At St. Patrick's, religious formation can mean seeing the world through the eyes of a nursing home patient or soup kitchen patron.  It can mean discussing the Sunday Gospel reading with family and friends.  It includes the celebration of Sacraments to strengthen and express faith.  Religious formation can be the beginning of a life-long journey to and with God.

The history of St. Patrick's Religious Formation Program goes back 132 years.  In 1870, catachism classes were first taught by Miss Mary Foley.  After a year of instruction, several 15 and 16 year old boys and girls received the Sacraments of Communion and Confirmation.  In more recent years, John Heslin played an important role - coordinating what was then known as the CCD program from 1966 to 1975.

More than 100 years after the first religious instruction took place at St. Patrick's the parish named its first professional Director of Religious Education - Sister Caryn Brennan, CSJ.   Sister Caryn had been a fourth grade teacher at St. Patrick School when it first opened.  Sister Nivard Stabile, OP also served as Religious Education Director, followed by Maureen Moore.

Presently, Directors Elaina Kedjierski (Levels 1-4) and Peggy Soviero (Levels 5-8) oversee what is today known as Religious Formation.  Elaina is new to the parish and Peggy has previously worked with St. Patrick's Youth Community.

Today's Religious Formation Program includes more than 1,900 children in grades one through eight.  Children in grades one and two are prepared for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion.  In grades three through five, children learn about the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church, with an emphasis on integrating their faith into their everyday lives.  Young people in grades six and seven are prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation.  While some may see Confirmation as the end of the religious formation process, the St. Patrick's program stresses that it is only the begining.

"We want to fit them for ministry ... to help them take their place in the Church," Paula Billard said. Paula is a previous director of the Religious Formation Program.

Helping young people find their place in the church is the goal of a new program which will focus on those already Confirmed.  Young people will be invited to meetings on three occasions during which representatives of various youth programs within the parish will speak with them, encouraging them to become involved in some way.

All Religious Formation classes are held at St. Patrick's - during after-school hours on Monday through Thursday, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  The goal is to have no more than 16 children in each class.  Leel One classes are instructed by two catechists in order to provide younger children with more personal attention.

Classroom instruction is only one aspect of the program, however.  Each group, for example, is given a service project, such as visiting a nursing home or soup kitchen.

One of the more memorable service projects was a visit to a hospice in East Northport by a group of seventh graders to put up a Christmas tree.  Each of the students donated money to buy a small artificial tree.  The students also made dozens of ornaments.  Some donated lights, others home made blankets and cookies.  The visit made quite an impression on the students, according to Peggy Soviero, who accompanied the group.  The hospice consisted of four patients - three elderly people and one infant.  One elderly female patient said of the student's work putting up the tree, "No one has ever done this for me in my life."

During preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation sixth and seventh grade students must compile service hours - lending a heping hand in their family and community.  The ultimate goal accourding to Paula, is to help students to realize that "they can hep and make a difference."

Another aspect of the program is its emphasis on reaching out to entire famiies  During a third grade parent meeting, parents are given a copy of a booklet entitled "Handbook for Today's Catholic".  The book gives parents a resource to answer children's questons as well as their own.  Another resource -- Gospel Weeklies -- Gives information on and promotes a discussion of the Sunday Gospel readings.

The Religious Formation Program also includes a catch up program for children who have missed a portion of their religious instruction due to moving from a different area or other cicumstances.  And, St. Patrick's is one of the few parishes that offers a special educatgion program.  "We don't turn anybody away," Paula noted.

She remembes two special education students who were only capable of watching cartoons about love.  They sat and held hands as they watched.

As with many other parish ministries, Religious Formation relies heavily upon volunteers - 136 of them to be exact  Most are catechists who instruct children on a weeklhy basis.  Catechists attend workshops and are encouraged to receive basic and advanced theology certificates.   Many become involved when their own children begin taking part in the program.  Some, such as juanita Goodwin, Zena Romanzi, Margha Fabiano,and carol Poma, continued teaching long after their own children had left the program.

Religious Formation has also benefited from sharing a building with the Sisters of St. Joseph.  All of the Sisters have helped at some time.  Currently, Sister John Andre, Sister Eileen Kelly, and Sister Mary Terrence work with the program.

In the end, it seems, everyone benefits.  Volunteers claim that they get back much more than they give.  The children receive building blocks of faith.  And families have the opportunity to share in the journey.

Paula Billyard noted a verse from Isaiah that states, "a little child shall lead them." Often it is the children that lead us back to God.

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