Our catechists are very gifted men and women whose love for the Lord inspires them to answer the call to proclaim his words and deeds to others. All our volunteers are trained and background screen in compliance with the Diocesan Safe Environment Procedures. 

English Pre-School through-8 Faith Formation: Classes for Pre-school and Kindergarten meet on Sunday mornings. Classes for Middle school meet Monday nights and classes 1-6 meet in the evenings on Monday through Thursday. Michelle Bagay is the Coordinator for this program.

Spanish Faith Formation: Classes in Spanish meet on Thursday nights. Norma Ortuño is the Coordinator for this program. Confirmation classes in Spanish meet on Tuesday nights.

Vietnamese Faith Formation: All classes are held on Saturdays. The Faith Formation classes are preceded by Vietnamese Culture and Language classes for Pre-school through 8th grade. Tan Nguyen is the Coordinator for this program.

Registration begins every August for new registrants! Look for signs in the bulletin and at Mass as August approaches to enroll your child in the next Faith Formation year!

If your child is already enrolled in Faith Formation, you should receive a letter for you to re-register in the month of May for Elementary and June for High School. If for some reason, you have not received a letter and your child is currently enrolled, please call or come by the Faith Formation office.

High School Faith Formation aims at preparing students for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The program is a two-year program which seeks to give the teens a concept of Christian maturity, knowledge of the Catholic faith, and a sense of responsibility to the larger community.

The format of the program is sensitive to the learning style of the youth. Small groups, activities, dynamic prayer services and reflection time, combined with formal catechesis helps them grow in the faith without feeling like they are in school.

The program also includes youth nights where the youth are able to enjoy recreational activities such as ski trips, parties, bowling, amusement parks, among other things!

Finally, the program underscores the importance of an active faith life, which means, the youth are living out Christian values through Justice and Service projects.

Pat Clasby is the coordinator of this program. Registration for this program begins for new registrants in August and returning registrants in June.

 Opportunities for Adults

Adults seeking a deeper knowledge of their faith also have many opportunities at Good Shepherd Parish. There are Bible studies that are held throughout the year and even throughout the summer, ministries which help form community and deeper prayer lives, and a place where answers can be found to the very difficult questions adults often face in life. Here are some programs that are offered:

• Bible Studies: Throughout the year and in the summer, you can attend Bible studies on various books of Scripture. The style of Bible study ranges from lecture-based studies to small group, community-building Bible Studies.  All studies are aimed at fostering an understanding and love of Scripture as the word of God.
• Catholics Coming Home: For Catholics who may have been separated from the Church, are interested in returning to the Faith and are seeking support and a place to have their questions answered.  Look for bulltein and web page announcements Monday nights in the Fall for this group. In the mean time, please contact Kim at kim@goodshepherdparish.net if you would like to discuss any questions one-on-one!
• Adult Confirmation: For anyone (over 18 or in their senior year of high school) who was baptized Catholic and has already received their First Holy Communion, but has not received the sacrament of Confirmation.  Small groups will meet in the Fall and will continue on in the Spring to prepare for Confirmation in the Easter Season of 2008!
• RCIA (Rite of Christian Iniation for Adults): This is for anyone who is not already Catholic and would like to come into full communion with the Catholic Church or are simply seeking a place to ask questions and find out more of the Catholic faith.  Adults who are best suited for this process are: a) Adults who have never been baptized b) Adults who have been baptized Catholic but have not received their First Holy Communion or Confirmation c) Adults who have been baptized in non-Catholic Christian communities and are seeking to come into full communion with the Catholic Church.  Please call the front office at 858-271-0207 for more information.

For adult Faith Formation classes that are offered throughout the year, please keep an eye on the bulletin. You can also e-mail Kimberly Barber at kim@goodshepherdparish.net to get personal updates on programs for adults.

 Our Philosophy

When Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom and to reveal who the Father is, he came as one sent by the Father. The Lord himself says, “My teaching is not my own, it comes from the one who sent me…” (John 7:16). When our catechists teach, it is not our own teaching, but the one who sent us, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why all our texts are in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and our catechists are men and women who are committed to handing on the Lord’s own teaching.