Registration

To register a child in the Religious Education Program, a family must be registered in the parish. Each child is to be registered in the program by a parent or legal guardian before attending class. A Baptismal Certificate must be presented at the time of initial registration. Registration takes place throughout June. Late registration occurs after that. A calendar of the year and other important information for the year is sent home before classes begin.

Curriculum

The Archdiocese of New York has published Guidelines for Catechesis which ensures a clear and uniform presentation of the faith for each grade level. These Guidelines are implemented in all parish Religious Education Programs and parochial schools throughout the Archdiocese.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend classes each session. When a student is absent, the office should be contacted by the parent or legal guardian explaining the reason for the absence. An email or note may be sent to the office if a phone call is not made.

It is the responsibility of the parent to insure that their child completes the make up work missed due to absences. Excessive absences will result in the repeat of the year's material.
 
Students are expected to be prepared and punctual for class.
 

Mass Attendance

Weekly Mass attendance is an obligation of our faith and a requirement of our Program. Students hand in the Mass envelopes at the end of Mass directly to a Priest or Deacon. On the occasion that you take your child to Mass at another Catholic Church, please have the bulletin signed by the Priest or Deacon from that Church and submit it to the Catechist or a Staff member the following week with your child’s name clearly written on the front of the bulletin.
 

Preparation for Sacraments

Christian initiation is celebrated in Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Through these visible signs a person is incorporated into the Church and shares its mission in the world. Full initiation into the Church occurs by stages.

When we have been weakened by sin, we are healed and strengthened through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Religious Education throughout all grade levels is essential for proper sacramental preparation.
Requirements for the reception of First Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation are determined by Canon Law:

1. The age of reason
2. Proper knowledge of the Sacraments
3. Emotional and spiritual preparation
4. Approval by parent, catechists, D/CRE, Pastor

Parent Guidelines

The Religious Education Program is designed to assist parents in their sacred responsibility to educate their child/ren in the faith. It complements but can never replace parents in carrying out their responsibility.

Parents: You are the first and foremost catechists of your children. You catechize powerfully by example and instruction. This journey began when you had your child/ren baptized.  You communicate values and positive attitudes by…

• attending weekly Mass and receiving the sacraments reverently and regularly
• being actively involved in the parish and seeking opportunities to serve others
• building prayer into family life and showing love for Jesus, the Church and each other 

The goals of Religious Education are:

• to teach students what a Catholic believes and how a Catholic lives in response to that message
• to involve students and families in the life of the parish, i.e. in worship, community and service
•  to prepare students to receive the Sacraments
• to encourage parents to continue their own religious development
•  

Student Mass Attendance is of primary importance for faith formation.  Parents are required to bring their child/ren to Mass weekly. The Mass attendance envelopes distributed on the first day of class must be handed directly to one of the priests or deacons at the end of Mass.  One envelope per week is handed in. Students must have satisfactory Mass attendance.  If you cannot ensure weekly Mass attendance for your child/ren, a letter/e-mail, addressed to the Pastor, needs to be sent to our Office before classes begin.  A meeting can also be scheduled with the Pastor (279-2021).

Parents, Communication and your cooperation is vital!  Please…

• Make class attendance a priority for your child/ren
• Inform us at the start of each year if there are circumstances that will affect your child’s Mass attendance
• Inform us if your child has a disability or special need so we may adequately serve them in the program
• Attend all required parent meetings to grow in your understanding and appreciation of the sacraments
• Provide our office with your e-mail address so that we have a fast and convenient way to contact you
• Inform us of any address, telephone number, e-mail or emergency information changes as they occur

In the case of custodial situations (i.e. Court mandates), we must be informed of those permitted to make pick-ups.

Our Catechists volunteer their time to teach your child/ren.

Students must be:

• Cooperative -- on time and prepared for class each week.
• Respectful -- to their Catechist, clergy, staff and classmates with regard to behavior and cooperation.
• Responsible – Complete all missed work and assignments (see “Make-up Work” policy for details).
• Cell phones and electronic devices may not be used and must be turned off or on silent during all sessions.

Discipline – A student’s disruptive or disrespectful behavior will result in a call home.

The Religious Education Program reserves the right to remove a disruptive student from a class session if:

• the student’s behavior is seriously inhibiting the learning of others in a group
• he/she is not respectful to catechists, clergy, staff and classmates and is destructive of  church and school property
• it is believed that the student would benefit significantly from an individual or smaller group setting

Class Absenses

On or before the day of absence, please e-mail us at  [email protected] (or call 279-6098)

• State student’s name, grade, date of absence and reason
• Excessive unexplained absences will result in a repeat of the year’s material

Early Pick-ups: Taking a student out of class early is disruptive and, therefore, is discouraged.  If an early pick-up cannot be avoided, send in a note to your child’s teacher including child’s name, date, time of pick-up, reason, person designated to pick up the child and parent’s signature.  Please use the back door of the school to come in and sign the child out.

If someone else will be picking up your child at dismissal, please send in a signed note to your child’s teacher with the name of the person you have designated.  Indicate whether or not this arrangement will be ongoing. 

Medication – No medication of any kind (both prescription & over-the-counter) should be administered to, or taken by the student during our sessions.  If an exception has to be made, the parent must provide a written request and directives. 

Student Information Record - We are required by the Archdiocese to have a Student Information Record on file for each child.  If you did not complete this section on your registration form, we will contact you.