What Catechism means to us at St. Vincent Ferrer Church

At St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, our Religious Education program is more than just instruction—it is a ministry of love, mercy, and hope. Rooted in the mission of Jesus and guided by the Church’s call to ongoing conversion, we welcome children, teens, and families into a deeper encounter with God’s overwhelming love.

Inspired by our Dominican roots and guided by Catholic Social Teaching, we believe formation is not only about learning doctrine, but about awakening hearts to God’s mercy, empowering children, young people, and adults to live their faith with compassion, and building a community where every culture, language, and life story finds a home. Our catechists are more than teachers—they are companions on the journey, dedicated to nurturing faith that is active, joyful, and rooted in justice. The very beginnings of our program started by the hard work and lifelong dedication of Dominican religious sisters from the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. Many of our catechists enrolled their children in this very program or at our parish school or were themselves instructed by the Dominican Sisters. More recently, religious sisters of the Religious of the Virgin Mary helped expand our program. Our full-time religious education staff and volunteer catechists undergo special training and certification from the Diocese of Sacramento and are committed to quality, Gospel-based Catholic catechism.

From sacramental preparation to ongoing formation, we create spaces where the Gospel comes alive—where children can ask big questions, adults are encouraged to delve deeper into their faith, and families grow together in God's Holy Church, and all are reminded that they are beloved by God. Together, we seek to form disciples who are not only informed, but transformed—ready to share God’s love in the world.

Three Guiding Goals for Lifelong Faith Formation

At St. Vincent Ferrer, our faith formation is for everyone—from the newly baptized infant and their godparents, to children preparing for the sacraments, to youth seeking meaning, and adults continuing to grow in discipleship. Across every age and stage, our mission is to nurture a living, loving relationship with Jesus Christ and to form communities of mercy, justice, and joy.

1. To Invite and Enable Ongoing Conversion to Jesus in the Holiness of Life

Faith begins with encounter—with the person of Jesus, who invites us into a life of love, healing, and transformation. Whether we are learning to pray with our children, preparing for First Communion, or returning to the Church after many years, we are each called to ongoing conversion: to turn toward Christ and allow His mercy to reshape our hearts.

Faith formation helps us recognize where God is already at work in our lives and opens us to deeper trust in His love. Through Scripture, sacrament, prayer, and community, we grow in the freedom to become who God created us to be—disciples rooted in joy, holiness, and hope.

2. To Promote and Support Active Participation in the Christian Community

God calls us not only to himself, but to one another. We believe that faith comes alive in community—in the family gathered around the dinner table or the font, in classrooms and retreats, in parish liturgies and service, in friendships that sustain us, and in the communion of saints.

We accompany each other across generations, cultures, and life experiences. Faith formation helps all members of the Church—from babies in baptismal prep to adults exploring OCIA—grow into full, active, and responsible participation in the life of the Church. Everyone has something to offer. Everyone belongs.

3. To Call and Prepare All the Faithful to Live as Missionary Disciples in the World

The world needs witnesses to God’s love. The mission of Jesus did not end at the Ascension—it continues through us. From our youngest students to our elders, every baptized person is called to bring the Good News into everyday life: into schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and homes.

Our formation prepares children to serve others with kindness, teens to speak out for justice, and adults to integrate faith into daily choices. We are called to be light in dark places, to lift up the poor, and to help renew the world with compassion and courage. This is the heart of discipleship.