Faith Formation at St. Patrick Church in Larkspur, CA

Growing in Faith Together in Marin County

St. Patrick's Faith Formation Programs

At St. Patrick Church, our Faith Formation Programs are grounded in our Mission Statement which reflects both the Great Commandment (Mark 12:29-31 NAB) and the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20 NAB):


Love God Completely....Love Others Unconditionally....Make Disciples Intentionally.


Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, each phase of the faith formation program:


  • Children's Faith Formation Grades K-8
  • Teen Faith Formation, Grades 9-12
  • Adult Faith Formation:
  • Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
  • Parish Book Clubs


enables individuals to join their church family and experience together, with both mind and heart, how to love God, love others, and become disciples on the move who change the world with acts of generosity and compassion for those in need.


We believe that what the world needs is Christian faith in action.

“Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.”

(James 2:19 NAB)

K-8 Faith Formation

Children’s Faith Formation 2025-2026: Begins Sunday, September 7, 2025

We offer the following Faith Formation Classes. If you have any questions about where to place your child, just reach out!

Early Faith Formation (K–2)

For children beginning their faith journey. Per Archdiocesan guidelines, two years of preparation are required before First Communion. This class serves as the first year of preparation for students in 1st and 2nd grade.

First Communion Year 2 (2–3)

Second year of First Communion preparation. Choose if your child is in 2nd or 3rd grade and has completed Year 1 prep.

Intermediate Faith I (3–4)

Post-Communion faith formation. Choose if your child is in 3rd or 4th grade and has received First Communion. 

Continuing faith formation before Confirmation. 

Confirmation Year 1 (7+)

First year of Confirmation preparation for students in 7th grade or older. Per Archdiocesan guidelines, two years of preparation are required before Confirmation. 

Confirmation Year 2 (8+)

Final Confirmation preparation for students in 8th grade or older that have completed Year 1 prep.

Early Faith Formation-Confirmation Year 1 classes are held Sundays from 8:45AM-9:55AM followed by the 10AM Mass. Confirmation Year 2 Classes are held Tuesdays from 7PM-8:15PM.


Please remember that our CFF Program is open to all registered families of St. Patrick Church. If you have not yet had a chance to do so, please register yourself and your family online at https://stpatricksparish.com/register or by stopping by the parish rectory at 114 King Street.


If you should have any questions, please contact faithformation@stpatricksmarin.org

Contact: Francesca Previtali at 415-924-0600 or faithformation@stpatricksmartin.org

Curriculum Overview

Early Faith Formation

Our faith formation program for K-2 grade children is based on an adapted version of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based Catholic faith formation program. In this program, children gather in an atrium, a place of prayer, where the only Teacher is Christ and the Eucharist is central to the life of the atrium. This is supplemented with Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, a lectionary-based faith formation program that connects each week’s Sunday Gospel to age-appropriate lessons, helping children apply the teachings of Jesus to their daily lives. 


First Communion Year 2

First Communion Preparation uses Blessed by Dynamic Catholic, an engaging program designed to help children prepare for both First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Through vibrant videos, beautifully illustrated workbooks, and interactive activities, children learn about God’s love, the importance of forgiveness, and the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The program nurtures a personal relationship with Christ while equipping families to grow in faith together.


Intermediate Faith I and II, and Confirmation Year 1

Students in these years use Pflaum Gospel Weeklies. Each week, children connect the Sunday Gospel to engaging lessons that explore Scripture, Catholic teachings, and how faith applies to everyday life. The program is enriched with Bible studies, activities highlighting the liturgical year, opportunities for catechist-led faith sharing, and additional resources that help students grow in understanding and living out their Catholic faith.


Confirmation Year 2

Students uses Decision Point by Dynamic Catholic, a program designed to engage students in exploring what it means to follow Jesus and live as a disciple in today’s world. Through thought-provoking videos, personal reflection, and group discussion, candidates are invited to deepen their relationship with Christ, understand the power of the Holy Spirit, and embrace their Catholic faith as a lifelong journey. In addition to the weekly sessions, candidates complete service hours and other assignments that help them actively engage with their faith and prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation.

Sacramental Preparation

1. Baptism, ages 7+

Our parish offers OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), Adapted for Minors for children age 7 and older who would like to enter the Catholic Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. This process helps children learn about the Catholic faith in an age-appropriate way and grow in their relationship with Christ. For more information or to enroll your child, please contact Francesca Previtali at faithformation@stpatricksmarin.org. 


For children under age 7, please contact the parish office at 415-924-0600 to learn more about baptism preparation.

