Family Catechesis
Our format for Religious Education is a Family Catechesis Program for Grades K*-7. We are committed to helping you, parents, share your faith with your children and live out your Domestic Church. When we talk about the Domestic Church, we are referring to your family and to the reality that it is within the family that we first learn who God is and how God loves us. In the Family Catechesis Program, we will walk alongside you as you share the Catholic faith with your children. (Preschool and Kindergarten students have the option of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd or Children’s Liturgy).
*For Kindergarteners – we are leaving it up to parents to decide which option they would like to use for this grade level. Kindergarteners may be registered for Family Catechesis (for grades K – 7), Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (for PreK – Knd – limited space), or you may choose to participate in Children’s Liturgy on Sundays at 10AM Mass (no registration required for this option).
For the in-person lessons in 2023-24, you will be asked to choose one of these (2) sessions:
Tuesdays from 5:30 – 7:00PM (time subject to change) or Wednesdays from 5:00 – 6:30PM (time subject to change)
In-person classes for SPANISH Religious Education: Saturdays 10 – 11:30AM. For preschool/kindergarten and students who have not yet prepared for or received First Holy Communion.
Here is a quick summary of our Family Catechesis program format:
The Family Catechesis program will have everything you (the parent) need to lead brief at-home faith-based discussion with your family (with activity and/or video components).
- The schedule includes 9 in-person, grade-level classes (1x/month). All in-person classes begin in the Church. Families come in and sit together for the first 20 minutes or so. Then the families are asked to walk their children to their classrooms for instruction with their peers, facilitated by a volunteer catechist. This year our focus will be on the 7 Sacraments of the Church. After children are dropped off at their classroom, parents will proceed to the Davidson Center (or return to the Church) for a Parent Session (includes important information as well as opportunities to grow in our faith and learn at an adult level). For parents of children who are preparing to receive First Communion this year, the Parent Session will take place in the Administrative Center, Room B. These children will join their parent(s) in Room B for the last 15 minutes of class time.
- For the 4 family sessions, again we will begin in the Church, and families will remain together for the whole class time. These fun family lessons may move into the Social Hall or Davidson Center – depending on the activities planned. If you normally attend on Tuesdays – but are unable to attend on the Tuesday that a family session is happening – please feel free to attend on the Wednesday that week instead (or vice versa). Just let us know with a quick email – so that we are aware of the change! (There is no plan for make-up lessons for family sessions).
- There are 9 at-home family lessons (1-2x/month) based on the Sunday Gospel readings. These lessons are comprised of the Gospel reading, a reflection (short reading with something to think about), a few discussion questions, and an activity and/or video link. You will receive these lesson packets at the in-person Parent Sessions. You might glance at the lesson ahead of time – there may be something to prepare for the activity (like ingredients for a recipe – or picking up a couple simple supplies you may already have on hand). Each family will access a Google classroom online to upload a picture of the family or kids going over the lesson or completing an activity together. This will be your accountability (attendance) for the at-home lessons. This will not be a complicated lesson. The idea is to encourage family understanding of the Sunday Gospel readings and a closer connection to our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Mass each week. You choose when to go over the lesson for that week, with lessons “due” on the Tuesday or Wednesday (whichever you choose) after that Gospel is read at Mass. It is flexible and “simple” – yet profound – as it will allow for learning and growing together as a family. Thereby building your “domestic church” – which is within your household.