“The Christian family loudly proclaims both the present virtues of the Kingdom of God and the hope of a blessed life to come.” – Lumen Gentium
Sacramental Prep and Religious Education for Grades K-12
SJB Religious Education |
St. John’s offers religious education in family model starting in kindergarten and extending up through 12th grade.
RE begins in September each year, concluding in May. The core feature of our program is a focus on parent education and empowerment to be the primary formators of their childrens’ faith.
This is coupled with a weekly required class for any child hoping to receive a Sacrament this year.
Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year will be IN PERSON. If you would like the process to go quickly, you can print the following form ahead of time and bring it with you. We will also have forms available for you to fill out at the following times:
July 13th after the 5 PM Mass
July 14th after the 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 4 PM Mass
July 15th – 19th please email or call for a specific time during the week of Totus Tuus
August 4th after the 10:30 AM Mass *There will be no registration available after August 4th
If you have any questions about registration or need to set up an additional time please contact Clara Morgan and Marla Zubrinic at SJB-RE@johnthebaptist.org
When you come to register you must bring a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate and a method of payment (card, cash, or check). The cost for one child is $85 total and the cost for two or more children is $150 total. We will not accept registration for children who have already been Baptized without a copy of their Baptism Certificate.
OVERVIEW OF ST. JOHN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Education and formation in the faith is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give to their child. In a modern age increasingly hostile to religion, it is vital to take this duty of formation in the faith seriously to truly equip those who will be the future of the Church.
While we know that parents are called to be the primary educators of the faith for their children, we also know that teaching in this way may be very new for many parents. With this in mind, we are focusing on preparing and forming our parents as a cornerstone of our RE program so that they may be confident instructing their children.
We also have classes for children who are going to receive a Sacrament to attend in person to act as supplements to the discussions on the faith they have at home with parents.
Parent classes for 2024-2025 school year will be held the first Thursday of each month from 5 – 6:45 PM. These classes are mandatory and will begin on Thursday, September 5th. Any children in grades 1st – 5th, receiving the Sacraments or not, are invited to participate in a children’s community meeting at the same time as the parent class.
Children’s Classes for the 2024-2025:
First Reconciliation Class – Tuesdays 5 – 5:45 PM
Confirmation & First Communion Class – Tuesdays 6 – 6:45 PM
Classes for Children Who Need Baptism (OCIC) – Tuesdays 6 – 6:45 PM
The classes for children who are receiving their Sacraments are mandatory, but will only focus on Sacramental Preparation. Parents still are responsible for teaching their own children our faith and practicing it with them every day.
The heart of our sacramental program is actually teaching and building up our parents to be leaders and educators of the faith at home with their children. All parents are required to attend a once a month class, time to be determined by July this summer.
Classes feature small groups, sacred art, a theology lesson, and prayer!
As stated before all children and teens who hope to receive a Sacrament this year, must attend weekly classes on Tuesdays all year. If students are not present for the classes, Father will make the decision if they are able to receive the Sacrament.
Reconciliation (Confession)
Children in 2nd grade and above who have been Baptized and have not yet received their First Reconciliation will prepare for that Sacrament during their first year in Family of Faith. Children who are in First Grade or Kindergarten are not yet eligible for reception of Sacraments.
Holy Eucharist and Confirmation
Children are eligible to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist on any given year after they have received First reconciliation, dependent on an evaluation of their readiness. When a child and a parent believe they are ready, they will attend classes for a whole school year learning and preparing for the Sacraments, submit a Saint report about their Confirmation Saint and a Sponsor form for an eligible Sponsor for Confirmation.
Frequently asked questions about Family Catechesis
Shouldn’t the religious education of children be left to the parish?
The old model of faith formation and religious education has been ineffective, and struggled to transform family life. Since many young people who go through this old classroom-style faith formation are leaving the faith, we are proposing a new model (which is actually an ancient model) where the parish focuses on catechizing the parents in order to strengthen parent/child engagement in the Faith. This increases the likelihood that a child will receive an authentic education in the Faith and develop into a knowledgeable and practicing Catholic. Countless studies have shown that parental engagement with the child is the single most effective way to develop young people into disciples of Christ.
What if the parent doesn’t know the Faith well, or know how to teach?
A Family of Faith is completely turn-key for the parents, giving them the easy-to-understand content and step-by-step instructions for each activity, helping them to gain knowledge of the Faith and confidence as they teach it. Various tools are also available to help parents turn potentially problematic situations into successes, such as what to do when a child asks a question you do not know.
But what if parents don’t want to be bothered and remove their child from religious instruction altogether? Wouldn’t we be better off just maintaining the status quo?
This did not prove to be the case in the pilot tests conducted with Family of Faith at parishes across the country. While it is true that some parents opt to simply not do any religious education instead of becoming involved in the program, the vast majority of families are finding A Family of Faith to be far more flexible, enabling them to transform the family activities they already do into encounters with God. Parents are able to enter into those “teachable moments” of everyday life. A Family of Faith leads parents into a conversion to Jesus Christ, which is beneficial to the parish, but most of all to the children they are raising.
Is there a lot of work involved for families? How much time will this program take?
No. There are two lessons to teach each month, along with a variety of family and child activities. Each lesson should take no more than 30-45 minutes to complete, and requires minimal preparation on the part of the parent.
For what age children has this program been developed?
Because this program focuses on teaching the faith to parents and helping them make it an organic part of family life, it is perfect for parents with children of all ages. For example, a monthly feature called “Your Catholic Home” gives specific advice for ways to make the Faith a regular part of each day. The Children’s Activity Books are recommended for children in grades K-6, and features engaging activities at various grade levels. Parents can skip the activities they believe are too elementary or too advanced for their child.