Stepping Stones meets the need of older elementary students to broaden associations and to be part of a group. Stepping Stones team members plan opportunities for 4th and 5th graders to come to church and learn what it means to be followers of Jesus. The focus is on the bible, the liturgy, and the teachings and traditions of the church.

We accomplish this in the following ways:

1. Once a month meetings. During these Friday of Sunday 3-hour sessions, time is spent in prayer, theme presentation, small group discussion, creative and artistic outreach projects, and physical activities.
2. Service projects. Projects that serve the St. Patrick's community.
3. A retreat. This retreat is held in-house.
4. An end of the year celebration. We get together to celebrate what we have shared throughout the year.

Stepping Stones members receive their own packets of Christian Formation material. Children and parents need to work together on the material in the packets. The goal of these worksheets and books is to develop a Catholic literacy and language. In addition, the material works well as conversation starters for family discussion. Children overwhelmingly adopt the faith that their parents live at home. Stepping Stones members are expected to attend Sunday mass together with their parents, participate in the Children's Liturgy of the Word, and come to Family Time to help the younger children with projects.

For more information on the Stepping Stones, please call the Christian Formation Office at (480) 998-2256.