St Teresa of Avila Parish is a welcoming Catholic Church that has been serving the Summit community for over 160 years.
St Teresa of Avila's Children’s Ministry Programming offers a variety of experiences for families in the parish with elementary-age students. We believe that elementary-age children learn and form faith best when parents are directly involved in the process.
Learn about our
Program Offerings
Infant - 9 years old
Belong invites families into the journey of being welcomed into the Church as children of God. With monthly preparation small groups and community bonding, families seeking to have their child baptized come to share in the community and find their ways to belong.
Grades K-1
The Faith FX program engages families in thematic core faith insights through interactive lessons, activities, service, and prayer experiences once a month.
Grades 2-4
The Communion Preparation Program for 2nd to 4th graders who have not received the Eucharist. Children and their parents gather to learn about and prepare to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and Holy Communion through engaging class activities, discussions, and a retreat. Learn more here.
Grades 3-5
QUEST is offered each month for our students. Styled in small group fashion, rather than the classroom model, these sessions provide children with an opportunity to deepen their faith and learn about key pillars of our Catholic life. Each month, the children go on a QUEST— a mission to grow closer to God through hands-on activities, games, bible study, discussions, and service projects.
FF in the School
Sister Veronica, a member of our FF team connects our parish Faith Formation program with the classrooms of St Teresa of Avila Preschool. Sister makes monthly visits and leads enriching, faith lessons designed for the students enrolled in the Year-to-Grow and Kindergarten programs.Age-appropriate stories, songs, crafts, and interactive discussions are all part of these special faith-filled sessions.
To learn more about the school, visit www.stteresaofavilaschool.org/
Guiding Tiny Souls:
Sharing Faith with Young Children
Sharing the Catholic faith with young children is both a joy and a sacred responsibility we’re called to embrace both in and out of Church settings. At this early stage of life, children are naturally open to love, wonder, and trust. This makes it a beautiful time to introduce them to God’s presence and the richness of our Catholic faith.
Through simple prayers, songs, Bible stories, and daily routines, children begin to understand that they are deeply loved by God. When we introduce them to Jesus as their friend and guide, they begin to develop their own sense of faith. As parents and faith formation mentors, we can help young hearts grow familiar with meaningful practices such as making the Sign of the Cross, offering short prayers, and showing reverence during quiet moments through our own lived faith examples. These small experiences plant the seeds of a lifelong relationship with Christ.
Our faith also shapes how children treat one another. As they learn about Jesus’ love, they are encouraged to practice kindness, forgiveness, patience, and care for others. We see these values reflected in their friendships and daily interactions, helping them grow in empathy and compassion.
In our classroom, faith is not only something we teach—it is something we live together. It becomes a foundation that supports children’s emotional well-being, strengthens their sense of belonging, and gently guides them as they grow. But the growth doesn’t end in our classroom–it continues at home, too!
Parents play the most important role in nurturing their child’s faith.This beautiful work can continue at home when families:
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Pray together daily: A short morning or bedtime prayer helps children develop a habit of talking to God.
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Practice the Sign of the Cross: Encourage your child to use it before meals, at bedtime, or when beginning the day.
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Read Bible stories: Choose simple, age-appropriate stories about Jesus and talk about His love and actions.
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Attend Mass as a family: Even if children don’t understand everything, their presence helps them grow familiar with the rhythms of the Church.
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Celebrate the liturgical seasons: Mark special times like Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter with simple traditions at home.
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Model faith in action: Children learn most by example—showing kindness, forgiveness, and gratitude teaches them how to live their faith.
Together, we are planting seeds of faith that, with God’s grace, will continue to grow throughout your child’s life. As we continue this shared mission of forming young hearts in faith, the partnership and support fostered between the parish and the home will help these little hearts grow more in faith and love for God.
- Sr Veronica
First Communion
Preparation Program
Knowing | Growing | Living
ENCOUNTER provides families and children with sacramental preparation experiences for First Communion that aims to prepare children and their families for the momentous encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist.
Incorporating our 3 Goals, KNOWING (being informed through hands-on learning), GROWING (being formed through faith experiences), and LIVING (being transformed through faith in action), ENCOUNTER offers families the opportunities to learn, understand, and participate in the sacrament with open and ready hearts.
Monthly Sessions
GOAL: Knowing
ENCOUNTER learning are monthly sessions for first communicants and their parents to participate in as they learn about our faith in preparation to receive the sacrament. Each month, families attend a small group session that will help them to learn, discuss, and participate in activities that help them to see and grow in Christ.
Engagement in these sessions will ensure that children receive the catechesis necessary for preparation for their First Reconciliation and First Communion. Regular attendance is necessary!
Accompany Nights
GOAL: Living & Growing
Accompany Nights are in-person prayer and learning experiences that help our children and families connect to God and to one another. These gatherings help our First Communion families have moments to pray together and grow deeper in our faith.
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The Teaching Mass offers our First Communion families an opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist while learning about the importance and parts of the Mass in a hands on way experience.
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The Teaching Adoration is an opportunity for families to experience the Blessed Sacrament and learn about the significance of the Real Presence.
First Reconciliation
The ENCOUNTER program prepares our children to welcome the opportunity for God's mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation as we’ll meet Jesus in the Eucharist. Throughout the ENCOUNTER Learning sessions, children and their families will explore sacramental forgiveness and learn about God's unconditional love. The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered to families during the Lenten season a few months ahead of the children making First Communion.
First Communion
Family Retreat
GOAL: Living & Growing
The retreat experience is an important part of sacramental preparation for both children and families. This retreat allows families preparing for First Communion a chance to come away from daily activities and spend time with Jesus; as well as a chance to be in community to celebrate this special time in the lives of our children.
Happening a few weeks ahead of the First Communion Masses, this experience will take place on a Saturday morning in the Spring and involve prayer experiences, learning about the Eucharist, exploring the Church, and preparing for the sacramental celebration.