Religious Education

St. Mary’s Parish Religious Education Program is here to assist you in teaching and sharing our Catholic Faith and Traditions with your children. There is nothing more important in your child’s life than the gift of faith. It is the gift that will sustain and guide them on their journey home to God.

As Catholics, the Sunday Mass each week is the center of our faith and the anchor of our family life. Our Religious Education Program builds upon the student’s personal experience of Sunday worship and family prayer, the essential foundation for all religious instruction offered in the classroom. Our Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) ministry supports you with age-appropriate liturgy at 9:30 Mass.

In order to best support your child, we need to understand your family’s sacramental history.  If you’ve already registered with St. Mary’s as a family then we collected that informaion in that process.  We encourage all new families in our program to register with the parish as soon as possible.

About Our Programs: 

For our youngest students we offer the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS); a Montessori-based program designed to engage very young children.

Students in Grades 1 – 6 study our faith with grade appropriate content.

First Communion, as a program, encompasses learning in both Grades 1 and 2. Please contact Fran Crespi if you are joining the program in Grade 2 instead of Grade 1 while continuing to register.

Home-based learning is an option for Grades 3-5 and on an exception basis for Grades 1 and 6. The option may be selected within the online registration form. Please review the program requirements below prior to registering your student.

Confirmation may be conferred after a 2-year course of study completed in Grades 7 and 8. Older students should consider the OCIA program.

Contacts:

There are multiple resources available to you and our office is open year-round during regular business hours apart from during school-year holidays.

If your child has been away from the program or is entering as an older student (beyond second grade) please register and reach out to our religious ed office. If this child also needs to be prepared for the sacraments of Baptism or First Communion, please contact the rectory at [email protected].

Volunteers Needed:

Each year we ask for volunteers to teach our young people and early sign-ups help us to minimize changes to the class schedule. Please prayerfully consider teaching. Team teaching is encouraged, and our Confirmation grades are taught by an experienced Program Lead while volunteers guide small group discussions. Any confirmed and practicing Catholic adult over age 16 may volunteer to teach.

Special Needs Support:

Your registration includes space to describe any learning challenges your child may face. There are teachers to assist students in the classroom and to meet with parents to discuss the best practices for successful learning and understanding for their spiritual growth. We always welcome conversations that will help us understand your children’s needs and make their experience successful.

Attendance:

In order for children to benefit from their faith formation sessions, it is essential that they attend all scheduled classes. All classes meet on alternate weeks and missing a class in this format makes catching up with lessons at home challenging for your family. Contacting the appropriate Grade Coordinator is the best way to arrange catchup work.

Financial Assistance:

For families needing tuition assistance, an online request is now available. Within the online registration form, please indicate your need for a scholarship and/or payment plan. We ask for a deposit for all payment plans and a monthly minimum payment each month until your family obligation is complete. Information is kept strictly confidential. Please know that no child will ever be denied enrollment due to financial needs and we encourage you to register without delay.

Home Based Religious Education for Grades 3, 4, & 5:

Parents who choose this option teach their children at home and are provided with lesson plans and textbooks by our Grade Coordinators.

Please note that this is a substantial time and effort commitment for your family which many well-meaning families have struggled to integrate into their home life.  We encourage you to give very careful consideration to the practical aspects of how you can best meet the needs of your child.  If you are considering this option for scheduling purposes, may we suggest that you volunteer to teach at the time that works for you by calling the religious education office.  We may be able to add a session to the overall program.

• Parents and Guardians must attend two teacher meetings a year.
• Students are expected to attend grade specific general sessions.
• Students are also expected to submit completed work throughout the year to the Grade Coordinator.

The option for Home Based lessons in Grades 1 and 6 is available upon request and requires a meeting with the DRE.