Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. — Matthew 28:19-20
Together with the rest of the religious education staff – Regina Simony, Florence Parent, Kathy Rochon, Julie Garascia, Kim Houseman and Maryann Brani – I would like to welcome you to the St. Anastasia Religious Education Page.
Our Vision for Religious Education at St. Anastasia is to lead our faith community to a deeper knowledge and love of God and the Church by fostering a firm commitment to and relationship with Jesus Christ and one another in our classes, our liturgies, our social gatherings, and in service to others.
Our faith formation is a life-long journey which begins at baptism. The life we are called to is one of true discipleship to Jesus Christ. It is not enough to just know about Him, but to really know Him.
Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” to which Peter replied, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:27-29). Peter said this out of the conviction that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah, the one whose coming had been foretold by the prophets for the salvation of the world. Who is Jesus? So what? What difference does he make in my life? How we answer these questions affects what we teach, how we pray, how we relate to other people, and how we live. Helping others to encounter the living Christ is a fundamental goal of all catechetical efforts. It is our desire to help you and your children to encounter Jesus, the living Christ, in our religious education program here at St. Anastasia. We strive to provide opportunities for you and your family to grow in your knowledge and love of God and of the teachings of the Catholic Church in our classes, our liturgies, our social gatherings, and in service to others.
Please take a minute for yourself, and visit the Loyola website, and visit the daily 3 Minute Retreat offered. 3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.
Another site you might find very helpful with the latest news from Bishops, reviews on books, Church documents, Evangelization and Outreach programs is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
A Lenten Calendar to guide you through the season: Lent calendar 2010.
Policies & Procedures:
ATTENDANCE POLICY—Please contact the Education Office at 248-689-8380, Ext. 117 for grades pre-school – 3, Ext. 101 for grades 4 – 6, and Ext. 111 for grades 7 – 9, or your child’s catechist to report an absence. If a student misses more than four class sessions, they will not be considered as having completed that grade. Students are responsible for missed material, which will be available from their catechist upon their return to class.
SACRAMENT POLICY—The sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are celebrated in the 2nd Grade. Completion of the 1st Grade Program is a pre-requisite for the 2nd Grade Program. The Confirmation Program is a three year program beginning in 7th grade, with the Rite of Confirmation at the end of 9th grade. Students are expected to participate in and complete all three preparation years. Candidates must exhibit knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith prior to reception of the sacraments.
CIRCLE OF GRACE—The Archdiocese of Detroit has instituted a program for the safe environment education of children and young people supported and mandated by the Archbishop of Detroit. This program is called Circle of Grace. It is meant to be integrated into the current curriculum for religious education programs for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade at St. Anastasia. This will take place in one or two lesson(s) in all of these grades during the course of this school year. If you would like to review the lesson plans, you may do so at any time by stopping by the Parish Library during regular business hours or after Mass on the weekend. These library copies are in a binder located on the shelf near the window and are not to be removed from the library. You do have the choice to “opt out” of this program if you choose. Forms are available in the Religious Education Office or you may download one from our website. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this program, please call the Religious Education Office at 248.689.8380, Ext. 111 or E-Mail.
PAYMENT POLICY—Payment is expected at the time of registration. Education fees will not exceed $350 for any family registered in the parish before 6/30/09. It is our policy that every child is entitled to attend our programs regardless of their ability to pay. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, we do offer a payment plan. Please contact the Religious Education Office before the Sep 10th deadline to discuss your options. Registrations received after Sep 10th will incur a $25 late fee (to be included over and above the cost cap if applicable). There is also a $150 assessment fee for non-parishioners and new parishioners (new to the parish after 6/30/09).
WEATHER POLICY—If the Troy School District (TSD) is closed due to weather conditions, Religious Education classes and programs are cancelled. Check the website if unsure.