August 17, 2025

Westfield’s Catholic Community wraps up summer faith formation week

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

WESTFIELD – The Westfield Catholic Community offered a week of faith formation Aug. 11-15 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish. Forty children enrolled in the all-day camp, which replaces faith formation classes for them during the school year. The curriculum for the week was centered on the seven sacraments.

“We offer this week because parents voiced how increasingly difficult it is for their families to attend religious education during the week and on weekends,” said Lisa Laferriere, the coordinator of faith formation for middle and high school students and director of religious education for the Westfield Catholic Community. 

This was the second summer that the faith formation week was offered to families. Each day students attended Mass. Eucharistic adoration was held on Thursday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 15. Deacon Paul Federici explained to the students the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist during adoration.

“We are doing sacraments this year with the older grades and decided to center the week around them and their importance in our faith,” Laferriere said. On the day catechists taught Baptism, Laferriere had a water slide for the students.

“Summer gives the students an opportunity to develop a bond with their small groups and leaders, while learning their faith in a fun atmosphere,” she said.

Psalm33 Music ministry led the praise and worship music throughout the week.

Faith formation classes are still offered during the academic year, Sunday mornings and evenings, and Monday afternoons. To learn more, go to westfieldcatholic.org.