CRE: Catholic Religious Education

 

Registration will be the weekend of August 25-26 after all Masses .
Registration forms for 2018-2019 will be available online sometime the following week.

We hope that public school children will continue to attend CRE every year until they are confirmed or complete their sophomore year (if confirmed before high school.) The knowledge they gain, learning with others who hold similar values and a spiritual understanding of life, experiencing the good times and the challenges of being in a faith community – these are irreplaceable lessons. Religious Education classes are very important for children to develop a Catholic identity.


The name of the program for children who attend public schools but come to our parish for their religious education is CRE --- Catholic Religious Education. In other parishes these programs may be called CCD, Catechism, Religious Education, or Faith Formation.


LITTLE CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNINGS: This program is for three, four, and five year olds not yet in kindergarten. It meets Sundays during 9:30 Mass. Leave your child with the catechists in the school before Mass begins and pick him/her up when Mass is over. Tuition is $50 per child. It is not baby-sittng, but is an hour for young children to use a program called “Seeds," based on the gospel reading of the Sunday. It follows the school year.

ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL: Tuition is $75 per child. We accept cash checks, or pay online with a credit card. Some people can only pay a little every month. That is fine too .NO ONE IS EVER TURNED AWAY BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO PAY.  
Grades K-6 options are Sunday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon.
All classes K-6 meet in the school. But they begin downstairs in the school basement (lunch room) and move upstairs to classrooms after their snack. Kindergartners, first graders, and second graders must be picked up at their classrooms by someone older. Third graders and older are released on their own when class is over.

SUNDAY CLASS: Snack begins at 10:35 (in the downstairs school lunchroom) or whenever Mass is over. Class begins at 10:45 (unless Mass has run longer than usual) and it ends at noon. 

TUESDAY CLASSES begin at 4 PM. They end at 5PM. Snack is offered 3:35-3:55.   

WEDNESDAY CLASSES begin at 3:45 PM. They end at 4:45 PM. Snack is offered 3:25-3:40.


GRADES 7-8 options are Monday nights, Sunday mornings, or Wednesday afternoons.
SUNDAY AND WEDNESDAY CLASSES MEET THE SAME TIMES AS THE YOUNGER CHILDREN (see above)
MONDAY CLASSES are from 7:00-8:30 PM in the Parish Center, 1200 Arlington which is the corner of Arlington and Monroe. The parking lot and doors are on Arlington. Their calendar is the same as the confirmation calendar, meeting twice a month.

HOME STUDY: Home study is also an option for grades K-8; indicate this preference on the registration form. Tuition is $65 per child.

PASSING ON THE FAITH: All classes rely on volunteers who receive training and curriculum. We have two catechists (teachers of the faith) in every classroom. This is a very rewarding ministry, and helps adults grow in their faith! Contact Lauri Anne or Anna at the religious education office for more information. Lauri Anne: dre@olsparish.com (329-6147); Anna: annan@olsparish.com 499-9607

The children in Kindergarten-4th grade use a series based on the Sunday readings, emphasizing the importance of weekly Mass. The publisher of the children’s leaflets for grades K-4 also offers a resource for families. Go to www.pflaum.com/families to find family activities as well as Family Prayers, Saints of the Season, Feasts of the Season and more.

Our series for 5th-8th graders is published by RCL/Benziger called “Be My Disciples” and is more academic, packed with wonderful information about our faith. Their website is http://www.rclbenziger.com (we use the parish format). 

CONFIRMATION begins in 9th grade and continues for two years unless the teen attend a Catholic high school. Those attending Bishop Manogue or another Catholic high school only need to attend Confirmation for one year: their sophomore year or higher.

 

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