Brief History of the
Ministry of Faith Formation Program

The parish of 65 families was established June 16, 1956 on thirty-two acres of land at the southwest corner of Davidson and Dublin Roads and would serve as the future home for a church, a school and a rectory. Fr. Michael Wellnitz was the founding pastor.

In 1962, ground was broken to build a school for grades 5 through 8. By 1970, grades 1 through 4 had been added. The history of the Religious Education Program, then called "CCD," which provided ongoing instruction to children who attended public schools is pieced together from old parish records. We do know that in 1982 the enrollment in the program was 150 children. By 1985, three one hour class shifts provided catechesis for 375 children in grades 1 through 8, while 76 four and five year olds attended class on Sunday morning during the 10:30 a.m. Mass. In 1986, there were 560 children in the program with an estimated enrollment of 700 for the following year.

The growth of the parish was fast paced. By 1993, St. Brendan parish had grown from 65 families to 2,300 - a reflection of the population growth in the surrounding communities of Hilliard and Dublin. A statement from Parish Council minutes in that year read: "The Religious Education program presently has 820 children enrolled with a staggering 933 additional children UNDER the age of 5 registered in the parish!"

Today we no longer use the titles "CCD" or even Religious Education, but rather, Ministry of Faith Formation to reflect spiritual growth as a lifelong process. Our MFF Mission Statement identifies that belief. There are 1200 children in the present day program, over 200 of these are 3, 4, 5, and 6 year olds who come to "learn about Jesus" during the 8:45 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Masses. Two sessions of 75 minute classes for all other elementary and junior high grades are held on Monday evenings. Over 110 dedicated catechists and aides volunteer in our program. High school teens attending area Catholic and public schools are an invaluable part of this ministry.

In place of attending class, parents may choose to participate in our FAITH AT HOME program available for children in grades 1 through 6. Parents accept full responsibility as the primary faith formers of their children. Currently we have almost 200 children in this viable program.

About 130 junior high teens participate in the summer classes offered as an alternative to attending 2 semesters of weekday classes during the catechetical year.

As our 2005 jubilee prayer said, "We thank you Lord for the blessings bestowed on us...we ask that you continue to nourish our souls as we pray for one another...guide us as you have done in the past so that St. Brendan the Navigator Parish will continue to flourish in the future."

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