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The
Parish of St. Ann
Religious
Education
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LIVING
FOR THE LORD
ST.
ANN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION HANDBOOK
Phone –
539-5443
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Jeannie Fleming
Director of Religious
Education |
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Mary Christian
Religious Education
Secretary |
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Food for the
Needy |
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Adult Faith Formation
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Adult Faith Formation |
RCIA
COORDINATOR
JOAN KORNACKI
MISSION STATEMENT
CHRISTIAN
FORMATION PROGRAM
St. Ann’s Christian Formation Program helps adults, young people and children
develop their relationship with God and their faith life as Catholic Christians.
This includes all members of St. Ann’s and those seeking information about or
admission to our Catholic Community. We do this prayerfully through instruction,
faith sharing, formation of conscience, initiation rites and community service.
Qualified catechists using updated methods and materials provide this religious
formation. In our pre-school through grade twelve program family cooperation and
support are recognized as essential.
In addition, our beautiful location blesses us with the opportunity to welcome
and provide spiritual nourishment to seasonal parishioners and visitors.
Together we strive to grow as the family of God.
RESPONSIBILITIES
STUDENTS
Students are required by diocesan policy to attend a minimum of 30 hours of
catechesis per year. Therefore our classes meet at least 24 times for 1¼ hours.
Prompt and consistent attendance is important. Respectful behavior is
imperative.
PARENTS
Parents recognize that the family is the domestic church, the place where
children first learn to know and love God. Families need the help of the larger
church community to support their efforts to raise good Catholic Christians.
Regular Mass attendance, service to neighbor, and prayer in the home are
behaviors children need to see demonstrated. Forgiveness and reconciliation are
key elements to the Christian life and children learn these best when they are
discussed and practiced at home. Registering children in St. Ann’s Religious
Education program, please prayerfully promise to be a responsible member of this
team effort of family and parish and do all that you can to develop the faith
life of the children God has entrusted to you.
CATECHIST
A catechist is one who is moved by the Spirit to courageously respond to his/her
baptismal call by “echoing” the faith. “The catechist is essentially a
mediator. He/she facilitates communication between the people and the mystery of
God, between subjects amongst themselves, as well as with the community.” (General
Directory for Catechesis, 156) The importance of the person of the catechist
and the role of the catechist is seen in each child’s understanding and joy as
catechist and child build together the Kingdom of God.
The following are the aspects of catechetical ministry that a catechist is
called to commit to:
Have an active
liturgical life by attending weekly Mass.
- Grow in your own
faith by attending one certification class each year.
- Attend the
scheduled inservice/catechist meetings each year.
- Prepare for each
class session in advance of the class time.
- Openly share your
prayer life and faith with the children.
- Teach Catholic
Doctrine and Scripture, not opinion.
- Plan meaningful
lessons each session.
- Arrive and
dismiss promptly. Please be ready to start class on time.
- Foster a
positive, non-threatening classroom atmosphere with reverence for the
student’s physical safety. No corporal punishment is permitted.
- Plan age
appropriate activities.
- Preview all
videos before showing in classroom.
- Provide a written
evaluation twice a year.
DIRECTOR OF
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION [D.R.E.]
The D.R.E. is a pastoral minister who envisions, directs, and accompanies the
parish in Christian Formation from Baptism until death. The D.R.E. is
responsible for the overall administration at St. Ann’s of the Religious
Education Program including youth, adult, and R.C.I.A. and reports to the pastor
and Christian Formation Committee. Identifying and coordinating volunteers,
planning programs, researching textbooks and materials, resourcing the
catechists, supervising and observing the classes, providing effective
evaluation are some of the D.R.E.’s duties. Maintaining a safe and respectful
atmosphere for Christian learning is a most important responsibility. In case of
student misconduct, the DRE should be called and will contact the parents. The
DRE serves as a resource person for the parish in religious education matters.
Following are a list of "basics"
taught in our Diocese:
1. Introduce the
children to God through experiencing His world at their level of observation
and understanding.
