Catholic Faith Formation
“We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman…It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God’s grace, we ourselves have received.”
-Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini, 2010
Mission: The Church’s catechetical mission aims to help the faithful of all ages to grow in both human and Christian maturity, enriching the whole of life with the leaven of the Gospel.
Parish School of Religion (1st- 11th grade)
Proverbs 22:6 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
PSR Mission is to assist parents in developing the faith life of their children and forming them to become Disciples of Christ.
St. Mark Parish School of Religion (PSR) supports parents in educating their children in the Catholic faith and helping them to live out that faith within a believing community. The objective of our PSR is that every child complete each year of the program with the religious knowledge appropriate to his/her age.
Our PSR program provides opportunities for our children to grow in awareness of the presence of God in their lives through instruction, celebration of the sacraments, and by participating in liturgies and prayer services that are designed for the students. To coordinate a program of this size, much work has to be done and a lot of help is needed. We are grateful to the many workers who, by giving of their time and sharing their talents, contribute to the success of the program. Because religious education is the concern of all the parishioners, we ask everybody to pray for the success of our PSR program and also to get actively involved in helping in some way.
We need teachers, aides, babysitters, office workers, volunteer coordinators, ground monitors and parking lot attendants. The PSR volunteers work under the supervision of the PSR principals. For more information, call the parish office and talk to Dana Millet, Director of Christian Formation.
PSR 2024-2025 Registration Packet
Order of Christian initiation of Children (O.C.I.C)
OCIC is a process of conversion which leads to the child receiving the initiation sacraments. It is designed for children of at least 7 years of age, who have not been baptized, and who have entered the religious education process later than first grade. OCIC will begin each year in September. Please contact Dana Millet at the Parish Office 225-647-8461for additional information or to register your child.
Order of Christian initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.)
The OCIA process is one of conversion which leads to receiving the initiation sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. OCIA is open to all those who have never been baptized or adults baptized in another Christian faith who wish to become members of the Catholic Church. Classes are also open to Catholic adults who are baptized but have not yet received the other initiation sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings beginning in September of each year. Team members include parishioners who are catechists, sponsors, and general support personnel. For more information about OCIA you may contact Shannon Templet at 225-715-5762.
Adult Education
As Catholic Christians we are called to continue growing in our faith through on-going formation. Here at St. Mark our Adult Enrichment Program offers many opportunities for parishioners to learn more about and deepen their Catholic faith. Parish School of Religion catechists are encouraged to participate in formation programs such as: bible studies, workshops and conferences to gain a better understanding of their faith and to earn Diocesan teacher certification credits. Ministry and Theology (MAT) classes are offered through the diocese and are held at the Catholic Life Center as well as in different parishes and are open to anyone. MAT classes focus on prayer, scripture, morality and the sacraments. Workshops on marriage enrichment and social justice have also been offered at St. Mark. For more information about educational opportunities available in the parish and on the diocesan level, please call the parish office.