Faith Begins at Home. Grows at the Parish. Leads Us to Christ.

Faith Formation at Corpus Christi is one continuing path for children, teenagers, parents, and adults. Each program is centered on Jesus Christ, Sunday Mass, the Sacraments, prayer, Sacred Scripture, Catholic teaching, and active participation in Parish life.

Formation does not end after First Holy Communion or Confirmation. Children grow into middle school formation. Middle school students prepare for Confirmation and Youth Ministry. Teenagers continue in the life of the Parish. Adults may prepare to enter the Catholic Church, complete the Sacraments of Initiation, return to the practice of the faith, or continue learning what the Church believes and teaches.

Whether a family is beginning this journey, returning after time away, or continuing from last year, Corpus Christi offers a place to learn, pray, ask questions, form friendships, and grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Registration for children and teenagers in the 2026 to 2027 catechetical year closes Sunday, August 9.

The Parish Office will review each student’s grade, Sacramental history, prior formation, and program selection before confirming placement. Please submit the registration early so the Parish can prepare materials, catechist teams, Sacramental records, and program rosters.

A Baptismal certificate should be uploaded during registration when the Baptism took place outside Corpus Christi Catholic Church. The Parish Office will contact the family if another record or additional information is needed.

Adults registering for Becoming Catholic or Introduction to Catholicism use a separate Adult Faith Formation registration form.

CHILDREN’S FAITH FORMATION

Two Paths. One Catholic Faith.

Kindergarten through Grade 5

Every family has a different schedule and a different way of learning together. Corpus Christi offers two Faith Formation paths for children in Kindergarten through Grade 5 who are not preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion during the current catechetical year.

Formed in Christ provides weekly Sunday morning classes taught by Parish catechists, with continued prayer, Sunday Mass, and Catholic life at home.

Family Formation places parents in the leading role, with weekly Catholic lessons taught at home and one family gathering at the Parish each month.

Both paths teach the Catholic faith, support the domestic Church, connect children with the Parish, and help families make Christ part of everyday life.

A Grade 2 child who has already received First Holy Communion may register for Formed in Christ or Family Formation. A child in any elementary grade who is preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion registers for Sacramental Preparation instead.

FORMED IN CHRIST

• Weekly Catholic Formation at the Parish
• A good fit for families seeking weekly classes taught by Parish catechists.
• Sundays
• 9:15 to 10:40 a.m.
• Begins September 13
• Children learn by grade through Catholic teaching, prayer, activities, and conversation. Families continue Sunday Mass, prayer, and Catholic life at home.

FAMILY FORMATION

• Catholic Faith Lived and Taught at Home
• A good fit for parents who want to teach the weekly lesson at home with monthly formation and resources from the Parish.
• First Wednesdays
• 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
• Begins September 2
• Children and parents gather at the Parish once each month. Parents teach the assigned lessons at home during the remaining weeks.

IS YOUR CHILD PREPARING FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION?

Children preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion follow the Sacramental Preparation program. They do not also register for Formed in Christ or Family Formation during the same catechetical year.

FORMED IN CHRIST

Weekly Catholic Formation at the Parish

Kindergarten through Grade 5

Sundays

9:15 – 10:40 a.m.

First Class: Sunday, September 13

The Formed in Christ program is the new weekly Sunday morning Faith Formation path for elementary age children. It is designed for families who want a regular classroom program at the Parish while continuing Sunday Mass, prayer, and Catholic life at home.

Children meet each Sunday with Parish catechists in grade level classrooms. Each class includes Catholic teaching, prayer, conversation, activities, and age appropriate work that helps children understand what the Church believes and how Catholics live.

Kindergarten and Grade 1 will use Pflaum Gospel Weeklies. These lessons follow the Sunday Gospel and the liturgical year, helping younger children recognize that what they learn in class is connected to what they hear and celebrate at Mass. The material uses stories, prayer, color, movement, and activities suited to younger children.

