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Religious Education for Preschool - 6th Grade
Sunday classes 9:30-10:45 and 11-12:15
Monday classes 6:30-7:45PM
Classes begin Sep 21 & 22
Grades First through Sixth all use the Finding God Program. Parent pages will be sent home each week. Weekly parent gatherings will be held during the year (four additional ones for those with children preparing for First Confession and Communion.) and 5 parent newsletters will also be given out.
Class times have changed for next year as noted above. We have added 15 minutes to the classtime for each of the sessions.
You can download the three forms needed to register your child by click on the Boxes below. All three forms must be turned in to complete registration. The fourth form lists the Calendar for the year. This can also be found in the Religious Education Handbook that is given out when you register for the program.
Parent Gatherings
Every week when the children are in session there will be an opportunity for adults to gather for their own growth in our faith.
We begin the year with a meeting and open house which we ask all parents to attend.
Parent meeting & Open House: Sunday, Sep. 28 and Monday, Sep 29 during the childrens classes St. Ann's Hall in the St. Joseph Center
Come find out about the program, meet your child(ren)'s catechists and visit with other parents.
A Well Built Faith: A Catholic's guide to knowing and sharing what we believe
Begins Oct 5 & 6 in St. Ann's Hall in the new St. Joseph Center
This 18 session discussion series will use the book by Jow Paprocki follws the structure of the Catechism and makes these topics about our Catholic faith , accessible and relevant to the lives of average Catholics.
Family Celebrations Four times during the year we replace our regular classes with special family activities. Our Christmas and Easter Season(Closing) parties and our Lenten Stations of the Cross.
- Saints Celebration Nov 2 & 3 at regular class times
- Christmas Celebration Sunday, Dec 14 9:45-11 for all classes
- Lenten Stations of the Cross Mar 29 & 30 at regular class times
- Easter Closing Celebration Sunday, Apr 19 9:45-11 for all classes
Various crafts, game, and food booths are set up for the families to visit during the Christmas and Easter celebrations. For the Lenten Stations the children dress up and present the stations as we pray.
Grade level Themes:
- 3 Yr. Olds-Kinder learn about our Sunday readings and how Jesus calls us to follow Him. We use the Celebrating the Lectionary Program. Craft activities and music to reinforce the theme of the day. Some exciting additions will be added to this program to help bring the Gospel stories alive.
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1st Grade lays the foundation for First Communion in the Second Grade. They will learn that God is our Creator and loves us as our Father. Jesus came to tell us about God the Father and saves us through his life, death, and resurrection. The Holy Spirit shares the life of the risen Lord and forms the community of the Church. we know Jesus through personal prayer and by worshiping God together, especially in Eucharist. We can thank Jesus for the gift of himself and the Holy Spirit by obeying the Commandments, caring for one another and for the world.
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2nd Grade focuses on First Confession and First Communion. They will learn that God loves each of us and we are called to act on God's love for us by loving one another, by living as Jesus wants us to live. As they prepare for the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, special attention is given to examining our conscience, how to make a good confession and the importance of preparation to receive Jesus in Communion. 
3rd Grade will focus on God creating us good and calling us to live in community. The role of Jesus in calling us to this new way of life- what it means to be a faithful follower of Him and how close Jesus wants us to be with our Father are emphasized. They learn how each of the sacraments deepens our relationship with God and how the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity are the foundation for the moral choices we make as we grow to be like Jesus.
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4th Grade looks at how God calls us to lead a moral life. . The Ten Commandments provide us with the parameters to life a life for God and others. Jesus taught us the Beatitudes and their relationship to living a Christian life Special attention is given to the Sacraments of Healing-Penance and Anointing of the Sick, and the Sacraments
at the Service of Communion-Holy Orders and Matrimony.
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5th Grade reminds us that we are better able to live like Jesus in making choices for God and others because we are strengthened in the sacramental life of the Church. We enter into this new way of life when we celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation. Through the sacraments we live more fully in the Holy Spirit as
members of the Church, united in diversity under the magisterium. The fullness of our life in Jesus will find completion at the Last Judgment when we face our Savior. On Sunday Feb. 1 we'll have a 5th Graders Day beginning at 9:30 in the St. Joseph Center. Watch for details after the new year.
