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Sacrament Prep Information Meetings

Sacrament Prep Information Meetings

Join our Sacramental Preparation staff to find out how your family can begin preparing with your child for the Sacraments of First Penance/First Communion and Confirmation.

St. Max Festival

St. Max Festival

Have you heard the news? We are bringing back our 3-day weekend format, June 21-23! Bring the whole family for a fun weekend of food, games, entertainment, rides, raffles, baskets and more!

Almost Home

Almost Home

Our Almost Home expansion is almost done! See here for more information...

Eucharistic Revival

Eucharistic Revival

This new year marks the start of the Diocesan-wide Eucharistic Revival! Throughout the year, will be hosting various Eucharist-themed events at St. Max. A full schedule for the year can be found here.

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Below you will find information that may be beneficial for speaking to your kids about the following tough topics. The provided talking points are meant to be a starting point for continued discussions on the topic. Talking points in each age group are meant to build on the prior age explanation. Many of the suggestions are meant to lay the ground work for an authentic and full understanding of the richness of the truths of the faith. Therefore, some points may not directly respond to the topic, but are essential groundwork for grasping the "why" behind what the Church teaches.

**CCC- Catechism of the Catholic Church 

Church Teachings

What does the Church teach on gender identity? 

Catechism References: CCC 2357-2359; YouCat 65, 286-295

Age 5 and Under: God makes everybody's body. God makes bodies different in a special way. God makes boy bodies and God makes girl bodies. Boys grow up to be men and girls grow up to be women. God makes us to love each other with our bodies  (e.g. a father holds his child in his strong arms ad a mother gently kisses a "boo-boo" when her child falls down)

Age 5-8:Everybody is a person. We all have human bodies and human souls, human minds and human hearts. And yet we are all different. God has a special plan for each one of us. He makes us boys or girls, inside and out. A boy's body is male. When a boy grows up he will have bigger muscles and a deeper voice. He will be a man. A girl's body is female. When she grows up, she will have a soft, beautiful shape, and a space for a baby to grow inside. She will be a woman. Girls can't be boys and boys can't be girls. But, boys aren't better than girls and girls aren't better than boys. It's good to be a boy and it's good to be a girl.

Age 9-12: God made us male or female when he created us in his image. He made us with a body and soul that are inseparably linked to one another. Our bodies tell us what we need to know and our bodies show our soul to others. Our bodies, created by God, are gifts to be lived and shared. Boys and girls have equal, complementary dignity and importance in human relationships.

Age 12-15: Men and women are created equal but they are different. Both share equal dignity, but that does not mean we are the same. God creates individuals as either male or female, and our bodies communicate that reality. An individual cannot choose to change this reality. Any physical changes to an individual's body to make them appear to be someone of the opposite sex causes their body to speak an untruth. God calls us to be truthful.

Age 15 and Up: Our gender is part of who God created us to be. Our bodies communicate that reality. Some individuals struggle with feelings that they are "trapped in the wrong body." We should be sensitive to these individuals, but be confident to stand up for the truth that their body and gender are a gift from God. Just because a male or female finds themselves exhibiting attractions or tendencies that are often associated with the opposite sex, does not mean they are that gender on the inside.

First Penance & First Eucharist Preparation