Ministry: Formation Ministries

Open Door – Due to the positive impact, in recent years that Book and Scripture studies have had on people’s spirituality, the Open Door Ministry was initiated.

The objectives of the Open Door Ministry are as follows:

• To help start and support new Book and Scripture Studies.
• To provide a means by which participants in the Open Door Group in Realm can get a list of the details on existing studies and be informed, by email of any new studies, in which they can participate. (Click here for Book Studies)

If you don’t have a User Name and Password to log into Realm contact Brooke Kingston at Brooke.Kingston@StFrancisRaleigh.org.  You can also ask her to add you to the Open Door Group at the same time.

If you do have a Realm Account and want to join the Open Door Group:

• Log Into
• Click on
• Click on Find Groups.
• Scroll down to Spirituality and click on it.
• Locate Open Door group and click on it.
• (Alternate – contact Brooke Kingston at Kingston@StFrancisRaleigh.org)

To get an update of existing Active Study Groups:

• Log into Realm.
• Click on Groups.
• Click on the Open Door
• Click on the File
• Click on the File “1 – Active Study Groups” and download the file.

Note:

• A new study group leader selects the book, date and time, and in person or virtual.
• Especially for Zoom studies, friends and relatives who aren’t in the parish can be added to Realm and participate in a study.

Contact: Deacon Steve Andrews
stephenwandrews@outlook.com | 732-213-0104

Cross Road is our high school youth ministry program. 9th grade is usually the 2nd year of Confirmation preparation (link to Confirmation page), and all 9th-grade students who are not attending a Catholic High school should attend. All high school youth can attend Cross Road, regardless of grade.

Cross Road takes place after the 5:30 pm Sunday Mass and meets roughly three times per month. We use a youth ministry model for “youth nights.” Participants GATHER together for a snack and fellowship, followed by a PROCLAIM given by an adult leader or peer leader. We then BREAK into designated small groups, led by adult group leaders, to engage in deeper discussion of the evening’s proclaim. Small groups allow youth participants to build relationships within the groups and create a sense of community. Finally, we come back together to pray and to be SENT back into the world.

In addition to regular Sunday evening youth nights, youth are provided with opportunities to participate in retreats, socials, and service projects throughout the session year.

Cross Train is our middle school faith formation program. Our goal is to connect the youth to each other, to our parish and church at large, and God and Jesus Christ. We do this by creating a fun, engaging, meaningful, and faith-filled environment. Our youth ministry model follows Jesus’ ministry on earth: gather, proclaim, break, and send. Join us as we meet two to three Sundays a month from 6:45-8:15. Learn, grow, and serve in our five social nights, five service projects, and prayer evenings included in our regular youth night program. 

Cross Walk meets immediately after the 9:00 AM Mass on Sunday mornings by breaking open the treasures of the Mass. Children hear a short “proclaim” in the Church challenging them to put their faith into action by living The Word heard at Mass. We live the Gospel and bring the Gospel to life.  Just as the USCCB’s National Directory for Catechesis says, “Catechesis both precedes the Liturgy and springs from it.”

All are welcome for adult bible study groups.

Hosting social, service, and spiritual events for those in their 20s and 30s. Single, married, or divorced; with kids or without – all are welcome!

The Men’s Prayer Breakfast meets in person in the Community Center, Padua Room every 1^st and 3^rd Mondays from 8 to 9 am. The meetings provide a way for men to come together for fellowship. We select a book for discussions that deals with faith and life issues. See Men’s Prayer Breakfast on Realm for details on the meeting. 

Cross Step is the newest addition to St. Francis of Assisi’s Cross faith formation programs. Cross Step is for children ages 1 (and walking) through 5 years old, who are not enrolled in kindergarten for the current school year. CROSS STEP partners with St. Francis of Assisi families by providing their children with a strong foundation on which to build their lifelong faith. Registration for the Cross Step program is ongoing year-round from 9am to 10am. Please register here for the 2024-2025 school year.

Meeting with and preparing our families with infants and children to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism through a once-a-month preparation session.