Welcome!
If you are…
If you are…
- A parent or guardian looking to register a child/children in your household for faith formation, religious education, Sunday school, CCD, Church school, or any of the other terms we’ve used over the years to describe learning about our faith
- An adult interested in faith formation and enrichment opportunities for yourself
- Anyone seeking enjoyable occasions to meaningfully engage our parish community
Generations of Faith: Enriching, Engaging, Educating All Ages
Our Vision: Generations of Faith embraces a vision of lifelong faith formation for our community.
Here at St. Matthew’s, our faith formation program is designed to educate, engage and enrich all ages.
Wherever you are in your faith journey – just starting out or seasoned and still searching for God everyday – our program welcomes everyone to learn, grow and live in faith together. All are welcome!
GOF shifts the focus...
...from children learning in isolation to an intergenerational model of faith formation for all ages: children and adults learning and growing in faith across the generations.
...from "drop off and pick up" to active participation of the whole family in faith learning.
...from "graduation" from religion class to lifelong and continuous formation.
...from faith formation as a separate program to a holistic and integrated approach that involves the whole parish.
Our Vision: Generations of Faith embraces a vision of lifelong faith formation for our community.
Here at St. Matthew’s, our faith formation program is designed to educate, engage and enrich all ages.
Wherever you are in your faith journey – just starting out or seasoned and still searching for God everyday – our program welcomes everyone to learn, grow and live in faith together. All are welcome!
GOF shifts the focus...
...from children learning in isolation to an intergenerational model of faith formation for all ages: children and adults learning and growing in faith across the generations.
...from "drop off and pick up" to active participation of the whole family in faith learning.
...from "graduation" from religion class to lifelong and continuous formation.
...from faith formation as a separate program to a holistic and integrated approach that involves the whole parish.
JUNE 2021 UPDATE: We are thrilled and so very grateful to have completed the 2020-2021 GOF year in good health and good spirits! Our deepest thanks to our GOF team and households - your support, flexibility and faith made this a graced year of living, learning and growing in faith together. Thank you! We are busily planning for the 2021-2022 faith formation year. Please stay tuned for updates.
Generations of Faith 2020-2021:
For the safety and well-being of all, we are adapting our GOF program model for this year. Our current plans are based on governmental and diocesan regulations and they could change if these regulations change. After a ton of research, creativity and hard work, we are really excited about what we will offer this year: the opportunity to engage in a powerful learning experience, grow deeply in faith, have lots of fun, and stay safe.
No plan is perfect. It is our hope and prayer that what we offer is as welcoming and safe as possible ... is fulfilling for all participants ... creates new traditions in a tough time ... and above all: stays true to our vision of educating, engaging and enriching all ages as we learn, grow and live in faith together. Our deepest gratitude to the amazing members of our GOF planning team, who are working tirelessly to make all of this happen!
We are super jazzed about our 2020-2021 GOF theme: Living the Good News: How Reading the Bible as a Church Guides our Journey of Faith. Visit the "GOF 2020-2021 theme" page on our website to learn more.
This year we are offering two options for participating in GOF:
We've compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you make the most informed decision about participating in GOF this year. Visit the "Generations of Faith 2020-2021 FAQ's" page on our GOF website to learn more about GOF 2020-2021.
How to register for GOF 2020-2021: Registration will take place as a two-part process. First you will fill out our online registration form below. If you have chosen the onsite option, you will then receive an email with directions for signing up for the cohort of your choice. If you have chosen the virtual option, we will follow up with you to provide you with the information you need to access each month's virtual gathering space. Here is the link to register for GOF 2020-2021:
Schedule for GOF 2020-2021
Questions? Please contact us at 518-765-2805 / stmatthewsfaithdevelopment@verizon.net
Generations of Faith 2020-2021:
For the safety and well-being of all, we are adapting our GOF program model for this year. Our current plans are based on governmental and diocesan regulations and they could change if these regulations change. After a ton of research, creativity and hard work, we are really excited about what we will offer this year: the opportunity to engage in a powerful learning experience, grow deeply in faith, have lots of fun, and stay safe.
