Formation
Ministries

Proclaim the Good News

Formation Ministry at Holy Trinity includes Family Ministry, Religious Education (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Sacramental Preparation, religious education for children K5-7th grade, OCIA & RCIC (the communal process of spiritual and educational formation for adults and older children who seek to become full members of the Catholic Church), and Adult Enrichment.

Family Ministries

Holy Trinity’s Family Ministries serves as a dedicated hub for supporting and enriching the lives of families within our church. With a mission deeply rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, our office endeavors to provide guidance, resources, and programming tailored to the unique needs of families.

All events will be published in the bulletin. Direct communications are sent using the Flocknote messaging software. 

For questions regarding Family Ministries, call or email Meghan Swiergosz, Director of Family Ministry

Vacation Bible School: 

Each summer children 3 years old, potty trained, and up through incoming 5th graders are invited to participate in our Vacation Bible School. Jr. High and Senior High youth are welcome to assist. Adult volunteers are also necessary.

Fun, music, great snacks, exciting crafts, bible stories, games, and more are all part of the children’s learning experience.

Please contact or email Meghan Swiergosz, Director of Family Ministry, for additional information or to volunteer.

Click here to register for Vacation Bible School.

Adult Enrichment:

Events are planned based on interests and needs.  The Faith Formation Office, Sunday bulletin, and this website inform you of current offerings.

Bible Study:

Bible studies are offered at Holy Trinity and meet on a variety of days and times. For more information, to join a Bible Study or begin a new one, contact Mike Ciraulo, our Director of Adult Faith Formation.

Christ Renews His Parish: 

A weekend retreat that allows you to examine, rediscover, and intensify your relationship with Christ, as you relax, pray, and rethink priorities and get to know other parishioners. It is a weekend of reflection and sharing of spiritual and real-life issues. There is an annual retreat for women (January) and for men (February). For more information, contact Mike Ciraulo, 502-897-5207 x1119.

Religious Education

The parish religious education program is for children in grades 1st – 8th who don’t attend the parish school and/or are home-schooled. It provides Catholic teaching for children and support to parents as partners in their faith formation. 

Religious Education classes meet weekly on Sunday mornings between the Masses; from 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Classes begin the Sunday after Labor Day and end the last weekend of April.

Registration is required and can be accessed on the parish website.

Children must be enrolled in the parish religious education program for one year prior to receiving a sacrament so that they have a strong foundation on which to build their understanding of that sacrament before receiving it.

To register your child for Religious Education, please contact Meghan Swiergosz, Director of Family Ministry, in the parish office for the registration form and to submit payment.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)

CGS is a Montessori based, hands-on approach to faith for children 0-12 years in which they experience and form an authentic, faithful relationship with God. 

Inspired by Maria Montessori’s principles of education, CGS was created in 1954 in Rome by Dr. Sofia Cavalletti, a biblical scholar, and Professor Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori-trained educator of children and teachers.  This program recognizes and nurtures the religious potential of the child in a prepared environment called the atrium.

What is the Atrium?

Dr. Maria Montessori chose the name, “Atrium” for the prepared environment used for religious education of children through her hands-on approach to learning. In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the atrium is a “dwelling place” of prayer designed by trained catechists specifically to meet the spiritual needs of children. Beauty, silence, and prayer are fostered here, inviting the child to encounter the mystery of God. The CGS method encourages the child into a lifelong relationship with the Good Shepherd who gives, “life to the full.”

How do we work with the children each week? 

Each week the children gather at the prayer table and presentations are opened with God’s Holy Words.  Students receive the presentation specifically planned and selected by the catechists according to the liturgical season.  Each presentation has specific materials designed to draw the child into the Biblical and Liturgical themes, yet are always age appropriate. Children are invited to sing, pray and have their own work time to engage with the materials during an Atrium session. Once presented to the children, these materials are always available to them during their work time.  This creates additional opportunities to absorb the presentations and meditations in the child’s own time.

Who is this program for at Holy Trinity?

CGS Level I Atrium is offered during the school day for all students attending the school for students Pre-K through first grade at the St. Matthews Campus and Kindergarten-second grade at our Clifton School.

New for the 2026–2027 School Year!  Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) will be offered on Sundays from 9:45–10:50 a.m. for children ages 4 and 5 from active parish families who plan to enroll in our Parish Religious Education program beginning in first grade.  Registration is required. Watch the bulletin for announcements.

How can I help this program?

CGS is a beautiful program in need of trained catechists to serve the children. If you are interested in becoming a trained catechist to serve the young in our parish, please contact Kris Schmitt [email protected] for more information.

Do you enjoy woodworking, sewing, or creating by hand? We are looking for talented volunteers to help craft handmade materials for our Level I Atrium at the Clifton Campus. We also have a few simple artwork pieces that need occasional maintenance. Plans, patterns, and instructions will be provided. If you are interested in sharing your gifts, please contact Kris Schmitt at [email protected] for more information.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

Processes are in place to prepare adults and children to celebrate the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.  

  • Baptism: Families requesting the baptism of an infant or child under the age of 7 years may celebrate this sacrament at one of the scheduled weekends throughout the year. 
  • First Reconciliation: The sacrament of Confession is celebrated in the fall of the 2nd grade year.
  • First Communion: The sacrament of First Communion is celebrated in the Spring of 2nd grade year.
  • Confirmation: The sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in the spring of 8th grade. Students preparing for Confirmation are required to attend religious education beginning in the fall in preparation for Confirmation in the spring.

To learn more about enrolling your child(ren) in religious education or to schedule a baptism, please contact Chris Allison, Director of Faith Formation.

Who should you connect with on our Faith Formation Team?

  • Mike Ciraulo: Adult Formation, Baptism, Bible Study, CHRP, OCIA, etc.
  • Meghan Swiergosz: Saints in Training, Religious Education, Vacation Bible School, and all other Family Ministry events.
  • Kris Schmitt: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion
  • Chris Allison: General Faith Formation, Confirmation, and Young Adult Ministry

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