Learn About St. Mary's Church
Religious Education
Calendar and Bulletin Board
Click on the image above to
view the full religious
education
calendar and bulletin board
in a new browser window.
|
"Education is, in a
very special way,
the concern of the
Church, not only
because the Church
must be recognized
as a human society
capable of imparting
education, but
especially because it has
the duty of
proclaiming the way
of salvation to all
men, of revealing
the life of Christ
to those who
believe, and of
assisting them with
unremitting care so
that they may be
able to attain to
the fullness of that
life."
Declaration on
Christian Education,
1965 |
|
Religious Education
Resources
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Religious
Education |
|
Religious Education
at Saint Mary's focuses on guiding both the children
and the adults in our community as they grow in
their understanding of The Catholic Church and the
Catholic faith.
We believe that
continuous learning throughout the formative years
plays a crucial role in a child's embrace of the
faith and understanding of his or her own part in
the Body of Christ. Starting in Kindergarten and
continuing through the High School years, children
are taught by volunteer catechists under the
guidance of Sister Maria Romero, Director of
Religious Education for the parish.
We offer Religious
Education classes for children from Kindergarten
through High School age on weekend mornings from
September through April, with some sacrament
programs continuing on into May. Registration for
these programs occurs in the summer months, and is
typically closed in late August. However,
parishioners new to the parish may register their
children in a religious education program at any
time by contacting the Religious Education Office.
Children in Grades
3-12 can make their First Eucharist, Reconciliation
and Confirmation by being enrolled either in St.
Mary School or in the Religious Education program.
In both cases, parental involvement is crucial as
children prepare for their reception of the
sacraments
RCIA, or the Rite of
Christian Initiation for Adults, is for any adult
interested in joining the Catholic Church, as well
as for those who have been baptized Catholic but
have not received First Communion and/or
Confirmation. RCIA courses begin in September.
Classes meet two times per month for six months.
Participants generally receive the Sacraments (e.g.
Reconciliation, Baptism, Confirmation, First
Communion) in the spring, during Holy Week. If you
are interested in participating in RCIA, please
contact the parish office. Attending classes does
not obligate participants formally to join the
Church. All who are interested in learning
more about the Catholic faith are welcome to join.
Our Religious
Education classes are taught in English; however, we
strive to ensure that there is a bilingual teacher
or assistant in every classroom to assist students
who are still developing their English fluency.
We look forward to
working with your family to ensure that you and your
children grow strong in their faith through learning
in a supportive and welcoming environment.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Volunteer
Roles |
|
The Religious
Education program at St. Mary's is made up
of volunteers willing to offer their time
and talents to the youth of our community.
The most important requirement for working
in the program is the volunteer's desire to
share their love of God with the children of
the parish, and/or with adult catechumens.
If you are interested in becoming a teacher
or volunteer, please contact Sr. Maria
Romero at the Religious Education Office.
All adults working with children in the
Diocese of Joliet are required to attend and
be certified in the
Protecting God’s Children program.
Certification sessions, which require a
three hour time commitment, are held
throughout the year.
The following volunteer positions are
available. Most work takes place on weekend
mornings, unless otherwise indicated.
English speaking, Spanish speaking, and
bilingual volunteers are needed for each of
these positions.
Adult Formation
Catechist
Assists adults in formation related to their
children’s reception of the sacraments of
Reconciliation, First Eucharist, or
Confirmation. Training will be provided by
the Religious Education Office. The parent
meetings are scheduled on Tuesday and/or
Thursday evenings throughout the school
year.
Assistant Catechist
Assists Catechists in teaching children in
the Saturday and Sunday morning Religious
Education program. The work includes
assisting the teacher in planning classes,
assisting in material preparation for
classes, and occasionally filling in for the
teacher.
Building Monitor
In order the ensure the safety of students
while they are in our care, the Religious
Education department has building monitors
in all of the buildings during all
weekend morning class sessions. This
commitment is for two hours and involves
ensuring that children that leave the
classroom return as appropriate, and that
all children are picked up and dropped off
safely.
Catechist
Teaches children in the Saturday and Sunday
morning Religious Education classes. With
the help of an assistant and under the
guidance of the Director of Religious
Education, the teacher plans and teaches
classes, participates in teacher formation
sessions, and sets an example for the
children of the parish.
Office Volunteer
During Saturday and Sunday morning class
hours and on occasional weekday evenings,
the Office Volunteer will assist in
preparing material for upcoming special
events, call the homes of children who did
not attend class as expected, and perform
other office duties as needed.
Substitute
Catechist
Occasionally, Catechists have personal
commitments or illnesses that prevent them
from teaching as scheduled. Working with a
lesson plan provided by the regular
Catechist, the Substitute handles the
scheduled class using the Lesson Plan
materials and information provided.
Liturgy/Music
Throughout the year, the Religious Education
department has special masses or liturgies
for the children in the program. Our need
for musicians to assist us in these efforts
is continuous. Working with the Parish Music
Director, the Liturgy/Music volunteer will
prepare material for use at these special
occasions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
