessons for students in K-8th grades and Confirmation should be made up at home, as you would make up regular school class work. If there are special circumstances regarding your child’s participation in the program, they may be worked out in advance with the grade-level Faith Formation Director.

• Arrival and Departure: All students are expected to arrive promptly at class time. If there is no teacher in the room (Grades Pre-K through 5th), please wait with your child until they arrive.  
  • No unsupervised students will be allowed in the classrooms. Students should wait outside the classroom until their teacher arrives. Because we want to keep the safety of our youth a priority, students in grades Pre-K through 8th grade should be walked to and from the classroom by a parent/guardian or older sibling. We strongly discourage dropping off any youth by themselves.
  • Please note that BEFORE or AFTER class, no student will be allowed to play on the playground without adult supervision.
  • Early pick-up is discouraged. Frequently missing all or part of weekly classes does affect your child’s religious education.
  • Late arrival is also discouraged. It is disruptive to class.
  • Parents/Guardians of students who are consistently late will be notified.
  • Help your child set priorities and respect our policy of no early dismissal due to sports practices or games.
  • If you do need to pick up your child before dismissal, the parent/guardian must notify their Director of Faith Formation with a brief note (stating time, date, catechist’s name, and room number).  
  • Students will be released only to those persons approved by the parent or other designated adult. Any person(s) picking up the student will be asked to provide photo identification. 

3. Emergency Cancellation: We reserve the right to cancel class, especially for emergency situations, including, but not limited to, severe weather. If you have any questions about cancellation, please call the Faith Formation office before bringing your child to the campus (281-486-0337) Heavy rain does not automatically cause cancellation. Please use your best judgment about whether or not to bring your child.

All students preparing for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation are required to have a copy of their Baptismal Certificate on file.  If your child was not baptized at St. Bernadette Church, please provide us with the original Baptism certificate.  We will then make a copy for our files and return the original to you.

• The Confirmation program works in conjunction with the High School Faith Formation. The whole process is oriented towards building three important relationships: 1. With the Holy Trinity, especially the Holy Spirit; 2. With their Church through their parish community; and 3. With the world through a yearning for salvation for fellow man, especially their neighbor and the poor.   
• For more information you can go to the Confirmation page HERE.

• Mass:  All families should be regularly attending Mass as full, conscious, and active participants.  Children and youth learn by our example.

• Dress Code: All dress should be modest and appropriate for class and for Mass, similar to Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD). No undergarments should be visible, nor should bellies or lower backs. 
• Code of Conduct: Students will follow classroom rules, respect others and their property, as well as respect church books and church property.
• Use of Cell Phones: Upon entering the church buildings for Faith Formation or other activities, students will turn off their cell phones and leave them off until the program concludes. If a student does not comply, leaders have the discretion to take the student’s phone for the duration of the program.

Our expectations are that the students will do their best to keep their hearts and minds open to the faith, respect each other and the property, and to learn to be fully active and conscious participants of our faith at Mass and in their daily lives.  The leaders will do their best to guide the student’s behavior with love and compassion, redirect when possible, and if needed, contact the parent for help with solutions.

The St. Bernadette Parent Faith Formation Handbook was created to outline our policies and programs.  By signing the Parent and Student Acknowledgement section on our registration form, you are acknowledging that you have reviewed a copy of the St. Bernadette Faith Formation Handbook. 

You are also accepting responsibility to read and understand your commitment to the program and to cooperate with the parish policies set forth in the handbook. The parent is responsible for reviewing the applicable policies with their student so that they will understand their commitment and cooperation in their St. Bernadette Faith Formation Programs. Any questions should be directed to the appropriate grade-level Director of Faith Formation.

St. Bernadette Catholic Church Faith Formation Program reserves the right to amend this handbook, as necessary. Parents will be notified electronically by the Faith Formation Team if changes are made to any procedures or information contained in this handbook.