Catholic Faith Formation & Sacrament Preparation
Our Mission
The Catholic Faith Formation program at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish will provide adults, youth and children knowledge of our catholic teachings to help grow and form disciples of Jesus. We will encourage to live in communion and participate as active members of our church until thy kingdom come.
2025-2026 Classes
Pre-K 3 & 4 and Kinder - Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 PM
1st - 6th - Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 PM
6th - 8th - Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:30 PM
High School - Wednesdays 7:00-8:30 PM
Sacrament Prep - 1st Sunday of the Month 8:30 - 11:00 AM
2025-2026 Registration
Returning Learners & Adults - Online Registration: May 19 - June 27, 2025 (View links below) / Fee $25 (Paid in person)
In-Person Registration (For All): July 21 - August 27, 2025 / Fee $35
Late In-Person Registration: September 29 - October 8, 2025 / Fee $45
Monday - Wednesday between 1:00 - 6:00 PM
ORIENTATION & MEET THE CATECHIST - Sept. 10, 2025 at 6:30 PM in the PARISH HALL
Classes begin Sept. 16th & 17th
2025-2026 Registration Payment Choices
Office: You may stop by the Catholic Faith Formation Office Monday - Wednesday from 1:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. to pay in person.
By Mail: Please list the names of all children and adults registered and their grades on a separate piece of paper. Make Check payable to Our Lady of Perpetual Help on the memo write CFF Registration and Address the envelope to
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Catholic Faith Formation
2209 Kendlewood Ave.
McAllen, TX 78501
Retreats within our Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
2025 Summer Lock-in
Christian Community - Life Formation 1 Fall Retreat
Christian Community - Life Formation 1 Fall Retreat
Faith-Hope-Chairty: 2025 Summer Lock-in
Aug. 2, 2025 from 4:30 PM - 1:00 AM on Aug. 3, 2025
Location: OLPH Parish Hall
Cost: $20.00
6th - 12th Grade
Christian Community - Life Formation 1 Fall Retreat
Christian Community - Life Formation 1 Fall Retreat
Christian Community - Life Formation 1 Fall Retreat
This mini retreat is one of two retreats our young disciples who are in their first year of Confirmation Prep have to complete. The fall mini focuses on the importance of having a Christian community.
Date: Nov. 8, 2025
Time: 1:00 - 6:00 PM
Location: OLPH Parish Hall
Cost: $20.00
Confirmation Weekend Retreat
Christian Community - Life Formation 1 Fall Retreat
Best! Gift! Ever! - A Family Retreat to Prepare for Holy Communion
Our Confirmation Weekend Retreat
Date: Jan. 30 - February 1, 2026
Location: Rio Grande Benedictine Monastery
Cost: $125
Deadline to Register: Dec. 31, 2025
Best! Gift! Ever! - A Family Retreat to Prepare for Holy Communion
Best! Gift! Ever! - A Family Retreat to Prepare for Holy Communion
Best! Gift! Ever! - A Family Retreat to Prepare for Holy Communion
This retreat is for children and teens in immediate preparation for their First Holy Communion and their parents.
Date: Feb. 28, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: OLPH Parish Hall
Cost: $40.00
Deadline to Register: Feb. 10, 2026
Face the Challenge: Catholic Boot Camp
Best! Gift! Ever! - A Family Retreat to Prepare for Holy Communion
Faces & Masks - Life Formation 1 Spring Retreat
This retreat is more of a boot camp. Open to Middle and High School young disciples.
* We were created out of love to love.
* Our choices affect those around us.
* Learn how to put on the armor of God to face your everyday challenges.
Date: March 19-22, 2026
Location: OLPH Parish Grounds
Cost: $75.00
Deadline to Register: March 1, 2026
Mandatory Parent & Participant Meeting:
March 8, 2026
Faces & Masks - Life Formation 1 Spring Retreat
Best! Gift! Ever! - A Family Retreat to Prepare for Holy Communion
Faces & Masks - Life Formation 1 Spring Retreat
This mini retreat is the second retreat our young disciples, who are in their first year of Confirmation Prep, have to complete. The Spring mini retreat focuses on the different Faces and Masks we wear and how Jesus sees through them.
