St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook Parish
  • About Us
    • Welcome/Register
    • Clergy and Staff: contact us
    • Parish History
    • Mission Statement
    • Generation to Generation Campaign
  • Get Involved
    • Become Catholic (OCIA)
    • Liturgical Ministries
    • Faith Formation/RE
    • Totus Tuus
    • Children's Liturgy
    • Youth Ministry
    • Outreach Ministries
    • Leadership
    • Ministry Catalog
    • Room Requisition
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • First Eucharist
    • Reconciliation
    • Anointing of the Sick
    • Holy Orders
    • Marriage
    • Funerals
  • St. Norbert School
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Faith Formation & Religious Ed

​Faith Formation at St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook

Registration is now open for K-8 Faith Formation Classes beginning this fall. Complete details about our programs, tuition, and schedules are found in the pdf below.
2026-27_registration_information_for_k-8_ff_programs_revised.pdf
File Size: 429 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Our volunteers receive tuition discounts for their service. Please click on the button to learn about the volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer Information
Some things to know when completing the online registration form for your family:
• This year we are using one form that collects information for both the primary parent and the student(s).
• First, you will be asked to complete information for the primary parent/guardian. Once you have completed the parent section, you will be given the option to “Add Another” or “Submit.” You will want to choose “Add Another” to enter information for your child(ren).  
• If you find that the form is not letting you advance to the next section, it likely means you have missed a required question. 
• Please be mindful NOT to press submit until you have entered all of your children. The "submit button" means you are heading to the payment page. You will want the "Add Another" link for entering additional children. Hit "Submit" when you are ready to pay.

Click on the button below to begin the online registration form.
Register here!

About the program

St. Norbert & Our Lady of the Brook parish hopes to be a source of Christ's love, strength, comfort and joy for your families. We are here for you and your children and are committed to journeying together with you and your family to develop and deepen your relationships with Christ.

Our Faith Formation program not only teaches children about our Catholic faith, traditions and Jesus’ love, it also engages the entire family on their journey of faith. 

Parents and other members of your family play an important role in helping form your children in the Catholic faith and prepare them for the sacraments. It is important that you attend Sunday Mass as a family and to pray with your children every day. An active prayer and faith life is a practice—it requires our movement, action and repetition to notice the benefits.

Praying together as a family at bedtime is a simple way to teach your kids some of our common Catholic prayers. Download the common Catholic prayers (found below) to get started.


Our Programming

K-6 Faith Formation Program 
Our K-6th grade program uses the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies curriculum that combines a complete catechesis of our Catholic faith with the liturgical life of the Church. The content of the program flows from each Sunday’s Gospel and students learn about their faith within the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year. Every lesson goes home to involve parents (who hear the same Gospel on Sunday) making it easier for you to discuss topics with your children.

Classes are held two times per month on Sunday mornings after the 9:30 Mass (10:45 am – 12 noon) and on Tuesday late afternoon (4:30 pm – 5:45 pm). Parents select class day/time at registration. We try to avoid scheduling classes over school breaks and long weekends. We follow Districts #27 and #28 school schedules.

First Communion and First Reconciliation
Preparation for First Communion and First Reconciliation is an exciting time for your children. They will finally get to sit at the Big table and receive the Eucharist along with the members of their family and friends. During the academic year they will learn about the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and how Jesus nourishes us in the sacrament. Likewise, they will learn about their responsibility of keeping their hearts open to the love of Jesus and how the sacrament of Reconciliation helps with that. We will use a combination of resources for the sacramental preparation: Together in Jesus lesson sheets and Blessed First Reconciliation & First Communion videos. 

Traditionally, these sacraments are received during a child’s second grade year. For those students who missed preparation in second grade, we will work with you to help your children make these sacraments. Parents should email Karen Walker to arrange a discussion about the options. 

