Our Faith | Learning and Living as a Catholic

 

Holy Cross Faith Formation | Children, Young Adults and Adults

Fr. Pius introduced Kiersten Abernathy-Brown as our new Director of Religious Education at Holy Cross during Mass in March 2024. Click the image to hear her acceptance message.


Parish volunteers serve as catechists in our Faith Formation program. All complete Safe Environment Training required by the Diocese of Raleigh, and receive teaching materials for the grade level that their student group's grade level. Catechists are also asked to serve as chaperones for the annual Faith Formation Field Trip, which in the past has been to an amusement park.


Children who are age 7 before June 11 (and those who are older but have not yet received these sacraments) are invited to participate in our faith formation and sacramental preparation classes. Class sessions are held in the Parish Hall and other spaces office after the 10 AM Sunday Mass.


For more information, send an email message to our Director of Religious Education: Kiersten Abernathy-Brown. . Registration information will be posted here when it is available.


Include your child's name, age and grade in school, and name, address and phone number of the child's parent or guardian.


Details regarding our 2025 First Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation class will be posted here and to our parish's News Blog when available, and will be distributed to the parish via our Faith Formation Flocknote group.


Have questions now or an interest in helping our faith formation program as a catechist or a volunteer? Send a message to Kiersten at: faithformation@holycrossdurham.org.


Children who are age 7 before June 11 (and those who are older but have not yet received these sacraments) are invited to participate in our faith formation and sacramental preparation classes. Quick notes about Faith Formation at Holy Cross



  • Classes are held at the parish following the 10 AM Mass.



Details regarding our 2025 First Communion class will be posted here and to our parish's News Blog when available, and will be distributed to the parish via our Faith Formation Flocknote group.

Have questions now or an interest in helping our faith formation program as a catechist or a volunteer? Send a message to Kiersten at: faithformation@holycrossdurham.org.


For information about youth faith formation at Holy Cross or to register your child for classes, send an email message to our Director of Religious Education: Kiersten Abernathy-Brown.

  • Include the child's name, age and grade in school, and name, address and phone number of the child's parent or guardian.

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For Children (initial sacraments)

Children who are age 7 before June 11 (and those who are older but have not yet received these sacraments) are invited to participate in our faith formation (including sacramental preparation) classes. The classes follow the academic school year: fall through spring. Classes are held at Holy Cross following the 10 AM Sunday Mass. 


Details regarding our 2025 Faith Formation program will be posted here as they become available and to our parish's News Blog , and distributed to the parish via our Faith Formation Flocknote group. Parent are invited to sign up for the Faith Formation group in our Flocknote network, to receive updates.


Have questions now or an interest in helping our faith formation program as a catechist or a volunteer? Click to send a message to Kiersten t: faithformation@holycrossdurham.org.


Children's Mass is on the second Sunday of each month during the academic school year. At this Mass, young children are asked to sit in the front pew of the church, on the right; older children are asked to serve as lector and usher.


  • Our 2025 Confirmation Class received the sacrament during our 10 AM Mass on Sunday, April 14.
  • Our First Communion class received  the sacrament during our 10 AM Mass on Sunday, May 5, 2024.


The parish typically provides an 'end of school year' outing for our children. Most recently, we went to King's Dominion.

Details for the current year will be sent to parents when they are available.


Youth Sacramental Preparation


Have questions about faith formation at Holy Cross?

Send an email message to our director of religious education, Kiersten Abernathy-Brown, at faith.formation@hcdnc.org.


Our 2025 First Communion class received the sacrament during our 10 AM Mass on Sunday, May 5, 2024.


2025 First Reconciliation and First Communion

  • Children who are age 7 before June 11 (and those who are older but have not yet received these sacraments are invited to prepare to receive these sacraments.
  • Details regarding our 2025 First Communion preparation will be posted here and to our parish's News Blog when available, and will be distributed to the parish via our Faith Formation Flocknote group. resource, from faithformation@holycrossdurham.org.


2025 Confirmation Preparation:  Details for our 2025 Confirmation program will be posted here as they become available, and distributed to the parish via our Flocnote network. In 2024, Holy Cross students prepared for Confirmation by attending weekly classes after the 10 AM Sunday Mass and participated in a retreat with students from other parishes. Confirmation students also are required to complete one or more service projects. In Spring 2024, they helped to prepare the parish's Sharing Garden for the 2024-25 garden seasn.