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 1:00 - 6:00 PM
Location: OLPH Parish Hall
Cost: $20.00
Mercy & Grace - A Family Retreat to Prepare for Reconciliation
Mercy & Grace - A Family Retreat to Prepare for Reconciliation
Mercy & Grace - A Family Retreat to Prepare for Reconciliation
This retreat is for children and teens in immediate preparation for their First Reconciliation and their parents.
Date: May 2, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: OLPH Parish Hall
Cost: $40.00
Deadline to Register: April 14, 2026
Remind App is a must
To participate, simply text the number 81010 with the message ________ (child's class code). Find your child's class code below:
Faith Formation Learners
Tuesday CFF - @tcffolph
Wednesday CFF - @wcffolph
Learners in their second year in faith formation classes in immediate preparation for the sacrament of Reconciliation/1st Confession.
Reconciliation - @reconolph
Learners in their third year of fait
Para participar, simplemente envíe un mensaje de texto al número 81010 con el mensaje ________ (código de clase del niño). Encuentre el código de la clase de su hijo a continuación:
Estudiantes de formación en la fe
Martes CFF - @tcffolph
Miércoles CFF - @wcffolph
Alumnos en su segundo año en clases de formación en la fe en preparación inmediata para el sacramento de la Reconciliación / Primera Confes
COVENANT COMMITMENT FORM
As a Catholic worshipping community of faith here at Saint Joseph Church, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on a weekly (not weakly) basis is the "source and summit" of our faith (Lumen Gentium 36). Because of this truth, participation in the holy Mass is the central requirement of being part of our Faith Formation Program (this includes the parents and children as a family).
If the essence of our Catholic Faith is found in the Eucharist, it then makes logical sense that being a regular and weekly part of this celebration is a requirement not only to being part of our Faith Formation Program, but in being a faithful and "practicing" Catholic. While we understand that people work many different hours and even for some, more than one job, that is why we offer a range of difference Mass times from evening Masses on Saturday to morning and afternoon Masses on Sunday to accommodate your varied schedules.
As parents/guardians, you have been entrusted with the first obligation (which you made at the baptism of your child/ren) of assuring your child is "raised in a catholic home and according to the catholic faith." The basic kernal of this "catholic" faith means coming to church!
The obligation of attending Mass (or keeping holy the Sabbath), comes to us from God the Father on Mount Sinai in the Fourth Commandment given to Moses:
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy" (Exodus 20:8-11).
Therefore, the requirement of coming to Mass or "keeping holy the Sabbath" is part of God's Divine Law, NOT that of a particular church or even a particular priest.
We welcome each and every family to the "Table of the Lord" where "All Are Welcome" and encourage you to make this an important part of your weekly schedule. We are firm believers in the old cliche that "The family which prays together, stays together." Come join our family of faith as we celebrate the Lord's love for us in the Eucharist, where we are fed by the Lord Himself, build up each other in our faith and nourish the hungry hearts of our children for the love of God in their lives.
Jesus told us that "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you do not have life within you" (John 6:53) and many found this to be a "hard saying" (John 6:60) and "walked with Him no longer" (John 6:66) [interesting number do you not think?] And so it is with our Faith Formation Program here at Saint Joseph Church. If you choose this requirement of coming to Mass on a weekly basis to be a "hard saying" then in love, we will have to allow you to "walk with (us) no longer."
We pray that you embrace your faith, you take on the challenge and you accept and agree to this "Covenant Commitment" with the Lord, with your local church here in Newton and most importantly, with your child/ren.
First Confession (Reconciliation) Facts
Reconciliation Covenant Commitment Form
First Holy Communion Facts
First Holy Communion Covenant Commitment Form
Confirmation History & Facts
Confirmation Covenant Commitment Form
For parents
for Catechists