Religious Education
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Links
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Alive in Christ Multi-age family sessions Grades 1st-8th
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ways to start the day with jesus
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Contact Us
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Terry Cravenstpolizzistmarystpatrick.orgCRE/Coordinator of Religious Education
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re photos
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Family Advent Event 2019
34 Photos
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Youth Summit 2019
9 Photos
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2019 Family Lenten Event
42 Photos
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September 2020
As the new Religious Education year begins, I want to remind parents that you are the primary teachers of the faith to your children. Children learn so much more by watching their parents practice their faith, by regular reception of the sacraments and attending Mass, than by what they hear. As a parish community we are here to help support parents in this job of passing on our faith to the youngest members of the church.
What will this year look like for Religious Education? We will meet in classrooms as in the past but with social distancing (relatives and socializing students may sit closer), everyone in the buildings (students, catechists/aides, parents, etc.) will be wearing masks, hand sanitizer will be available in each classroom, classrooms (chairs, tables, desks, etc.) will be disinfected after each class and if parish groups will be meeting in the buildings, they will also disinfect afterwards. Each student will have their own backpack including a student book, folder, pencil case with supplies, and PK-6th grade will also have a sample of the MagnifiKid for the month of September.
A calendar for the year with the chapters being taught each week will be used this year to keep the students on track no matter the style of learning (in the classroom, home study, any combination of this) and also to help if students miss a class due to illness etc.
The parish website www.stmarystpatrick.org and Flocknotes will be the places to go for updates and information on Religious Education and parish life. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at the office: 815-248-2490, tpolizzi@stmarystpatrick.org or text/call my cell phone 815-543-5627.
Grades 1-8
The students in grades 1 & 3-8 will be using a new series this year, “Alive in Christ” by Our Sunday Visitor. Please check out the website at www.aliveinchrist.osv.com and click on the green ‘Student and Family’ tab. Once there you have several areas to choose from: In the Home: necessary resources for home-based catechesis, Interactive Reviews: interactive practice test for each chapter for students; Games: a variety of games for grades 1-6th; Glossary: a glossary of terms sorted by each grade level; and Adult Learning: articles and videos to help foster a deeper understanding of our Catholic faith.
High School Students
Classes for High School students run on the same schedule as grades K - 8th. Pat Flynn and Debbie Moore are teaching the High School students. This fall they will be using “YOU: Live, Love and the Theology of the Body.” Included in this class is access to the videos online for parents & students to watch. Each family can create an account at www.ascension.com and use the access code that will be sent next week via Flocknote. Please note that each family is only able to create one account to access this information, thank you. Beginning in January, the class will use the Didache semester series “The Sacraments.”
Safe Environment Program
The Diocesan Safe Environment program, Teaching Safety: Empowering God’s Children has been updated this year to include changes to the book used for Preschool students and also to include a High School component. Also new is the Safe Environment Week Contest running September 1-October 23, 2020 for students in grades PK-High School, with winners announced on October 30, 2020. Information may be found on the Safe Environment tab on the parish website under Faith Formation-Religious Education.Parish Website
There are many informative items on the website, with new things being added all the time. If you look under “Faith Formation” and click on “Religious Education” you will find current news. You may also click on the specific grade level on the sidebar to view information from the catechist. Prayers are available for all grades on the website as well as questions for sacraments, ministry schedules and activities for each ministry. When you have time, check it out at www.stmarystpatrick.org.
Registration
If you haven’t returned your RE registration form, please do so ASAP. We need to have this on-hand in order for your child(ren) to attend class. If you are not sure if you returned it, just call the office.
Parent Meeting
Normally on the first day of Religious Education classes I would hold a Parent Meeting in the main body of St. Mary Church. This year due to the size of gatherings we are allowed and the necessity to disinfect the pews before Mass is held, I am giving it a shot at recording this and posting it to the parish website. Some of the items to be discussed are: Family Advent & Lenten Events, HS chastity program, Diocesan Safe Environment Program, Totus Tuus, FORMED.org, Family work, and more. Please make a point to watch it as there are many new things happening in RE!Sundae Sunday
Unfortunately due to state and diocesan mandates, Sundae Sunday will be cancelled this year. We look forward to resuming this event when circumstances allow.
Youth Group
The parish Youth Group will meet on Friday, September 18th at 6:30pm for a bonfire and gathering at the Pinter’s home.
Saturday, September 26th the Youth Group will participate in the annual Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford’s Hike for Life at 10am Midway Village in Rockford. Information and permission slips for both events may be found on the parish website on the Youth Group page.
Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated Sunday, September 20th
Catechetical Sunday highlights and celebrates the catechetical ministry of the people of God, namely to hand on the values and traditions of our Catholic faith. This Sunday is given a particular theme each year, focusing on a key aspect of catechesis. This year’s theme is “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.” Catechesis comes from a Greek word meaning “to echo”. It challenges all of us to develop a Catholic identity molded and modeled on Jesus. We learn this from those who handed down that faith to us. We echo that back by the living example of our lives. This calls each of us to grow in depth of faith and knowledge, and to reflect on how we share that with others. All of us are teachers in the way we live. What are we echoing? St. Francis is attributed with the following statement, which speaks to the heart of Catechetical Sunday: “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”
Pie & Dessert Auction
Save the date! The parish Youth Group will hold the Second Annual Pie & Dessert Auction on Sunday, October 4th beginning at 11:30am in the South parking lot of St. Mary Church. Anyone willing to donate a pie or dessert please contact Renae Pinter at 608-630-6139. The auction will benefit the Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford.
E-Mail
If you would like to receive the monthly newsletter by email, just send an email to tpolizzi@stmarystpatrick.org requesting such. I will be using Flocknote to email/text monthly letters, last minute updates and reminders. If you indicated you would like to receive information by email, I also signed you up to send emails on Flocknote. Please go to flocknote.com/st-mary-st-patrick and complete the name, email and create a password, then click register. This should register you so you can enter a phone number if you would like to receive short reminders as a text. You will also be able to register for other ministries.
The catechists are able to send notes out to each grade level via Flocknote and Gmail.
Religious Medals
Religious Medals are one way your Girl Scout or Boy Scout can learn more about their Catholic faith. Anyone interested in earning a Religious Medal should contact Terry Cravens at 248-2490, by September 30th.Adult Faith Formation
This fall our parish will be offering opportunities for adult faith formation. Watch the bulletin for more details and how to register.
Youth Summit
Unfortunately due to state and diocesan mandates, the Youth Summit normally held the end of October will be cancelled this year. We look forward to this event when circumstances allow.Folders
Please go through the papers in your child/children’s folder on a weekly basis. The catechists put information inside that is relevant to the upcoming classes.RE Handbook
The Religious Education Handbook will be available on the parish website soon. Please let me know if you would like a hardcopy.Service Opportunities
We will see how this year progresses and evaluate if we are able to resume the previously held service projects.
Prayers
Prayer sheets are sent home with students in grades pre-school - 8th. Please help your child learn these prayers. After each round of prayer testing progress sheets will be sent home with your child.
Parent Room
If you are looking for a place to stay while your children attend RE class, check out the upstairs room in the parish Center.
Parents: In addition to the catechists posting on the class webpage material covered each week, there will also be a file on the Parish Center porch where items will be placed for students when they are absent.
Please have your younger children use the restroom prior to coming to Religious Education class. With the class time being only one hour and fifteen minutes for Preschool /Kindergarten, it interrupts the class and takes valuable time to get back on track after a “restroom break”. Thank you for your cooperation.
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