“We learn our faith… We live our faith… We share our faith”
Vacation Bible School: Registration Form and Medical Release.
Children’s Program Letter and Registration
Calendars: Kid’s Church
Wednesday Assembly
Our Children’s Ministry at St. Madeleine Sophie is designed to provide families with a comprehensive path of religious instruction from preschool through sixth grade. Beginning with our Kid’s Church program for preschoolers and our Children’s Liturgy of the Word for elementary age, we engage entire families in Sunday Mass.
Our Wednesday Assemblies bring elementary age children together with their parents and mentors in our educational program of Whole Community Catechesis (WCC). Our 6th graders love their separate Wednesday Youth Night held in the Youth Room.
“When we sing we pray twice”, our Glory and Praise Choir is open to Parish children once they enter 2nd grade. Your children will love the fun of our Summer Bible Camp usually held in mid-July each year. Registration forms will be available in April.
Registration is ongoing, beginning in August, for Wednesday Assembly, Kid’s Church, and our Gospel and Praise Choir. Our programs run October – May. We always need volunteers and helping hands. If you have questions, contact Maggie Rader: maggie@stmadsophie.org, voice mail: 425-747-6770 ext. 125.
Kids’ Church (Preschool and Kindergarten)
Our early childhood program, Kids’ Church, is designed to help preschoolers and kindergartners gently understand the basic concepts and rituals of our faith. Lessons are structured in a Mass format, specifically designed for the age and maturity level, as well as the developmental and spiritual needs, of young children.
When they arrive at the Kids’ Church worship center, the children are greeted in an atmosphere that is purposefully slowed down and quieted. Children are introduced to the joy and wonder of God’s love through storytelling, art activities, and play. Worship centers are offered to coincide with the 8:30 or 11:00 a.m. Sunday Masses and take place most weekends from October to May.
Whole Community Catechesis - Wednesday Assembly (1st through 6th grades)
Children in grades one through six take part in our intergenerational Whole Community Catechesis (WCC) assemblies on Wednesday evenings, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Each child attends the assembly with a parent or other person who serves as the child’s sponsor. The sponsor acts as a mentor who will accompany and interact with the child during the assembly.
Assemblies consist of faith formation lessons and enrichment activities that cover age-appropriate curriculum following diocesan guidelines. It is important that families understand that the entire body of Catholic doctrine is not conveyed in any single year, but that each year of religious education builds on those that preceded and leads to what follows.
- First Through Fifth Grades
Our faith formation program for first through fifth grades lead children on a journey of spiritual development. Our socially responsible and age-appropriate teaching resources share a common focus: to help children explore their faith and apply God’s truth in their everyday lives. Parent-child evenings occur throughout the year which give children an opportunity to attend a church-based event or liturgy with their whole family. - Sixth Grade Youth Night
Sixth Grade spans the gap between childhood and youth. Our sixth grade program is a favorite among our young parishioners as they explore the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Our goal is to help our young people rely on God’s guidance as they face the many challenges and choices of their pre-adolescent lives. With a variety of materials which are linked to the Sunday readings and the Church year, the sixth graders will be able to understand and participate in Sunday Mass more fully. Held in the Youth Room, each session features a blend of fun, creative, and inspiring activities such as group discussions, storytelling, role-playing, music, and games. All activities are designed to help preteens understand God’s work more deeply and explore the basics of our Catholic faith as they try to make sense of our complex world. Each sixth grader also receives a Catholic Youth Bible.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)
To make Sunday Mass a more positive experience for children, we provide a “Word” experience that is designed to meet the developmental and spiritual needs of the elementary-aged child.
Families come to Mass together, but after the opening song and prayer, first through sixth grade children are invited to come forward and process downstairs for CLOW. During the children’s “Word” service, we focus on only one reading—usually the Gospel reading. This is followed by a child-oriented discussion/homily, prayers of the faithful, creed, and songs. At the beginning of the liturgy of the Eucharist, children rejoin their families in the church.
CLOW is offered at the 8:30 and 11:00 Masses most Sundays, October through May. There is no registration for CLOW. All children in first through sixth grade are welcome.
Children’s Liturgies during 8:30am and 11am Mass
Our children celebrate and share their faith with the larger parish community during children’s liturgies. At these special Masses, the Eucharistic prayer and homily are designed to be more understandable to children and the “child” within all of us. Our Wednesday assemblies prepare the children to actively participate in these Masses.
Glory and Praise Choir
Young people beginning in second grade are welcome to join this special kids’ choir. The Glory and Praise Choir leads congregational singing at three special children’s liturgies held during the year. No registration or previous experience is necessary. Simply come to the practices which are held on scheduled Wednesday afternoons from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the church. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. on these evenings that precede Wednesday Assembly. Children in the choir will proceed to Assembly gatherings at 6:30 p.m.
Vacation Bible Camp
Vacation Bible Camp is held each year in July. Please see the spring bulletins for specific dates and times.
