Welcome to St. Thomas à Becket Community

Parents, you are the most important people in your child’s faith journey!

We know that you want to do your best to help your children grow
up with good values and a life of faith. We want to partner with you in that amazing endeavour. You are not alone!

We want to invite your children into a personal relationship with Jesus. The Sacrament of Baptism was the first step. Now your child is at an age where they are invited to complete the Sacraments of Initiation and grow deeper in this relationship with Jesus. The Sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation are truly powerful gifts. They are instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, to help us along the way.

Our Catechetical Program:

Children are asked to complete each level of faith education that runs from Grade 1 to Grade 6.

An intensive High School catechesis is offered to those who begin the program a little older.

Our Teen Program is quite unique. The goal of the program is not only to prepare your teen for Confirmation, but also to give them all the tools they will need to start a lifelong journey with the church. This is a hybrid course, with meetings held online or at church. Each session focuses on a different subject, ranging from 'What is Confirmation?" all the way to how to stay connected to the Church after Faith First. We watch videos from Alpha Canada or Dynamic Catholic, have small group discussions and look at different tools, apps, etc that can keep us connected to God and can help us be the Best Version of Ourself. You will be happy to know there is very little homework and no binder or book to complete! We try to cover as much as possible in our sessions together so it is very important to attend all the sessions so that nothing important is missed. There are 14 sessions (October to March) scheduled to try to avoid school exam or vacation periods. We hope you will join us! (minimum number of participants required for the program to run).

Sacrament of First Communion

Come closer to Jesus!

How wonderful that you are seeking this beautiful sacrament for your child!
The First Communion process at St. Thomas a Becket is a two-year commitment.
The earliest they can receive the sacrament is Grade 2.
Celebrations usually take place during the month of May.

 

Sacrament of Reconciliation

God's Mercy is endless!

Children getting ready for First Communion will also receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of their preparation.
Children make their First Confession in advance of their First Communion.
This Sacrament is usually celebrated a few months before their First Communion.

 

Sacrament of Confirmation

Receive the Holy Spirit!

It’s wonderful that your child is ready to prepare for this important sacrament.
Preparation for Confirmation should start immediately after First Communion and
is a 4-year preparation celebrating the sacrament in Grade 6 at the earliest.

 

June 2022

The Pillars of the Program

Here at St. Thomas à Becket, we follow a FAMILY-BASED approach that runs from September-May.

The 4 main components are:

- Mass
- Children’s Faith Experience & Seesaw
- Work Book
- Parent/Family component

MASS

Regular attendance of Mass is required throughout the program. Holy Mass is the centre of our faith and the source of divine life. The Sacraments are therefore given to us, so that we become full members of the Church and participants of this divine life.

It is our dearest wish that children who receive their sacraments here at St. Thomas à Becket have a feeling that they truly belong here — that this church is a home and a family for them.

In order for this to happen, the children need to come to church regularly, so they experience it as a routine, a comfortable place where they are known, a place where they can come to know Jesus and His love.

We need community as much as we need the Sacraments!

Weekend Masses:
Saturday at 4:30
Sunday at 9:00 and 11:00 am

CHILDREN’S FAITH EXPERIENCE

We offer a hybrid approach to the Faith education of our children. We will meet in the Church at least once with each group keeping safety protocols in mind. We will continue to use Seesaw to give presentations and fun activities. For a snapshot of the past on Seesaw, click here.

FAITH FIRST WORKBOOK

Each child will receive a book from Loyola Press or a duo tang prepared by our team according to their level. These books are to be completed at home but will be checked from time to time to help keep everyone on track.

*Books and/or Duo tangs will be distributed mid-September, 2022.

PARENT COMPONENT

At your child’s baptism, you agreed to be the primary teacher of the faith to your children. We offer support to help you to grow your own faith in order to pass it on to your children.

We are overjoyed to offer 2 programs to the 'Parent Component' to help broaden your faith:

The Search and/or Sycamore. We understand how busy and hectic family schedules can get and with this in mind, we are excited to offer these Video series via Zoom in the comfort of your home. You can choose which series most interests you or you can do them both. Space will be limited.

This unique and beautiful 7-part series, which examines who God is, God's intimate and personal relationship with us, who we are as part of this glorious creation, and much more. The SEARCH features scientists, artists, philosophers, and other people from all walks of life proclaiming how their search for meaning in life led them to Jesus and the Gospel. Check here again for info regarding the next session. Click here for a sneak peak.

This wonderful faith-enriching 10-part series entitled: SYCAMORE, an informal course about the Christian faith and its relevance for life today. Each session involves a short thought provoking film about the big questions of life and the central beliefs of the Catholic faith, followed by some time for discussion in a small group. You are sure to leave this course with a deeper understanding of yourself, your faith and your relationship with Christ. Registration is now closed but we will be back next year! Click here to view the trailer.

When all the components of the program are met, your child will receive a completion certificate to move on to the next level the following year.

NEW: A FAMILY OUTREACH PROGRAM

Working together our Faith First families can do amazing things! More information coming soon.

FEES FOR 2022-2023:

First Child -- $120.00
Second Child -- $80.00
Third + child -- $45.00

Payment options: Online via paypal or credit card, cash or check

Payments via cash or check may be paid in 2 installments: First payment due upon registration and the second in January 2023.

Cheques should be made payable to St. Thomas à Becket Parish

*Financial Aid is available by contacting the office.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration for the 2022-2023 schoolyear is now closed. Thank you to all who registered.
For any questions, please contact Elsa or Karen by email .

Elsa Rivera Faith First Coordinator 514-626-4111 ext. 224

Karen Dawson Faith First Co-coordinator