Grades 3 through 5 will use Family Formation materials from the Church of Saint Paul. Parish catechists will teach the principal lesson in the classroom. Children will bring home selected work so parents can see what was taught and continue the conversation during the week.

A Grade 2 child preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion follows the Sacramental Preparation program.

Formed in Christ does not remove parents from their role in Catholic formation. Parish catechists lead the weekly classroom lesson, while parents continue the faith at home through Sunday Mass, prayer, family conversation, and Christian example.

The Sunday morning schedule places children’s formation within the rhythm of Parish life. Families can connect Faith Formation with Sunday Mass and help children understand that the classroom, the home, and the Eucharistic life of the Church belong together.

Formed in Christ gives families a steady Sunday routine, grade level instruction, and regular contact with Parish catechists and other Catholic children.

FAMILY FORMATION

Catholic Faith Lived and Taught at Home

Kindergarten through Grade 5

First Wednesdays of the Month

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

First Gathering: Wednesday, September 2

The Family Formation program is for parents who want to take the leading role in teaching the Catholic faith at home. The Church recognizes parents as the first and most important teachers of their children in the faith. Corpus Christi supports that vocation with Catholic materials, monthly formation, Parish catechists, and a yearlong program that families can follow together.

Families gather at the Parish on the first Wednesday of each month. Children meet in grade level classrooms with catechists while parents take part in practical Catholic formation in English or Spanish. Parent sessions explain the month’s subject, prepare families for the home lessons, and offer simple ways to connect Catholic teaching with prayer, Sunday Mass, family conversation, and daily life.

During the weeks between Parish gatherings, parents teach the assigned lessons at home. The lessons are designed for family use and give parents a dependable structure for discussing Scripture, the Sacraments, Saints, prayer, Catholic belief, and Christian living. Families complete and return the assigned work according to the program calendar.

The monthly Parish gathering has been shortened from 90 minutes to one hour. This gives families the formation and materials they need while respecting school schedules and the needs of younger children.

A Grade 2 child preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion follows the Sacramental Preparation program.

Family Formation is not independent study and parents are not left on their own. The Parish provides the curriculum, monthly preparation, catechist support, the annual schedule, and practical resources for building Catholic habits at home. Parents bring the lessons to life through their own witness, family prayer, participation in Sunday Mass, and the way the family lives the faith throughout the week.

Family Formation gives parents a practical way to teach the faith at home while receiving monthly formation, materials, and support from the Parish.

MIDDLE SCHOOL FAITH FORMATION

EDGE

ROOTED: Growing Deep in Christ

Grades 6 and 7

Sundays

9:15 – 10:40 a.m.

First Class: Sunday, September 13

Middle school is a time of important questions, new pressures, growing independence, and deeper awareness of the world. EDGE gives students a Catholic place to ask questions, form friendships, learn how the faith applies to real life, and discover who they are in Christ.

The 2026–2027 theme is ROOTED: Growing Deep in Christ, inspired by Colossians 2:7. Students will be invited to become rooted in Jesus Christ, built up in faith, and prepared to live as Catholic disciples.

The year will move through five areas of formation:

• Identity in Christ
• Relationship with God
• Virtue and daily choices
• Discipleship and mission
• The Sacraments and the liturgical life of the Church

Lessons will include human dignity, Baptism, holiness, the Saints, prayer, silence, Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, Reconciliation, mercy, freedom, virtue, peer pressure, friendship, forgiveness, media, courage, service, spiritual gifts, Mary, the Mass, and the Communion of Saints.

A typical EDGE gathering will include an activity, Catholic teaching, small group conversation, and prayer. Adult leaders will help students talk through the lesson and apply it to situations they encounter at school, online, at home, and with friends.

The year will also include a closer look at the Holy Mass, preparation for Confession, quiet prayer, and a concluding Mission Night focused on prayer, reflection, fellowship, and the call to live the faith.

