Elementary Faith Formation Classes 1-5 Grade:

Our faith formation ministries are dedicated to providing rich formational opportunities for children in an exciting, innovative and caring environment. Faith Formation Grades 1-5 combines at-home activities with community connection through weekly Mass attendance, monthly Family Gatherings, and quarterly Family Fun days. Throughout the year, we also incorporate large-group experiences for grades 1-5 to be together, including service projects, holiday celebrations and more.

Faith practices are learned in the home and in the parish community. The family is the Christian community in which children first experience faith and love. The parish goal is to offer multiple opportunities for every member of your family to grow in faith. Family Faith Formation provides parents with the opportunity to grow in their own faith while at the same time being an example and teaching their children about the Catholic faith.

For answers to frequently asked questions about family faith formation, click the FAQs button below.

To register for Elementary Grades 1-5 Faith Formation classes, click the REGISTER button below. For more information, contact the parish office at parishoffice@saintbarbaraparish.org or call (805)682-4151, ext. 102.

Middle School Faith Formation Classes 6-8 Grade

2nd and 4th Wednesday Nights — 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. — September through May (Faith Formation Meeting Room)

Every second and fourth Wednesday evening we will meet as both a large group and small groups divided by grade. Large group is a time where we have fun because having fun opens doors for relationships to go deeper. Plus, God created us to have fun! We’ll also learn together. We’ll hear the story of God — past, present and future — learn about the Catholic tradition, spiritual practices and other tools to help our faith grow. We’ll take a deeper look into the Bible, discussing stories and verses, trying to answer the question, what does the Bible mean for me today? We’ll end each week in small groups for open conversation, asking questions and talking about what is going on in their lives.

To register for Middle School Grades 6-8 Faith Formation classes, click below.

For more information, contact the parish office at parishoffice@saintbarbaraparish.org or call (805)682-4151, ext. 102.

High School Confirmation

1st and 3rd Wednesday Nights — 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. — September through May (Faith Formation Meeting Room)

Confirmation is a two-year program in which doctrine, spiritual formation, works of charity, and liturgical celebrations are integrated throughout the year. Through prayers, retreats, classes, small group discussion, and service projects, young people will learn to recognize and understand the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and be able to identify themselves as active members of the community. Confirmation candidates must be at least in 9th grade and the earliest they can be confirmed is the spring of 10th grade.

To register for High School Confirmation classes, click below. For more information, contact the parish office at parishoffice@saintbarbaraparish.org or call (805)682-4151, ext. 102.

Adult Faith Formation helps those exploring the Catholic faith to deepen their relationship with God and recommit to the responsibility of sharing their faith with others. 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 Gospel. We try to touch all faith dimensions of an adult life: communicating the faith, skills needed for faith growth, the experience of family life, relationships, community service and concern for the common good. Our adult faith formation ministry engages the particular needs and interests of the adults in our faith community.

Three major goals guide and direct our efforts in adult faith formation as directed by USCCB:

1. Invite and enable ongoing conversion to Jesus in Holiness of Life.

2. Promote and support active membership in the Christian Community.

3. Call and prepare adults to act as disciples in the mission to the world.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)

Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. — Faith Formation Meeting Room

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is a discernment and formation process leading to the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist for non-Catholics. It is also a process for Catholics that have not been formed in the faith. RCIA seeks to bring people to experience a full sense of discipleship as members of our faith family. Weekly RCIA sessions will begin in the fall.

For more information, email parishoffice@saintbarbaraparish.org or call the parish office at (805)682-4151.

Women’s Faith Sharing

Join us on the second Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m. for our Women’s Faith Sharing gathering! This intergenerational group includes a variety of women with diverse backgrounds and a shared curiosity about how our faith life and spiritual practices influence our lives. Each month over coffee, tea and snacks, we discuss a topic or theme, with examples drawn from a book we are reading. This book we are currently reading is The Story of Ruth: 12 Moments in Every Women’s Life by Joan Chittister, which may be purchased on Amazon. The themes we discuss are universal to women in the spiritual life, including friendship, perseverance, hope, suffering and wisdom. For more information, contact Suzanne Fitzgerald at suzanne.fitzgerald3@gmail.com or call the parish office at (805)682-4151, ext. 102.