St. Margaret Mary’s GATHER Family Faith Formation
Here at Saint Margaret Mary, we put families front and center in their own family faith formation. Parents, you are the most important example to your children. Family Faith Formation makes it exciting and practical as both parents and children “live and learn” the Catholic faith together!
Parent involvement in your child’s faith formation increases not only a child’s identification with their Catholic faith as they grow, but the commitment to and practice of the Catholic faith as they reach adulthood.
As ministers of the church (the GATHER Team), our role is to accompany you on the journey as you grow and learn more about Jesus and the Church. We learn from you and we will share our experiences of God and Church with you as well!
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”
~Matthew 18:20
Who is GATHER Family Faith Formation for?
GATHER Family Faith Formation is for all families who do not attend a Catholic school. GATHER is a different style of teaching and reaches across ages. Our Catholic school families are always welcomed but it is not necessary.
All families: Preschool-High School participate together. Younger than preschool children are able to attend also but we do not have “child care” so parents feel free to bring snacks, toys and activities for our littlest of the family.
As Family
GATHER Family Faith Formation is offered for 11 sessions for 2 different time periods:
- Sunday – 11:00 AM – 12:15 AM
- Wednesday – 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
We GATHER in the St. Margaret Mary School (Enter through the Education Center doors) (119 S. Hubbard St., Algonquin) Information to follow via email after registration.
GATHER Registration for 2025-2026 School Year
If you are unable to attend the session that you registered for, you are welcome to attend the alternate date.
Please call the Religious Education Office (847-658-9339) or Youth Ministry Office at (847-658-7881) to inform us of your intent to attend another date, so we can mark attendance and plan on extra supplies. Thank you.
We are always looking for faith-filled volunteers to be on our Gather TEAM.
If interested and for more details, contact Teresa Chiappone at tchiappone@saintmargaretmary.org.
finding GOD together and OCIT
(Order of Christian Initiation for Teens)
finding GOD together
is a family program designed to initiate children (3rd grade or above) to the Catholic faith and sacramental life.
For 3rd grade to 5th grade, we offer OCIT: Order of Christian Initiation for Teens-formally Rite of Initiation for Teens or RCIT. This program for older children prepares the children for Reconciliation and Holy Communion (and Baptism if needed). The OCIT sessions meet on the same days (mostly- see the schedule) as FGT (finding God together) but will have different days for their Sacraments.
Mary Undoer of Knots Prayer Request
See pamphlet below for all the FGT and OCIT dates.
Find God Together Participants Only:
Families will attend the last 2 Gather sessions of the year with the finding God together team. Parents attend the Adult Formation sessions at the finding GOD together sessions simultaneously to support their child’s faith as well as grow in their own faith. OCIT parents are welcome to attend these adult sessions.
At the end of the process, the child will receive the Sacraments of Baptism (if needed),
Reconciliation and First Communion, as needed. Afterwards, the child(ren) will resume in their grade level in the GATHER; Family Faith Formation Sessions.
Why is finding GOD together needed?
We understand there are many reasons why a child has missed receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation or First Communion. finding GOD together and OCIT provides the opportunity for catching up!
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that children over the age of reason (about age 7) cannot be baptized through the traditional infant ritual. The Church requires a period of instruction to prepare children for initiation into the Catholic faith.
At the Second Vatican Council, the Church acknowledged that Catholic parents are “first and primary teachers of the faith for their children.” It also stated that parents must be instructed in the faith, so that they are capable of passing on this faith to their children.
For All FIRST HOLY COMMUNION Families
(Usually 1st and 2nd grade in school, it may also be 2nd and 3rd grade) Sacramental Prep Year 1 and Sacramental Prep Year 2 (Both preparation years are required to make the Sacraments)
This is such a special time as you journey in faith formation with your child preparing for two important sacraments: First Reception of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
For Sacramental Prep 1: This year your child and you will learn all about GATHER Faith Formation and what we do there. It starts the understanding of what being Catholic is all about. We begin this journey with “commissioning” your family into the Sacramental Preparation Formation and then each GATHER session you will be given a “mini retreat task” to accomplish with your child at home. They will be simple “living” the faith tasks but very important to the foundation of a solid understanding of not only our Catholic faith but how to live it.
(There is no extra fee for Prep 1)
For Sacramental Prep 2: This year your child will be preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.
In addition to regular Gather Family sessions, Sacramental Prep 2 students must attend 3 sessions to prepare for 1st Reconciliation in the Fall and 3 Sacramental Prep sessions to prepare for 1st Communion in the Spring.
Dates for 2025-26 Tuesday evenings: 5-7 PM (Only Student needs to attend)
Fall 2025 Sacramental Preparation for 1st Reconciliation: Sept. 23, Oct. 14, Nov. 18
Spring 2026 Sacramental Preparation for First Communion: Jan. 20, Feb. 24, Mar. 24
All dates for Gather Sessions and Sacramental Prep sessions are on the Gather Calendar. Click on the button above to view or print.
Please “save the dates” below for your child’s First Reception of Reconciliation and First Communion Rehearsal and Mass. Each date requires a parent to attend, thank you! We will be collecting a Sacramental Fee of $75 per student. This fee covers a portion of resources dedicated to your child’s Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. For your convenience, you may pay the fee online.
Sacramental Preparation Dates
Sacrament of First Reception of Reconciliation
Tuesday, Dec. 2nd – 6:00 PM in the church.
First Communion Retreat
At this First Communion Retreat we will learn the similarities between what we share at our friendship meal and what the disciples shared at the Last Supper.
First Holy Communion Rehearsals
First Holy Communion Masses
First Communion Mass – TBA