Our Faith Formation Program (previously known as Religious Education) is a multigenerational family based program where everyone in the family is Growing in Faith Together (GIFT).
GIFT is a wonderful opportunity for families and students, to grow in faith, build community, and journey together in discovering God's love and grace. Whether you're taking the first steps or continuing a lifelong path, we welcome you and your family. Faith Formation takes place at the St Thomas of Villanova Faith Formation Center located at 71 North Street in Goshen CT
Our sessions offer a supportive environment for learning, sharing, and nurturing spiritual growth for all ages. Along the way, you'll find enriching experiences, meaningful connections, and a deeper understanding of our faith.
Our GIFT Program is a family-based Program for grades K through Confirmation where the whole family comes together to learn, experience, and strengthen their Catholic faith. All sacramental classes and Family GIFT sessions will take place in our Faith Formation Center at St Thomas of Villanova Church in Goshen. Family GIFT Sessions meet once a month (October-May) on the FIRST SUNDAY of the month (unless indicated otherwise due to a church holiday). We begin each session and class with the celebration of the Mass at 9:00am followed by our theme-based learning. Sacramental classes meet again for a 2nd class on the 3rd Sunday of each month (unless indicated otherwise due to a church holiday). We also use grade specific Gospel Weeklies as an at home component to our Faith Formation.
Grades K-1st: meet once a month during the Family GIFT Sessions. It is an important gathering for our young ones to help establish their foundation in learning about God, Jesus, the Holy Family, the Saints, Catholic Faith concepts, as well as the prayers to help prepare them for their First Holy Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.
Grades not in a sacramental class: (4th - 7th) also meet once a month during the Family GIFT Sessions. It is important that the children attend the Faith Formation Program every year and not just for the sacraments. Leaders are finding it difficult to prepare students for their sacraments when so many have forgotten, or lost the connection with their faith, or don't have the fundamentals in place. Not to mention that they are not familiar with other students or families within our parish community
Sacramental classes (Communion and Confirmation): ALL Sacramental classes are a two-year preparation program and consist of two classes a month. One class meets during the Family GIFT Session and the other is a stand alone class.
First Communion Classes: The first year begins in 2nd grade with First Reconciliation preparation. The second year focuses on the Sacrament of First Holy Communion and students will receive the sacrament in the Spring of 3rd grade.
Confirmation Classes: Currently, the 1st Year Confirmation Class begins in 8th grade. All students (regardless of grade) start in the 1st year class and then move onto the 2nd Year Confirmation Class. Students will have opportunities to complete service hours and participate in a Parish Mission and Confirmation Retreat.
NOTE: the Archdiocese has changed the requirements for students receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. In the 2026-27 the 1st year confirmation preparation to begin in 7th grade and receive the sacrament in the spring of 8th grade.
The Mass is the center of our Faith, where families come together as a Parish family. It’s where we partake in Jesus’ physical presence in the Eucharist. It’s in the “Breaking of the Bread” that Jesus expresses His great love for us, and we show how much we are thankful and appreciative of that love. That is why the most precious gift you can give your children, after the gift of life, is joining in the celebration of the Mass and the loving presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is important for our young ones, who are not old enough to receive the Eucharist yet, to become familiar with attending Mass on a regular basis and to receive a blessing (by crossing their arms with hands on opposite shoulders) when they accompany their parents to receive communion.
Our goal is to form our children beyond the monthly GIFT Sessions to a greater understanding that can only be achieved through family life that includes prayer, weekly Mass attendance, frequent reception of the sacraments, and service. With your prayer, assistance, and example, we can give our children and families a powerful experience of what it means to be a Catholic Community and living signs of Jesus’ presence in our world.
We look forward to welcoming you to our faith community and walking this journey together.
Below is a copy of our Faith Formation Requirements and 2025-26 Calendar. Please click on the photo or the words below to be directed to our Faith Formation Requirements and 2025-26 Calendar PDF that is easy to print.
REGISTRATION Families that were in our GIFT Program and those who reached out to us via Bulletin and Church announcements, have been emailed the registration form. For those who did not reiceve a registration form or would like to register, please use the following link: 2025-26 Registration Form PDF We ask that you fill it out and return to us ASAP so that we can assign classrooms and order class materials.