EDGE is not simply the class before Confirmation. It gives middle school students a place in the Parish now, prepares them for the next stage of formation, and helps them build the habits, friendships, and Catholic identity needed for Confirmation, Youth Group, and continued Parish life.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

First Holy Communion, Confirmation Year One and Year Two, Christian Initiation for Teens

The Sacraments are encounters with Jesus Christ in His Church. Sacramental Preparation at Corpus Christi combines Catholic teaching, prayer, Sunday Mass, family participation, retreats, Confession, service, and Parish life.

Registration begins the process, but registration alone does not confirm placement or readiness for a Sacrament. The Parish Office reviews each student’s Sacramental records, previous formation, grade, and individual needs. Families will receive the calendar, parent meeting dates, records requirements, retreats, rehearsals, and other program information after placement is reviewed.

FIRST RECONCILIATION AND FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Sundays

9:15 – 10:40 a.m.

First Class: Sunday, September 13

First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation helps children come to know Jesus Christ more deeply, understand His mercy, and recognize His true presence in the Eucharist.

The program uses the Church of Saint Paul curriculum for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Lessons introduce children to sin and forgiveness, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Holy Mass, the Last Supper, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, prayer, reverence, and the meaning of receiving Holy Communion.

Because of enrollment, students will be placed into separate class groups. Each group will follow the same Sacramental Preparation program with Parish catechists and assistants.

Parents are an important part of the preparation. At least one parent or legal guardian must attend the required parent meetings, Sacramental gatherings, retreat, rehearsal, and other dates listed on the annual calendar.

The year includes preparation for First Reconciliation, the celebration of First Reconciliation, continued preparation for the Eucharist, required Sacramental records, rehearsal, and the First Holy Communion Mass.

Children enrolled in First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation do not also attend Family Formation or Formed in Christ during the same catechetical year. Their Sunday Sacramental Preparation class is their Faith Formation program for the year.

Families should submit Baptismal records and other requested information during registration. Early submission gives the Parish time to review each child’s record well before the celebration of the Sacraments.

Sunday Mass is essential to this preparation. Children learn about the Eucharist most fully when their families worship together each Sunday and make the Mass part of their regular Catholic life.

CONFIRMATION YEAR ONE

Sundays

6:15 – 7:45 p.m.

First Class: Sunday, September 13

Confirmation Year One begins a two year path of formation for young Catholics preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The goal is not only to complete requirements. The goal is to help students know Jesus Christ, understand the Catholic faith, grow in prayer, and begin living as active members of the Church.

The program uses Chosen from Ascension. This Catholic curriculum presents the Creed, the Sacraments, prayer, morality, Scripture, the Holy Spirit, the mission of the Church, and the call to discipleship in a way written for teenagers.

The new Sunday evening schedule gives students more room for large group teaching, small group conversation, prayer, Confession, service, and fellowship. Students will have opportunities to ask questions, discuss the lesson with trained adults, and connect Catholic teaching with the decisions and pressures they face.

Confirmation preparation includes more than classroom instruction. Students and families will receive information about attendance, Sacramental records, sponsors, Saint reports, service, Confession, parent responsibilities, and other requirements through the annual calendar and program communication.

Service will be connected to Catholic worship and Parish life. Students will be offered meaningful ways to serve rather than being limited to one event or one kind of activity.

Confirmation Year One prepares students to continue into Confirmation Year Two. Regular participation in Sunday Mass, class, prayer, and Parish life is part of this preparation.

CONFIRMATION YEAR TWO

Required Retreat at Camp Gravatt

August 22 and 23

First Sunday Class

August 30

Regular Sunday Schedule

6:15 – 7:45 p.m.

Confirmation Year Two begins with the required retreat at Camp Gravatt on August 22 and 23. The retreat gives students time away from the regular weekly schedule for prayer, Catholic teaching, Confession, reflection, and the building of a stronger Catholic community.

The first Sunday class will be held August 30 from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. Year Two will then continue according to the published Confirmation calendar.

