Youth & Families

At Holy Cross, we desire to provide a welcoming, nurturing, and safe environment for our youth and their families. Through programs, events, and activities our hope is to foster fellowship, cultivate camaraderie, and help you and your family grow in your faith. Some of those programs include Faith Formation, Youth Discipleship Groups, and Safe Environment training. Events throughout the year include festivities like our Fall Festival, Breakfast with Santa, and Parish Picnic. We are also committed to preparing our young people for the Sacraments, so that they may fully appreciate and participate in the tangible signs of God’s grace instituted by Jesus.

Sacramental Prep

First Penance & First Eucharist

Preparation for First Penance and First Eucharist is a complementary process usually during a child’s second grade year. Learn more.

Confirmation

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation takes place over the course of sophomore year of high school. Learn more.

Faith Formation

Holy Cross offers a Faith Formation program for youth from first to twelfth grade. We strive to provide a program that is both fun and interactive for our students. Classroom style activities help form the intellect of our young people. (St. Augustine said, “You cannot love what you do not know.”) We also keep it fun and engaging by introducing exciting games, amazing entertainment, and positive relationships to help move our young people to a personal encounter with God.

Faith Formation 2024-2025

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for Faith Formation for the 2024-2025 school year. Faith Formation classes are available for students in grades 1-12 and take place one day a week before school and include breakfast and busing to schools in JD Central School District.

Class Schedule

Program	Day	Time
High School (Grades 9-12)	Tuesdays	6:45 - 7:40 AM
Middle School (Grades 5-8)	Wednesdays	6:45 - 7:40 AM
Elementary (Grades 1-4)	Thursdays	7:45 - 8:45 AM
*Classes begin September 2024

Calendar

The Faith Formation calendar for the 2024-2025 academic year is available here.

Parent Volunteers

We're always looking for parent volunteers! Greeters, teachers, clean up crew, and hall monitors are just a few ways we could use your help. If you're interested in learning more or would like to volunteer, contact Steve (steve@holycrossdewitt.org) or Julie (julie@holycrossdewitt.org).

All volunteers must complete a background check and the Diocesan Safe Environment training before volunteering.

Transportation

Holy Cross partners with the J-D Transportation Office to provide busing from Faith Formation class at Holy Cross Church to J-D Central School District schools. At morning drop-off, we ask that elementary parents bring their child into the building to make sure they are checked-in. Greeters are available in the front circle to welcome students into the building. At the dismissal of Faith Formation classes, our adult volunteers will ensure each student gets on the appropriate bus to make it to school on time.

If your child is not a student in JDCSD, let us know and we’ll work with you to come up with alternative transportation. Email Steve (steve@holycrossdewitt.org) or Julie (julie@holycrossdewitt.org) if you need assistance.

Registration Info

Registration for Faith Formation 2024-2025 is now open. Use the button below to open the registration form.

The Faith Formation program fee is $65 per student. Program fees help offset program costs like food, transporation, supplies, activities, and materials. No one will be excluded from participating due to finances. If you are in need of financial aid, please don't hesitate to reach out. Contact us using this form
If you have a question about registering for Faith Formation, please contact Julie Sheridan (Grades 1-4) at julie@holycrossdewitt.org or Steve Nepil (Grades 5-12) at steve@holycrossdewitt.org.
Each student registered before June 1 will get a free house shirt!
Please fill out a separate registration form for each student who needs to register.

Register Here

Youth Ministry

High School Discipleship & Middle School Youth Group

Our discipleship groups are ordered toward moving our young people to the depths of the Faith. Using events that are relaxed and welcoming (including games, talks, and small groups), youth discipleship builds on the intellectual foundation received in Faith Formation to bring teens to a personal encounter with the God who loves them profoundly. Youth discipleship groups for middle school and high school students are held bi-weekly on Thursday evenings (7-8:30 PM) throughout the school year and also include some fun events and trips.

To get connected with our Discipleship and Youth Groups, contact Steve Nepil at steve@holycrossdewitt.org

Family Fun

Houses of Holy Cross

One way we’ve infused camaraderie and excitement into our program is by developing a house system. To build unity across all of our many programs and ministries, every student is placed in one of the four Houses of Holy Cross. Each house is based on one of the four traditional images of the Gospels: angel, lion, ox, and eagle. These images first find their expression in the Old Testament prophecies of Ezekiel and again later in the New Testament book of Revelation. They are described as the same four living creatures surrounding the Throne of God. It was the Early Church Fathers who recognized and first attributed these living creatures to the Gospel writers – Matthew (angel), Mark (lion), Luke (ox) & John (eagle). At the beginning of the year, students are placed in one of these houses and receive a t-shirt. Throughout the year, house competitions (Olympics) are held and house points are awarded. Points are also awarded for acts of service and special achievements. At the end of the year house points are tallied and our House Cup winner is announced. Our hope is that no matter what program or activities your student is involved in at Holy Cross whether faith formation, sacramental prep, youth ministry, or Holy Cross School, he or she has a place to belong and have fun. If you would like more information or to get your child connected, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Contact

Julie Sheridan

julie@holycrossdewitt.org

Julie is Director of Faith Formation (Grades 1-4), Coordinator of Sacramental Prep for First Penance and First Eucharist, and Safe Environment Coordinator.

Steve Nepil

steve@holycrossdewitt.org

Steve is Director of Faith Formation (Grades 5-12), Youth Minister, and coordinator of Sacramental Prep for Confirmation.