Parents and other members of your family play an important role in helping form and prepare your children for these sacraments. It is important that you attend Sunday Mass as a family and to pray with your children every day. An active prayer and faith life is a practice—it requires our movement, action and repetition to notice the benefits.

A simple way to teach your kids some of our common Catholic prayers and to begin a practice of praying with your children is to pray at bedtime. Download the common Catholic Prayers pdf (found below) to get started.

Called Confirmation Program for 7th and 8th Graders
Called Confirmation, our 7th and 8th grade program, is a youth group style experience. They meet for a pizza dinner after the 5pm Sunday Mass in the Parish Hall and then transition into small groups for lessons and conversation.

Called Confirmation is a two-year program, and we use two primary curricula during the two years: Gifted in the Spirit (Confirmation specific lessons from Pflaum Publishing Group) and Youth Alpha.  

​Our Called Confirmation Program is designed to help our students…
  • Realize they are all beloved children of God with distinct gifts to serve others.
  • Think critically about their faith and how to integrate it into their daily lives.
  • Consider Jesus’ invitation to accept his love and become his disciples.

The sessions are held twice a month and begin after the 5pm Sunday Mass with pizza at 6pm in the Parish Hall (church lower level). They end at 7:30pm. During most sessions, all the students and volunteers will walk to the school after pizza for small group programming. Some sessions will be held in the church with the large group when we have special guest speakers. 
Students are expected to attend weekly Sunday Mass with their families. We purposely position Called Confirmation sessions after the Sunday evening Mass as an easy option for attendance.

Students are expected to attend weekly Sunday Mass with their families. We purposely position Called Confirmation sessions after the 5pm Sunday Mass as an easy option for attendance.

Confirmation is a two-year program. In order to be Confirmed in the 8th grade, a student must have been enrolled in a Catholic Faith Formation program or a Catholic school in the 7th grade. If your child missed the 7th grade instruction last year, we will work with you and your student. Email JoEllen Cattapan at for more information.

​Study at Home Programs
Study at home programs are available for families whose schedules do not permit regular class attendance. Approval for registration into the programs is required. Parents who are interested in pursuing this option should email JoEllen Cattapan to arrange a time for a conversation. The price for study-at-home programming is the same price for in-person classes.
​
nightly_prayers.pdf
File Size: 114 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Calendar

Important Dates to Remember
  • Monday, August 3: Last day to register for early bird pricing.
  • Sunday, August 30 at 6pm: Parent and Student Meeting for incoming 7th graders (This is an informational meeting for what to expect during the next two years of preparation for Confirmation.)
  • Tuesdays, September 8 and 15 at 6pm Training for K-6 catechists (The first training covers logistics, and the second training date is online about the curriculum.)
  • Wednesday, September 16 at 6pm Training for Called Confirmation facilitators
  • Week of September 20: Faith Formation for K-6 and Called Confirmation (7th & 8th grades) programming begins.

Monthly pay

This is a payment link for families who have contacted the Faith Formation Office and have received permission to make regular payments towards tuition. 
Set up payments here.

    Contact Us

    Have other questions about faith formation in the Catholic Community of Northbrook? Fill out this contact form and one of our friendly staff will get back to you!
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St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook Parish
1809 Walters Avenue
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-7090

  • About Us
    • Welcome/Register
    • Clergy and Staff: contact us
    • Parish History
    • Mission Statement
    • Generation to Generation Campaign
  • Get Involved
    • Become Catholic (OCIA)
    • Liturgical Ministries
    • Faith Formation/RE
    • Totus Tuus
    • Children's Liturgy
    • Youth Ministry
    • Outreach Ministries
    • Leadership
    • Ministry Catalog
    • Room Requisition
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • First Eucharist
    • Reconciliation
    • Anointing of the Sick
    • Holy Orders
    • Marriage
    • Funerals
  • St. Norbert School
  • Communication
    • Bulletin
    • E-Newsletters
    • Flocknote
    • Renew My Church