Students will continue with Chosen from Ascension, providing one consistent Catholic foundation across both years of Confirmation preparation. Sessions include Catholic teaching, small group conversation, prayer, and opportunities to connect the lesson with daily life.

The program includes the Holy Spirit, the Sacraments, vocation, prayer, Confession, service, sponsors, Saint reports, Sacramental records, rehearsal, and final preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Service will be connected to the Sacred Liturgy, Parish life, and the Christian call to serve others. Families will receive several service opportunities during the year.

Confirmation is not the end of a young person’s formation. Year Two leads students toward a Catholic life that continues through Sunday Mass, Youth Group, prayer, service, and participation in the Parish after Confirmation.

Participation in the retreat, Sunday classes, required meetings, rehearsal, and the other dates listed on the Confirmation Year Two calendar is part of the program.

Confirmation Year Two families will receive the Camp Gravatt retreat information and the August 30 classroom location before the retreat.

CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR TEENS

OCIT

Sundays

6:15 – 7:45 p.m.

First Class: Sunday, September 13

Christian Initiation for Teens, commonly called OCIT, serves students in Grades 6 through 12 who have not been baptized, have not received First Holy Communion, or need fuller initiation into the Catholic Church.

A baptized student in Grade 6 through Grade 12 who has not received First Holy Communion belongs in OCIT rather than EDGE or Confirmation. OCIT gives the student the Catholic formation and Sacramental preparation needed before continuing into Confirmation preparation.

OCIT uses Journey of Faith for Teens. The program introduces students to Jesus Christ, Sacred Scripture, the Creed, prayer, the Holy Mass, Confession, the Eucharist, Catholic identity, and the Sacramental life of the Church.

OCIT responds to each student’s Sacramental history and gives teenagers a place to ask questions, learn the Catholic faith in an orderly way, pray with others, and prepare for the Sacraments they need.

Students in Grades 6 through 11 prepare for Baptism and First Holy Communion as needed. They then continue into Confirmation Year Two during the following catechetical year.

A Grade 12 student who also needs Confirmation may complete that preparation through OCIT within the same catechetical year after the Parish Office reviews the student’s Sacramental history and prior formation.

Children in Grade 5 or below who need Baptism or First Holy Communion should register for Faith Formation and request a review by the Parish Office. The proper program will be determined after the child’s age, grade, Baptism, prior Sacraments, and earlier formation are reviewed.

Sunday Mass, regular attendance, prayer, family participation, and the celebrations connected with Christian initiation are part of the OCIT journey.

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY

YOUTH GROUP

Sundays

Following the 5:00 p.m. Mass until 8:00 p.m.

Youth Group gives high school students a continuing place in the Catholic Church before, during, and after Confirmation.

The evening begins with the 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass. After Mass, students gather for Catholic formation, prayer, conversation, fellowship, service, and activities that help them build lasting friendships within the Parish.

Youth Group is open to high school students, including those currently preparing for Confirmation, those who recently received Confirmation, and those who want to become more involved in Catholic life.

Confirmation is an important Sacrament, but it is not the end of formation. Youth Group helps teenagers continue asking questions, developing a life of prayer, serving others, learning the faith, and finding their place in the Church.

Students are invited to come as they are, bring honest questions, meet other Catholic teenagers, and grow in a community centered on Jesus Christ and the Eucharist.

ADULT FAITH FORMATION AND CHRISTIAN INITIATION

Adults come to Corpus Christi with different backgrounds, questions, and reasons for seeking formation. Some are considering becoming Catholic or completing the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. Others are practicing or returning Catholics who want to understand the faith more deeply.

Corpus Christi offers two ways to participate in the same Wednesday evening formation. Becoming Catholic is the Parish’s OCIA path for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church or complete the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. Introduction to Catholicism is open to adults who want to learn more about the Catholic faith without entering Sacramental preparation.

Both groups attend the same Catholic teaching sessions, follow the same schedule, and learn with the same catechists. Adults following OCIA also complete the personal meetings, Sacramental preparation, records, sponsor process, and liturgical rites that apply to their individual path.