2. Introduce the
children to the idea of Trinity in an elementary way – for instance "The
Sign of the Cross".
3. Introduce the
children to Jesus - through the New Testament - who He was, what He did, the
loving message of His life.
4. Introduce the
children to their spiritual roots, the roots of Jesus and His Apostles, in the
Hebrew Scriptures of the Bible.
5. Introduce the
children to the ways and means of community through family, school and church.
6. Introduce the
children to the ways and means by which they will meet Jesus throughout their
lives - the seven sacraments.
7. As they grow and
develop physically, emotionally and intellectually, to challenge them to a
broader and deeper understanding of their faith and to give them the support
they need to form an active conscience and positive moral attitudes.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
TEXTBOOKS
KINDERGARTEN - This Is Our
Faith - God's love is the theme and children are taught to recognize
that God created everything out of love and to love themselves because God
made them and loves them just the way they are.
GRADE 1 – Blest Are We - The theme focus is the Holy
Trinity. The children learn that God the Creator gives us every gift, that
Jesus our Redeemer grew up in a loving family and teaches us to love one
another, and that the Holy Spirit guides us in our daily life. They are
introduced to the concept of church as the group of Jesus’ followers on
earth dedicated to living the gospel.
GRADE 2 – Blest Are We – Our Baptism welcomes us into the
church of Jesus’ followers. We learn about belonging, forgiveness, God’s
word, Eucharist, and peace & justice. Immediate preparation for the
Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist takes place also in second
GRADE 3 - Blest Are We - Focuses on church and how we are one,
holy, catholic, apostolic, and universal church. We are a caring and
ministering community.
GRADE 4 - Blest Are We - The theme is morality. Students learn they
have a choice between good and evil, and to follow the 10 Commandments and the
Beatitudes as guides to live the way of Jesus.
GRADE 5 - Blest Are We - An indepth study of the seven sacraments
which are presented as sacred signs as well as celebration and require our
commitment to a moral life.
GRADE 6 - Blest Are We - The theme is the Hebrew
Scriptures. The Hebrew Scripture images of God and His followers are presented
through the stories of creation, the covenant at Sinai and the Exodus. During
Lent the sixth grade, along with their regular course of study, will be
studying the Sacrament of Reconciliation from the growing adolescent's
perspective. There is a Parent Meeting before Lent to discuss the program in
depth.
GRADE 7 – Blest Are We
- The theme this year is a deeper knowledge and understanding of Jesus. We
review existing knowledge about Jesus. We review existing knowledge about
Jesus, his culture and the history of the people of his time. We hope to
instill a familiarity with and love for the four gospels also.
CONFIRMATION
CLASS
GRADES
8 & 9
Our current 8th and 9th graders have a two year
preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. They are divided into groups
under the guidance of adult catechists. This year the theme is the Story
of the Church, it’s history, structure and functions. We will look
at the role of the church and the church community in our relationship with
God in preparation for making the commitment of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
GRADES 10, 11
& 12
Will meet again on Sunday evenings
from 7:00-8:00 PM. Their course will mix Catholic identity with a Scripture
based video series on faith and life in a practical way for youth. Meeting
Jesus in our everyday life will be emphasized. There will be lots of
discussion, questions and sharing in a casual fun atmosphere with caring and
skilled catechists. This lively group has a loyal following and interested
friends are welcome.
CHILDREN’S
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
is offered during 10:30AM Mass when Religious Ed is in session. This option
welcomes school age children who have not yet received First Eucharist to
leave the big church and hear Liturgy of the Word in language they can respond
to and understand.
S.A.Y.O. (St. Ann’s Youth
Organization)
SAYO meets the third Sunday of the
month, at 7:00PM in the Masterson Center. Grades 10, 11 & 12 do not
meet that Sunday so they can attend SAYO. SAYO St. Ann’s Youth Organization
is a gathering of high school students offering opportunities for fun and
service to round out study and prayer offered by the Religious Education
program and worship in the parish.
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