No plan is perfect. It is our hope and prayer that what we offer is as welcoming and safe as possible ... is fulfilling for all participants ... creates new traditions in a tough time ... and above all: stays true to our vision of educating, engaging and enriching all ages as we learn, grow and live in faith together. Our deepest gratitude to the amazing members of our GOF planning team, who are working tirelessly to make all of this happen!
We are super jazzed about our 2020-2021 GOF theme: Living the Good News: How Reading the Bible as a Church Guides our Journey of Faith. Visit the "GOF 2020-2021 theme" page on our website to learn more.
This year we are offering two options for participating in GOF:
- Option #1 - Onsite: For obvious reasons, right now we are unable to gather for GOF as we usually do: in large groups of 100-150 that begin with a big family-style meal. But we can still gather together onsite as long as we follow the "three S rule": Sensible, Safe, Small. If you choose the onsite GOF option, your household will participate in monthly gatherings in small groups of up to 10-12 households. Once these cohorts are formed, you and the other households in your group will meet once a month in our Social Hall at your group's designated time, w/social distancing and other safety measures in place. (Please visit our FAQ's page for more details.
- Option #2 - Virtual: Each month we will also offer a virtual gathering space for families who prefer to participate in GOF remotely due to health and safety concerns. (Please visit our FAQ's page for more details.)
We've compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you make the most informed decision about participating in GOF this year. Visit the "Generations of Faith 2020-2021 FAQ's" page on our GOF website to learn more about GOF 2020-2021.
How to register for GOF 2020-2021: Registration will take place as a two-part process. First you will fill out our online registration form below. If you have chosen the onsite option, you will then receive an email with directions for signing up for the cohort of your choice. If you have chosen the virtual option, we will follow up with you to provide you with the information you need to access each month's virtual gathering space. Here is the link to register for GOF 2020-2021:
- Update: Registration is now closed for the 2020-2021 year.
Schedule for GOF 2020-2021
- October: weekend of October 17 & 18
- November: weekend of November 14 & 15
- December: weekend of December 12 & 13
- January: weekend of January 16 & 17
- February: weekend of February 6 & 7
- March: weekend of March 20 & 21
- April: weekend of April 17 & 18
- May: weekend of May 15 & 16
- June: weekend of June 12 & 13
Questions? Please contact us at 518-765-2805 / stmatthewsfaithdevelopment@verizon.net
We Bring Your Love
Loving God,
Help us
to focus on what we have,
not on what is removed or changed.
Strengthen us
when we feel discouraged
or overwhelmed.
Embrace us
so that us we know your loving presence
within us and among us.
Walk with us
as we bring your love,
and carry your light,
into our world.
Amen.
- Sandra Lucas, MDiv., BCC
Loving God,
Help us
to focus on what we have,
not on what is removed or changed.
Strengthen us
when we feel discouraged
or overwhelmed.
Embrace us
so that us we know your loving presence
within us and among us.
Walk with us
as we bring your love,
and carry your light,
into our world.
Amen.
- Sandra Lucas, MDiv., BCC
A Coronavirus Prayer
Loving God,
Your desire is for our wholeness and well being.
We hold in tenderness and prayer the collective suffering of our world at this time.
We grieve precious lives lost and vulnerable lives threatened.
We ache for ourselves and our neighbors, standing before an uncertain future.
We pray: may love, not fear, go viral.
Inspire our leaders to discern and choose wisely, aligned with the common good.
Help us to practice social distancing and reveal to us new and creative ways to come together in spirit and in solidarity.
Call us to profound trust in your faithful presence,
You, the God who does not abandon.
-Sister Christine Koelhoffer, IHM
View more Prayers during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Loving God,
Your desire is for our wholeness and well being.
We hold in tenderness and prayer the collective suffering of our world at this time.
We grieve precious lives lost and vulnerable lives threatened.
We ache for ourselves and our neighbors, standing before an uncertain future.
We pray: may love, not fear, go viral.
Inspire our leaders to discern and choose wisely, aligned with the common good.
Help us to practice social distancing and reveal to us new and creative ways to come together in spirit and in solidarity.
Call us to profound trust in your faithful presence,
You, the God who does not abandon.
-Sister Christine Koelhoffer, IHM
View more Prayers during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Sacramental Prep: The sacrament pages have information about preparing for the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.