BECOMING CATHOLIC

OCIA

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

Wednesdays

7:00 – 8:45 p.m.

 First Class: Wednesday, September 9

No Class on the First Wednesday of Each Month

Becoming Catholic is Corpus Christi’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, commonly called OCIA.

OCIA is for adults who have never been baptized, adults baptized in another Christian community who are considering becoming Catholic, and baptized Catholics who need First Holy Communion, Confirmation, or both.

The process is centered on conversion to Jesus Christ and full participation in the life of His Church. Participants receive Catholic formation, enter more deeply into prayer and Sunday Mass, take part in the appropriate liturgical rites, and prepare for the Sacraments that apply to their individual circumstances.

English OCIA will use Open Wide the Doors to Christ. Participants will complete assigned reading at home so Wednesday evenings can be used for Catholic teaching, questions, discussion, prayer, and conversation.

Spanish OCIA will follow the same general order of Catholic teaching while using Credo: An OCIA Program as its principal curriculum.

Topics will include Jesus Christ, Sacred Scripture, the Creed, the Trinity, the Church, Mary and the Saints, prayer, the Sacraments, the Holy Mass, Catholic moral teaching, vocation, Christian life, and the mission of every baptized person.

Each OCIA participant follows an individual path. Baptismal status, previous Sacraments, marriage history, prior marriages, sponsors, and other Sacramental matters will be reviewed early. These conversations are handled privately and help the Parish identify what each person needs before important dates approach.

Participants preparing for Christian initiation will be accompanied through the proper periods and rites of OCIA. They will also receive information about sponsors, Sacramental records, attendance, the Easter Vigil, and continued formation after initiation.

Adults do not need to have every question answered before attending. The first step is to come, listen, ask questions, and allow the Lord to lead the journey.

Adults preparing to become Catholic or complete the Sacraments of Christian Initiation must use the Adult Faith Formation registration form. The children and teen Faith Formation form does not register adults for OCIA.

INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLICISM

Catholic Formation Open to All Adults

Wednesdays

7:00 – 8:45 p.m.

First Class: Wednesday, September 9

No Class on the First Wednesday of Each Month

Introduction to Catholicism is open to adults who want to understand the Catholic faith more deeply without entering Sacramental preparation.

Practicing Catholics, returning Catholics, adults who received the Sacraments but never had a strong Catholic foundation, spouses or family members of Catholics, and adults who are simply curious about the Church are welcome.

Participants join the teaching portion of the Wednesday evening OCIA sessions. Both groups receive the same Catholic teaching, follow the same schedule, and have the same opportunity for discussion and questions.

There is no expectation that a participant in Introduction to Catholicism is preparing to become Catholic or receive a Sacrament. Adults may attend because they want to understand the Mass, revisit Catholic teaching, return to the practice of the faith, ask questions they have carried for years, or speak about Catholicism more confidently with their families.

Topics will include Jesus Christ, Sacred Scripture, the Creed, the Church, the Sacraments, the Holy Mass, prayer, Mary and the Saints, Catholic moral teaching, vocation, and Christian discipleship.

Some participants may later discern that God is calling them toward the Catholic Church or toward completion of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. If that happens, the Parish will explain the OCIA process and the next steps. Others may continue with Introduction to Catholicism simply to grow in faith and Catholic understanding.

This is an open invitation to begin again, learn something new, ask honest questions, and discover more fully the beauty and coherence of the Catholic faith.

Adults attending Introduction to Catholicism use the Adult Faith Formation registration form. The form identifies whether the person is registering for continued Catholic formation or beginning the OCIA process.

SUNDAY MASS

Sunday Mass is the center of Catholic life and an essential part of Faith Formation. Families are expected to attend Mass each Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation.

Faith Formation classes support what is lived in the home and celebrated in the Sacred Liturgy. No classroom program can replace regular participation in the Eucharist, family prayer, or the witness of parents and guardians.

PARENT AND GUARDIAN PARTICIPATION

Parents and legal guardians are partners in every Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation program.

