This program is for 4 year olds. It isbased on the belief that young children need to develop positive self-concepts.  We provide religious experiences that help children form Christian attitudes about themselves and others, along with enjoyable opportunities and activities to respond with Christian actions. 

Children learn about God and their Catholic Faith. 5 year olds have an innate sense of wonder and awe.  This year provides opportunities to see God in nature, see God through people, and see God through stories and through celebration.  We also want young students to realize God gave us Jesus who came to teach us about God’s love for us.

We belong to Jesus’ Church.  Spend the year discovering God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Conclude that we are all the church and want to live like Jesus.

Keeping with the theme of church, we study Baptism; introduce Reconciliation and then 1^st Communion.  During this year, the Mass is the main focus – Scripture (the Word of God), the gift of 1^st Communion (Jesus dying for us) and how we need to go out into the world and use these gifts to help others.

This year we build on the themes of the Mass, forgiveness and service to others.  The main focus is Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.  Students will be encouraged to learn and understand the beliefs stated in the Apostles Creed.

All of our moral teaching stems from the fact that we learn goodness from God who is the perfect good.  This year students are introduced to the 10 Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the Corporal Works of Mercy.  The Our Father, the Lord’s Prayer, is the underlying theme used to bind all of these new concepts together.

Christian Formation sessions are held in the classrooms of St. Alphonsus School for Grades K4 - 6.  The Christian Formation Program has an office, Room 316, 3^rd floor in the St. Alphonsus School building.  This office is open during Gr. K4 to Gr. 6 sessions on Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening.. During normal work hours, the program Directors have offices on the 2^nd floor of the Parish Ministry Center (PMC).

The mailing address for the Christian Formation Program is:

St. Alphonsus Christian Formation Office

5960 West Loomis Road

Greendale,WI  53129-1824

FAX: 414-421-8744     WEB:www.st-alphonsus.org

CF office telephone in school– When classes are in session,

Sunday and Wednesday, C. F. Phone: 421-0690 ext. 342

Sun8:30-10:30 AM and 6-8 PM; Wed. 6:00-8:00 PM

Regular attendance at classes is presumed. In the event of an absence, please call

the Christian Formation office during office hours, 421-0690, or at the time

classes are in session, 421-0690 ext. 342.

For grades K4 through 6 the child is responsible to complete the work they

For grades 7 through 11 will be required to make-up sessions. 

St. Alphonsus Christian Formation complies with the Milwaukee Archdiocesan Policy #5110, which states: “The parish respects the dignity of the child. Neither race, nationality, nor other forms of discrimination will prevent a child from being accepted in the Catholic school or Religious Education programs.

As is typical of any education program, homework may be assigned. It is most important to discuss with your child what they are learning because if you are interested in what he/she is learning this will provide the necessary carryover from our classroom to your home. Students in Grades K4-6 will bring home a “What We Did Today” sheet. Watch for special leaflets, flyers and information that will be sent home periodically.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee requires us to fill out a legal permission slip for all off-campus activities.  A permission slip will accompany any off-campus event and there is one in the student’s folder to copy and use. Slips must be filled out in advance of any trips and must be returned completely filled out in order for your child(ren) to be able to participate in any scheduled off-campus activity.

Faith development cannot be evaluated through testing. However, it is necessary to determine if the educational process has successfully increased the student's knowledge of the Catholic faith. A final exam covering different concepts will be given in all grades beginning with Grade 1. An exam is included in each student’s folder.

Parents may choose to home school their children. The parish will provide materials for Grades 1 thru 10. Students playing on St. Alphonsus sport teams must also participate in significant community involvement. Tuition responsibility is the same as if the child(ren) were in regular C.F. classes. Upon completion of our exam at the end of the year and the return of the teaching materials, student workbook and finished test, by Palm Sunday, you will receive a $25.00 refund of tuition.

Students who wish to play on St. Alphonsus Volleyball or Basketball team leagues starting in the 5^th grade may do so provided they are registered and participating in the Christian Formation program on a regular basis. Poor attendance or poor behaviors are grounds for not being allowed on a St. Al’s sport team. In order to participate, all athletes will be required to have the “Athletic Eligibility Form”, included in the student folder or available in the C.F. office, signed by your public school guidance counselor and given to the Christian Formation Director before the 1^st game.

The Boy and Girl Scout program both offer special religious awards at different stages of a student’s development.  Whether you belong to a St. Alphonsus organization or a public school one, we can still help you to receive these awards. 

Parents are most welcome to visit classrooms during class time. As a courtesy to the catechist, please arrange the visit with the Director. Children ordinarily are not allowed to bring friends to class. Exceptions are made only with permission from the Director prior to arriving on parish grounds.

We ask parents of students in grades K, 1 and 2 to both bring their children up to the classroom and pick them up afterwards from the classroom afterwards.  Older students may come and go on their own but parents should be aware that it gets dark early and our parking lot is not supervised.  No matter how long Mass runs on Sunday, students do not need to be picked up until the Mass is completely over.

In the event of inclement weather or hazardous driving conditions, an announcement of class cancellation will be made on WISN (1130 AM) and WTMJ (620 AM) or on TV - Channel 12.It is also posted on their websites as well as our website. If St. Alphonsus day school or Greendale schools are closed for weather, Christian Formation classes are automatically closed too. Catechists will also attempt to call students in case of a cancellation.