  • Children's Mass is on the second Sunday of each month. At this Mass, young children are asked to sit in the front pew of the church, on the right; older children are asked to serve as lector and usher.

  • Online video content: OSV Kids  and the children's section in our FORMED, an online faith formation resource with content for all ages.

 

Youth Ministry Preparation | Alter Servers

Children who have received the sacrament of Reconciliation and Holy Communion will be given instruction that prepares them for the joyful and honorable experience of being an altar server.


Youth Ministry Preparation | Lector and Usher Preparation

Our older students are invited to serve as lectors and ushers. This is a wonderful way for our youth to participate in the Mass and gain a deeper understanding about all the various parts of the Mass and service to others. All youth are encouraged to participate in liturgical ministry roles on the second Sunday of the month, our Youth Mass.

Adult Newcomers to Catholicism and Ongoing Adult Formation

 

If you are new to Catholicism, we invite you to click the links at the images below for introductions to what we believe and to learn about the Catholic Church today. If you are interested in learning more, send a message to our faith formation director, Kiersten Brown, at this address: faith.formation@hcdnc.org or reach out to Deacon Phil Rzewnicki, OFS.

 


  • Online video content: OSV Kids  and the children's section in FORMED, mentioned above.

 

Adult Faith Formation

 


  • RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is for those 18 and older who are interested in starting (or continuing) their journey to join the Catholic Church. Contact: Deacon Phil Rzewnicki, OFS

  • Book Clubs and Seasonal Programs are held throughout the year. Check our Featured Events Calendar for a listing of upcoming events. You can also sign up to participate in our events at our Flocknote account. Click here  or on the little blue lamb icon at the bottom right corner of our website home page.  Once in Flocknote, you can see our list of ministries as well as upcoming events. If you see something that interests you, click to sign up. You can also read the latest Flocknote messages in the Flocknote News Feed on the home page of our website.
  • Explore resources in our FORMED account. At Our Sunday Visitor, explore the extensive catalog of video lectures and movies on a Catholic topics. 

 


Living as a Catholic includes many wonderful beliefs, practices, and devotions — too many to catalog here. We offer here a brief overview of what we believe and how we live that belief, a resource for both non-Catholics interested in exploring Catholicism, as well as those who are Catholic seeking to deepen the understanding and practice of their faith. We invite you to explore information at the following links:

 


A Message from our Pastor & DRE


We appeal to you, to join us in encouraging your child to serve in some way and to support their participation. This is a great opportunity to begin experiencing “the living of their faith through service” to the church family. They will have another opportunity for living out their faith in the broader community by volunteering at one of the Catholic charities in the Raleigh/Durham area.


We are grateful for your sincere support in the important development of your child(ren)’s faith and we look forward to seeing you soon!


Blessings,

Rev. Pius Wekesa, Pastor, and Kiersten Abernathy-Brown, Director of Faith Formation at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Durham, NC. | Watch for opportunities promoted via our Flocknote network. There's a link to that at the home page of our website.


Safe Environment

In accordance with the Diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection, our parish has a Safe Environment Team. The team coordinates the training for all the Catechesis/Faith Formation volunteers that may come in contact with your child(ren) on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. A background check is also conducted as required clearance of all volunteers working with our children.


Faith Formation Registration

The registration fee for classes is $20.00 per child. The fee is requested to help defray the cost of curriculum materials, supplies and other learning resources for our students. All children are welcome regardless of whether you can afford the registration fee. You may drop your registration forms and payment in the collection basket in a sealed envelope marked Faith Formation, drop off at the church office, or mail to Holy Cross Church,  2438 S. Alston Avenue, Durham, NC, 27713


 A copy of each child’s baptismal certificate is required for our records, if this sacrament was administered at another parish.


Parental Participation

Parents are the primary and the best influence in their children’s faith-growth and in their religious and moral development. Attending Sunday Mass is part of your child’s faith development and an essential requirement if they are in a sacramental class. Parents of youth in the sacramental classes are expected to attend the workshops necessary for the preparation of these sacraments. You will be informed of the dates of these workshops in advance. 


It is requested that the parents walk children to class, stay with them until their catechist arrives and pick them up promptly at 12:30 PM.


We are grateful for your sincere support in the important development of your child(ren)’s faith and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Blessings,

Rev. Pius Wekesa, Pastor

Kiersten Abernathy-Brown, Director of Faith Formation

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