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Parents are called to sow the seeds of faith in their children. The partnership of Home and Parish is the ground for nurturing this faith. Parents must help guide their children to grow in faith and in an understanding of the Catholic traditions. It is the quality of family life and parish involvement, as well as the use of religion textbooks and other resources that provides the fertile soil in which your child's faith may grow and mature.

  Program Overview

Overview:

The Office of Religious Education for St. Paul's Catholic Church offers Religious Education Classes for students in grades K through 12. Program registration for each school year begins in the spring and classes begin in September. The annual program consists of 27 weekly meetings held on Wednesday at 4:30pm or 6:30pm. Classes are held in St. Paul's Catholic School. The curriculum in grades K-1and 3-6 is designed with take-home pamphlets so students will not need to bring a textbook with them to class. Grades 2,7 and 8 use texts which will be stored in the classrooms and sent home at the end of the year. Paper and writing utensils are provided. Notification will be provided in advance if any additional materials are required.

Sacrament Classes:
Sacrament preparation classes are offered to students in second and eighth grades. Second graders prepare for First Reconciliation (Confession) and First Communion. Eighth graders prepare for Confirmation. The preparation period for the sacraments is a two-year period. Good attendance is necessary in both the preceding grade and the actual sacrament grade. Students unable to fulfill the attendance requirement will be expected to fulfill this obligation by attending another year before receiving the sacrament.

Sacrament Preparation for Older Students (past 2nd grade):

For those students who have not received the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, a class is available to prepare your child for these sacraments. Contact Mimi Coleman (249-2660) for more information. ALL children must be baptized before entering a sacramental preparation class. If your child has not been baptized, contact Betty Moye (249-2600) to make arrangements.

Sacrament Preparation 2007-2008

September
Mon 24 Reconciliation Meeting #1a 6:30-8:30 PM FLB
Sat 29 Reconciliation Meeting #1b 9:00-11:00 AM FLB

October
Mon 8 Confirmation Meeting #1 6:30-8:30 PM Church
Mon 22 Reconciliation Meeting #2a 6:30-8:30 PM FLB
Sat 27 Reconciliation Meeting #2b 9:00-11:00 AM FLB

November
Sat 10 Reconciliation Retreat 9:00AM-12:00PM FLB
Sat 17 Reconciliation Retreat 9:00AM-12:00PM FLB
Mon 26 Confirmation Meeting #2 6:30-8:30PM Church

December
Sat 8 Sacrament of Reconciliation 10:00AM Church

January
Sat 12 Confirmation Retreat 9:00AM-4:30PM Church
Sat 26 Sacrament of Confirmation 11:00 AM, 7:30 PM Church

February
Mon 11 First Communion #1a 6:30-8:30PM FLB
Sat 16 First Communion #1b 9:00AM-12:00PM FLB

March
Mon 10 First Communion #2a 6:30-8:30PM FLB
Sat 15 First Communion #2b 9:00AM-12:00PM FLB

April
Sat 12 First Communion Retreat 9:00AM-12:30PM FLB
Sat 19 First Communion Retreat 9:00AM-12:30PM FLB

May
Sun 4,11,18 Individual First Communion Sunday Mass Church
Mon 19 First Communion Dinner 6:00PM-8:30PM Gym

 

2007 - 2008 Class Schedule

Classes are held each Wednesday From September - May. Available sessions are as follows:

Regular Classes will not be held on the following dates:

 Fee Schedule & Enrollment Form

Registration fees for 2007-2008 Religious Education classes are as follows:

Registration – received before July 1, 2007:
All Grades: $25.00 per child
Additional materials fee per Sacrament class: $15.00

Late Registration – received after July 2, 2007
All grades: $35.00
Additional materials fee per Sacrament class: $15.00

Maximum Registration Fee per family: $100.00
(St. Paul's provides scholarships for any family that needs assistance. Please speak to the DRE.)

Please include fee at time of registration.
Copies of Baptismal certificates for children receiving their Sacraments need to be on file in the Religious Education office. Baptismal certificates may be turned in at time of registration.

The 2007-08 Religious Education year starts on Wednesday, September 12, 2007.

Early Session (space is limited)
Kindergarten and 1st Grade: 4:30 – 5:30
2nd – 5th Grades: 4:30 – 5:45

Regular Session
Kindergarten and First Grades: 6:30 - 7:30.
Second through high school: 6:30 - 7:45.

Younger students may remain in their classes until 7:45 if they have a sibling in a higher grade.

Registration forms for the 2007-2008 Religious Education year are available in the Religious
Education Office and Rectory Office. Religious education classes are for students in grades K-12 who are not currently attending a Catholic school. All students must re-register every
year. New parishioners, and families with students entering Kindergarten this fall, may call the Religious Education Office (249-2660) and we will gladly mail the registration packet to you.

