CRE: Catholic Religious Education

 

Registration for 2017-2018 will be held after all Masses the weekend of August 19-20

We assume that public school children will continue to attend CRE every year until they are confirmed. The knowledge they gain, learning with others who hold similar values and spiritual understanding of life, experiencing the good times and 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 “Stories and Songs of Jesus.”

Grades K-6 options are Sunday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon.
Tuition is $75 per child. All classes K-6 meet in the school; 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 3:30-3:50.   

WEDNESDAY CLASSES begin at 3:45 PM. They end at 4:45 PM. Snack is offered 3:30-3:45.


GRADES 7-8 meet on Monday nights from 7:00-8:15 PM in the Parish Center, 1200 Arlington which is the corner of Arlington and Monroe. The parking lot and doors are on Arlington.
This year, 2017, seventh graders also have the option of attending on Wednesday afternoon with other CRE students. Tuition is $75 per child.

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. Our goal is to 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 Traci at the religious education office for more information, 775-323-2954, extension 507 and extension 506.

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). Seventh and eighth graders receive a Catholic Bible. We use a version called Breakthrough! from Saint Mary’s Press, as it is written in a format that is a pleasure to read, with articles that are interesting and informative.

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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