At least one parent or legal guardian must attend each required parent meeting, Sacramental meeting, retreat, rehearsal, or program gathering connected with the child’s program.

Family Formation includes weekly home teaching and monthly family gatherings. Formed in Christ includes weekly Parish instruction with continued Mass, prayer, and Catholic life at home. Sacramental Preparation includes the meetings, records, retreats, rehearsals, and celebrations listed on each program calendar.

Families will receive program calendars and additional information after registration and placement are reviewed.

CATECHISTS AND VOLUNTEERS

Faith Formation is made possible by parishioners who serve as catechists, classroom assistants, small group leaders, mentors, sponsors, and program volunteers.

Catechists receive Catholic materials, program expectations, an annual schedule, orientation, and the resources needed for their assigned role. Adults serving with minors must complete the applicable Diocesan Safe Environment requirements before beginning service.

Parishioners who love the Catholic faith, enjoy working with children or teenagers, or feel called to accompany an adult preparing for the Sacraments are invited to consider serving.

Experience is valuable, but a willing heart, fidelity to Catholic teaching, dependable attendance, and a desire to help others know Christ are equally important.

LEARNING, MEDICAL, AND ACCESS NEEDS

Corpus Christi wants every child and teenager to have meaningful access to Catholic formation.

Parents may use the registration form to describe allergies, medical conditions, learning needs, accommodations, school plans, communication needs, or other information that may help the Faith Formation team prepare for the student.

The Parish will review the information and work with the family to determine the most appropriate program and reasonable support. Only information needed for the student’s participation will be provided to the appropriate catechists and program leaders.

REGISTRATION FEES

Registration fees help cover books, curriculum, classroom materials, digital resources, retreats, and other program expenses.

Most Faith Formation programs are $90 per child.

Youth Group is $100 per student.

Confirmation Year Two is $200 per student and includes the required retreat.

Families paying online will continue to the payment page after submitting the registration form. The total will be based on the program selected for each child.

A payment receipt confirms payment. It does not confirm final program placement. The Parish Office will confirm placement after reviewing the registration and Sacramental records.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

No child should be unable to participate in Faith Formation because payment presents a hardship.

Financial assistance is available to families who need it. A family requesting assistance may submit the registration without paying online. The Parish Office will review the request and contact the family.

Families may also ask the Parish Office to review a program selection before payment if they are uncertain about the proper placement for a child.

SACRAMENTAL RECORDS

Sacramental records are an important part of preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, OCIT, and OCIA.

Families should provide the requested Baptismal information and upload a Baptismal certificate when the Baptism took place outside Corpus Christi Catholic Church.

The Parish Office will review Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, prior Faith Formation, and other Sacramental information before confirming program placement.

If a record or additional information is needed, the Parish Office will contact the family. Submitting records during registration prevents delays later in the catechetical year.

THE FAITH FORMATION PATH AT A GLANCE

Corpus Christi offers one continuing path of Catholic formation for the whole Parish.

Children in Kindergarten through Grade 5 may receive weekly formation through Formed in Christ at the Parish or Family Formation at home.

Middle school students grow in Catholic identity, prayer, the Sacraments, and discipleship through EDGE.

Children and teenagers prepare for the Sacraments through First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, Confirmation, or OCIT according to their age, prior formation, and Sacramental history.

High school students continue growing through Sunday Mass, Youth Group, service, prayer, and Parish life.

Adults may prepare to become Catholic, complete the Sacraments of Initiation, return to the practice of the faith, or study Catholicism more deeply.

Wherever a person or family begins, Corpus Christi offers a next step toward Jesus Christ and a fuller life in His Church.

Registration for children and teenagers closes Sunday, August 9.

QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH FORMATION?

Please contact the Corpus Christi Parish Office.

Corpus Christi Catholic Church

2350 Augusta Highway

Lexington, South Carolina 29072

Telephone: (803) 359-4391

Parish Office Hours

Monday and Friday

9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.