Over the past few years, our parish’s Family Faith Formation has grown around small group formation—bringing families together to grow in faith and community. This coming year, we’re excited to take the next step by introducing the Pathways Formation Suite into Family Faith Formation.
We have the hope and expectation that all parish families who have children K-8th Grade will be a part of this, regardless of whether their children are already enrolled in Public School, Catholic School/Other Private School, or Homeschool.
Pathways is a dynamic, family-centered approach that empowers parents to embrace their role as the primary educators of the faith. With a rich library of engaging, age-appropriate resources and flexible tools, Pathways helps make the home the heart of faith formation. It’s designed to support families as they learn, pray, and live out their Catholic faith together—at home and within our parish community.
The Pathways Formation Suite offers various modules that, when combined with other modules, form a track.
Each family will be placed in one of four formation tracks based on their unique sacramental and catechetical needs:
Each track is composed of different modules, and each family will receive a box of the necessary materials needed for their modules.
Throughout the year, families will participate in At-Church and At-Home Sessions, Family Visits, Mini-Retreats, Cohorts, and Small Groups. There are defined in the next dropdown tab below.
At-Church Family Sessions: Families will meet at the church regularly. While parents gather in small groups, children ages 5–12 will participate in age-based classroom cohorts led by a catechist. Middle and high school students are encouraged to serve as catechist assistants and helpers, and nursery care is available for younger siblings (6months – 5years).
At-Home Family Meetings: Families will receive formation boxes tailored to their assigned track and module. Each box includes prayers, books, crafts, and hands-on activities—everything needed to complete a meaningful session at home each week. These activities are structured to encourage families to intentionally set aside time together for faith growth.
Pathways: A ministry tool that is “an integrated and family-centered formation suite designed to facilitate a personal encounter with the Trinity and sustain a lifelong development of faith.” It was developed by Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries and will be used by our parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, as a key tool in our Family Faith Formation.
Progressive Formation: The initial steps of formation, the proclamation of the kerygma, and a foundational catechesis on the Creed.
Immediate Formation: The preparation for a specific sacrament. It is designed to be experienced right before its reception.
Ongoing Formation: Aids the lifelong development of faith within a family.
Track: A group of modules that make up a family’s Faith Formation content for a year-long period (September-May).
Module: An experience that, when paired with other modules, makes up a track. These experiences are composed of Sessions, Family Meetings, occasional Mini-Series and Mini-Retreats, and cover a stage of either Progressive, Immediate, or Ongoing Formation.
Sessions: At-Church gatherings with separate experiences for parent and child cohorts, and a combined family prayer experience to close Sessions.
Family Meeting: At-Home gatherings that last approximately 30 minutes.
(Family) Visit: A 20-30min meeting, at the church, between each family and a member of the Lead FFF Accompaniment Team. Family Visits occur 3-4 times throughout the year for personal check-in discussions.
Mini-Series: A self-led session for parents at home.
Mini-Retreat: A 3-hour At-Church Session.
Cohort: Grouping of Disciples that is organized by age or grade for Children with a separate grouping for Parents.
Small Group: Parent cohorts are broken into these. They are typically made up of ~8 people.
Martha: A formation management system designed to deliver content, communicate, and manage accountability all in one place.
Our Family Faith Formation is supported by an Accompaniment Team—a group of parish leaders who walk alongside families throughout the year.
Facilitator
Facilitators help lead at-church sessions for parents or teens from the front of room. They are warm, confident in speaking to groups, natural storytellers, comfortable being vulnerable, and have a good sense of humor.
Companion
Companions walk with parents or teens by supporting the sharing that happens in Small Groups during at-church sessions. These people are encouraging, communicative, insightful, and love to draw the best out in others.
Catechist/Assistant Catechist
Catechists walk with children by facilitating learning, playing, and faith sharing with children during at-church sessions. These people are young at heart, flexible, playful, wamr, and able to manage a group.
Helper
Helpers assist Catechists! They may be older youth (middle school and high school) age. They should understand the sessions ahead of time and what is expected of them to ensure a better experience for all.
Nursery
Nursery oversees and cares for the youngest members of our parish community, children ages 6 months – 5 years old.
Hospitality
These individuals help set a warm, inviting, and well-prepared place for families to gather. They are creative, intuitive, have servant hearts, and pay close attention to details.
Intercessor
Intercessors are praying for the families participating in faith formation. These people are constantly talking to Jesus, understand the difficulties facing families, and are able to hold the jpys and needs of others close to their hearts.
Raychel Namiotka
Director of Disciple Formation
703-494-4008 ext. 128
Send Raychel an Email