2. First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

The Archdiocese of San Francisco requires at minimum a two-year involvement in parish life, including regular Mass attendance and involvement in a Faith Formation program (whether through Sunday School at St. Patrick's/another parish or Catholic school) in order for a child to receive their sacraments. This is so that the child (and the parents) are able to form a deeper understanding of the meaning of the sacraments, and be fully prepared to receive them.


If your child is in grades 2 or 3 and has completed at least one year of prior faith formation, you may register them for our "First Communion Year 2" CFF class. 


If your child is older than third grade, please reach out to Francesca Previtali at faithformation@stpatricksmarin.org to make arrangements. 

3. Confirmation

The Archdiocese of San Francisco requires at minimum a two-year involvement in parish life, including regular Mass attendance and involvement in a Faith Formation program (whether through Sunday School at St. Patrick's/another parish or Catholic school) in order for a child to receive their sacraments. This is so that the child (and the parents) are able to form a deeper understanding of the meaning of the sacraments, and be fully prepared to receive them.


If your child is in grade 7 or older, they may register for our "Confirmation Year 1" class. 


If your child in 8th grade or 9th grade, and has completed at least one year of prior faith formation, you may register them for our "Confirmation Year 2" CFF class. 


If your child is older than 9th grade and would like to be Confirmed, please reach out to Francesca Previtali at faithformation@stpatricksmarin.org to make arrangements. 

K-8 Calendar

St. Patrick's Church Faith Formation

2025-2026 Master Calendar-revised 6.5.25

Register Now!

Returning families who already have a SchoolSpeak account may simply login to schoolspeak.com and complete the following steps:


  1. Update your family members' profiles
  2. Click on where it says "Registration 2025-2026" under the Quicklinks on the left hand side. Fill out the Registration form.
  3. The registration process ends with you submitting an online payment. A confirmation message should pop up once the payment is received.


If you forgot your username/PW and need help logging in, please reach out to faithformation@stpatricksmarin.org. 

For new families, the first step is to make sure you are registered in the parish. If not, you can do so by clicking here: https://stpatricksparish.com/register


We use a platform called School Speak for our CFF registration, so after registering in the parish, please follow these steps below:


  1. Click here to request a School Speak Login. At the bottom of the page, click "Next.” Then you will enter all your information and get a School Speak Login emailed back to you within 48 hours. 
  2. Once you receive that email with the login information,, you need to return to schoolspeak.com, login, and register for classes. Once in, on the left side, click “Registration 2025-2026” and enter all of the information for your student. The registration process ends with you submitting an online payment. 


Please reach out with any questions- 415-924-0600 or faithformation@stpatricksmarin.org.

High School Faith Formation

Adult Faith Formation

OCIA - Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8 NAB)

The Journey of Faith: Inquiry
 
Do you have questions about faith, religion, and the Catholic Church? Would you like to deepen and enrich your experience of Holy Mass and the Sacraments? Are you curious about the many forms of prayer which are part of our Catholic tradition? Perhaps you are considering Baptism in the Catholic Church, or were baptized in a Christian church of a different denomination. Or perhaps you are a baptized Catholic who has not yet received the Sacraments. If these questions ring a bell or strike a chord in you or someone you know, St. Patrick Parish is offering a special Inquiry event just for you.
 
Becoming Catholic: The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
 
Adults considering entering the Catholic Church follow a process known as OCIA (The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.) OCIA offers an opportunity to come together to learn more about the faith. There are four stages: Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification/Enlightenment, and Mystagogy. Each participant is on their own unique faith journey. Together, in community, we pray, share, and learn about the Church as each progresses through the stages of OCIA.

For more information, please contact Deacon Mark Scafidi at markpmc8@gmail.com

Men of Faith - Morning Men's Study Group

Our group meets weekly to study the Sunday Gospel reading in order to strengthen our relationship with our Lord and to learn how to better live out the life God has envisioned for each one of us. If you are interested in joining our men's group, please call the rectory at (415) 924-0600 so we can connect you with our men's study group leader. 


We look forward to having you join our group!

Parish Book Clubs

Welcome to the St. Patrick's Parish Book Clubs!


Join us for engaging discussions on inspiring Catholic literature. Open to all parishioners, our club offers a welcoming space to deepen your faith, connect with fellow members, and explore a wide range of spiritual and theological books. Whether you're a lifelong reader or just starting, we invite you to share in this enriching journey of faith and fellowship. 

Mondays at 6:30PM in Healy Hall

  • Currently Reading: Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis


Tuesdays at 9:15AM in Healy Hall

  • Currently Reading: A Biblical Walk Through The Mass by Edward Sri

Check out the bulletin for the start of our next book or email faithformation@stpatricksmarin.org for more information. 


Click here for a list of past reads and other recommended Catholic books.