Emmaus: A Family of Faith

Our Pastorate 19 Community (parishes of St. Bernard in Middleton, St. Francis Xavier in Cross Plains, St. Mary in Pine Bluff, St. Martin in Martinsville and St. Peter in Ashton) will now all be moving to a family-based model of religious education or faith formation. 

If you've been at St. Bernard's the last two years or St. Peter's the last three years, the model remains the same as you know it. 

The family-based model is part of our effort to better support parents as the primary educators, especially in religious education, of their children.*

All religious education will be led by parents and supported by the parish. We will host a monthly "Emmaus: A Family of Faith" event in which all families (parents and children) come together to learn and pray.

Parents will then lead two lessons for their children in the home during the remainder of the month. There will also be optional social and community building activities.  

Your children may eventually ask you some difficult questions! Even if you are unsure of everything or not confident in your knowledge of the faith, you are perfectly suited to teach your children our faith! 

We will do everything possible to help you! Answering a personal or tough question with an honest, "I am not sure, but let me get back to you" is a perfect way to share with your children that we are all learning and growing in faith together! Your children do not want you to be a know-it-all. They want you to be honest and open as we allow Jesus Christ to transform our very lives!

* paraphrase of Gaudium et Spes 48

When you register, you'll have the option to choose from Sunday mornings at St. Peter's or Wednesday evenings at St. Bernard's. These will take place once a month from September - May.

Upcoming Dates:

• Sunday, December 17 OR Wednesday, December 20​​​​
• Sunday, January 14 OR Wednesday, January 17
• Sunday, February 18 OR Wednesday, February 21
• Sunday, March 17 OR Wednesday, March 20

Download our full schedule here

We know that this is a big ask for some families. In our parish plan aligned with the Diocese of Madison's "Go Make Diciples" intiative, we are striving to Reclaim Sunday as a holy, family day. It will be up to each family to prioritize faith formation but we are hoping that extra-curricular events and sports will be understanding of a religious need to miss practice two or maybe three times over the whole season.

Sacramental preparation will remain relatively similar to previous years. It has always been above and beyond standard religious education and those preparing for First Reconciliation/First Communion and Confirmation will receive schedules for specific formation events and classes.  First Reconciliation/Communion typically takes place in second grade.  Confirmation preparation typically begins in fall of ninth grade with students being confirmed fall of 10th grade. PLEASE NOTE: The Diocese of Madison asks that anyone coming for sacrament preparation must be enrolled and attending standard religious education at least ONE YEAR PRIOR to the year that they prepare for the sacraments.