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6th Grade explores the history of salvation through the Old Testament beginning with creation and continuing through the stories of our ancestors in faith: Abraham, Moses, David and Solomon. On Sunday Oct 12 we'll have a 6th graders Day beginning at 9:30 in the St. Joseph Center they will be presented with a Bible that will be their's to keep and use in the years ahead. We'll have a session in the St. Joseph Center from 9:30-11, mass at 11:15 during which their Bibles will be blessed, and then for those who can stay for the afternoon we'll have lunch and head off for a fun outing.
In addition to the 5th and 6th grade Days listed above we will also have three other special events for these two grade level during the year. A Lenten Retreat, a social outing and a service day are being planned. Some time has been set aside to meet with parents of children in these two grades at the end of the Parent Meeting and Open House on Sep 27 & 28.
Living Stations are celebrated
during Lent
This is scheduled for
Sunday March 29th & Monday March 30th
this year.
Preparation for 1st Confession and 1st Communion
is normally done during the Second Grade. The focus throughout that year in the Religious Education is on preparing for these two sacraments.
Older students (3rd grade and above) who need to prepare for these sacraments or to be baptized are placed in regular classes with their grade level and begin a two year period of preparation for the sacraments. Once a month, beginning in October, a session will be held on the first Thursday for the parents and children to come to understand some of the key elementss of our faith. Be sure to indicate on the registration form that they need to receive these sacraments. The dates for their five sessions is listed below.
First Confession will be Tues. Jan 27th. at 6PM
First Communions will be in small groups at the regular weekend masses following Easter
Prior to each sacrament their will be several special sessions:
- Parent sessions
- Special Classes for Older Communion Students(3rd grade and above)
- Retreat days
- Interviews
- Communion Prayer service and rehearsal
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Parent Sessions are held for each of these sacraments. Parents are the first and primary educators of their children. The sessions are held at the same time as the Sunday Classes so parents can attend while their child is in class. The sessions provide an opportunity to grow as adults in our understanding of the sacraments that are children are preparing to receive and to become more aware of ways they can lay the foundation for their child's preparation at home. Parents are urged to attend each of the four sessions. There are three options for each: Sundays 9:30-10:45AM and 11:00-12:15 and Mondays 6:30-7:45 PM, on each of the dates below. Parents may attend any of the three time offerings. If you cannot attend a session please contact Bill Smith to check on the topics covered and home materials given out.
Confession Parent Sessions:
Session I Sun. Oct 26 9:30 or 11 or Mon. Oct 27 at 6:30
Session II Sun. Nov 16 9:30 or 11 or Mon. Nov 17 at 6:30
Communion Parent Sessions:
Session I Sun. Feb 8 9:30 or 11 or Mon. Feb 9 at 6:30
Session II Sun. Mar 15 9:45 or 11 or Mon. Mar 16 at 6:30
Parent Sacrament Session
- Retreat Days are held for youth preparing for the sacraments. Parents join in this preparation by serving as leaders at the various stations.
Confession Retreat Sat, Jan 17 10AM-2PM
Communion Retreat Sat. Apr 4 10AM-2PM
A parent sharing the story of Zachaeuss with one of the Confession retreat groups
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An interview is held with each child prior to the reception of both Confession and Communion. Its purpose is to review the topics covered and ensure the children have a basic understanding of the sacraments. Areas for continued review will be shared with parents for follow up. This year our deacons will be doing the interviews with the children. A letter with all the dates, times, etc will be mailed in October with the confession information and in January with the communion information.
Confession Interviews -Sun, Jan 19 9:30-12:15 and Monday, Jan 20 3:30-4:30 & 6:30-7:45
Communion Interviews -Sun, Apr 5 9:30-12:15 and Monday, Apr 6 9:30-12:15
- Communion Rehearsal and prayer service is held prior to the communions. It is a simple service modeled on the Last Supper. We will offer to dates to choose from:
Tuesday Apr. 21 or May 5 from 6-7 PM
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