Religious Education

Religious Education: Our religious education program is lectionary based. Our text is Pflaum Gospel Weeklies because it allows us to learn our Catholic Tradition by reflecting on the Sunday readings most especially the Gospels. This is the very essence of Catholic life: reflecting on the Word, receiving strength through Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, and living as Christ in us.

Religious Education Sunday Schedule
Religious Education Wednesday Schedule

Independent Study: The family explores the Sunday readings together through Pflaum: Gospel Weeklies that are mailed to them. Through the Knowing Our Catholic Faith series, a text provided at the beginning of the year primary and intermediate students explore the basic teachings of the Catholic Church at an age appropriate level regarding Creed, Sacraments, Commandments and Prayer.

Liturgy of the Word with Children: In collaboration with Saint Andrew Department of Music and Liturgy, the religious education department provides a Liturgy of the Word with Children at the 8:30 AM Mass. Religious Education classes participate in Liturgy of the Word with Children at the 10:30 Mass during the school year.

Schedule for Liturgy of the Word with Children at 8:30 AM Mass
Schedule for Liturgy of the Word with Children at 10:30 AM Mass

Wednesday Night Religious Education Masses: In collaboration with Saint Andrew Department of Music and Liturgy, the religious education department provides a Liturgy of the Word with Children at two Masses on Wednesday Night during the school year. This year these Masses will be on Wednesday December 8 at the 7:00 PM Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and on February 9 at the 7:00 PM Mass on Ash Wednesday.

Preparation for the Sacrament of Penance and Rite of Reconciliation

Preparation for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion

Celebration of the Sacrament of First Holy CommunionRite of Christian Initiation Adapted for Children/Youth (7- 14)

• Children of catechetical age (7 to 14 years) and youth (older than seven years of age) who have never been baptized
• Children and youth (older than seven years of age) who have had no previous religious education and have never received First Holy Communion.
• Children and youth (older than seven years of age) who have been raised in another faith tradition.

Participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation adapted for Children. This is a gradual and lengthy process of at least nine months or longer. The unbaptized receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Baptized candidates receive sacraments of Reconciliation (during Lent) and Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

What are the signs my child is ready to become a Catholic-Christian?
The Process of Preparation
Schedule

Each month the entire religious education program focuses on a single prayer from our Catholic Tradition. We need parental support to teach children their prayers. Please cooperate with us by praying these prayers at home at the same time that we begin each session with these prayers.

Prayers

Service Opportunities: Jesus identified himself as one who had come to serve, not to be served. The gospels are filled with stories of how Jesus helped people. We are to follow his example in serving people in need. One fourth of The Catechism of the Catholic Church is concerned with morality, justice and charity. About a fourth of class time should be devoted to service since it incorporates elements of morality, justice and charity. We will have a service project each month but four special service projects each year to encourage children to share with others. We will send notes home with the children at the time of the service projects.

Service Projects and Food Collection Schedule

Community Building Activities: Jesus chose times of festivities, like the Wedding Feast at Cana, to manifest his ministry. He described the Kingdom of Heaven in terms of a Wedding Feast. Religious Education offers several Festive occasions.

Community Schedule

Parents promise at their child's baptism to raise them in the Faith by teaching them love of God and neighbor. To support families in this endeavor, Religious Education will offer a family education program series as well as two "At Home with the Faith" afternoons to give parents and children an overview of the Liturgical year and traditional ways of celebrating our seasons of Faith at home.

Family Education Program Schedule

Catechists minister to children by instructing them in the Faith. Catechists receive training and support throughout the year. Religious Education provides Catechists a teaching guide, resource manual with additional activities, a ring binder with additional supplemental materials, a CD with songs for the catechist's grade level. In addition each catechist receives a subscription to Catechist Magazine which contains adult formation as well as even more ideas for sessions. Catechists can attend the Diocesan Ministry Formation Day and any of the parish's excellent adult education offerings at the expense of the Religious Education Department.

Catechist Training Schedule