A brief note about Sacrament Classes:
Sacrament preparation classes are offered to students in second and eighth grades. Second graders prepare for First Reconciliation (Confession) and First Communion. Eighth graders prepare for Confirmation. The preparation period for the sacraments is a two year period. Good attendance is necessary in both the preceding grade and the actual sacrament grade. Students unable to fulfill the attendance requirement will be expected to fulfill this obligation by attending another year before receiving the sacrament.
Sacrament Preparation for Older Students (past 2nd grade): For those students who have not received the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, a class is available to prepare your child for these sacraments. Contact Mimi Coleman (249-2660) for more information.

ALL children must be baptized before entering a sacramental preparation class. If your child has not been baptized, contact Betty Moye (249-2600) to make arrangements.
 

Download Enrollment Form  

Each family must complete an Enrollment Form which identifies all the children participating in the Religious Education program and their requested sessions. Children receiving sacraments must also have a copy of their Baptismal Certificate submitted with the Enrollment Form if it is not already on file with the Religious Education Office. Completed Enrollment Forms and required Fees should be sent to:

Catechists

What is a Catechist?
Catechists have a vocation...a calling from the Lord rooted in Baptism to carry out His mandate to teach the Gospel. The General Directory for Catechesis tells us "The Church awakens and discerns this divine vocation and confers the mission to catechize. The Lord Jesus invites men and women, in a special way, to follow him, teacher and formatter of disciples." (GDC 231) Catechists and Classroom Assistants for the 2007-2008 Religious Education Year are needed for both our Early Session (4:30 - 5:45pm) and Regular Session (6:30 - 7:45pm). To find out more about teaching in the Religious Education Program, contact Mimi Coleman for more information. 249-2660

2007-2008 Catechists

Kindergarten

**Danielle McGrath Room 101
Michelle Thompson EK-2
**Kelly Kirton Room 102
Carole Bradley EK-1

Kathy Mills Room 102
Annie Jarrett RK-1

First Grade

** Jeanne Sanchez Room 106
AimeePorterfield E1-1

**Renee English Room 109
Kristin Zerick E1-2

Karen Chan Room 109
Cristie Etienne-David R1-1

Lori Metzger Room 106
Lisa Connor R1-2

Second Grade

**Sara Martinez Room 113
Janice Brinker E2-1
Terri Teems

**Cheryl Chascin Room 111
Sydney Katsikas E2-2

Mary Dolan Room 111
Margie Meier R2-1
Sydney Armin

Marisa Carbone Room 113
Todd Hollaway R2-2

Sacrament Class
Gail Simpson Room 203
R-SP

Third Grade

**Jeanne Baranek Room 204
Samantha Lowery E3-1

**Sarah Russo Room 202
E3-2

Gisselle Bejarano Room 204
Julianna Bejarano R3-1

Brandi Christovich Room 205
Jocelynn Becksmith R3-2

Revised: September 11, 2007

Fourth Grade

**Irene Cerrato Room 208
E4-1

Mary Howell Room 208
__________ R4-1

Lisa Docster Room 209
Caitlin Docster R4-2
Timothy Docster

Fifth Grade

**Dan Prewitt Room 209
E5-1

Esther Sugarman Room 210
Jill Benson R5-1

Kathy Nicoletti Room 211
Mike Nicoletti R5-2

Sixth Grade

Ed Straus Room 202
R6-1

Sheree Flatt Room 207
Cynthia Rice R6-2
(Lab)

Seventh Grade

Liz Johnson Room 302
R7-1

Terry Buczkowski Room 304
R7-2

Olivia Zilahy Room 306
Jonas Cummings R7-3

Eighth Grade

Mary Jo Antone Room 310
Cristin Dobrowolski R8-1

Molly Hill Room 312
R8-2

Becky Armin Room 308
Diane Cottrell R8-3

High School

Jack Gabriel Youth Hut
Andy Christovich

Adult/Bible Timeline

Bob Tabone Library
Ken Chascin
 

Attendance

In order to maximize the time available, all classes start promptly at 4:30pm or 6:30pm. Tardy students disrupt the prayer and gathering time which is an important transition from the days activities. If your child is absent, a note from home (addressed to the teacher) is required the following week. Students who are habitually absent will not be able to fulfill the required learning objectives for each grade. Students who have perfect attendance will receive a certificate at the end of the year.

Arrival and Dismissal Policy

Arrival:

Classes begin promptly at their designated start time. Parents are required to walk their children to their classrooms and wait with them outside the rooms until the Catechists arrive. Our Catechists are volunteers and many are coming from their workplace to teach your children. Traffic may sometimes be an issue which prevents the Catechist from arriving early. Children must be monitored in the school hallways at all times!

Dismissal:

Kindergarten and first grade classes end 15 minutes earlier than all other grades. These students may remain in their classes until the regular dismissal time (5:45pm or 7:45pm) if they have an older sibling in a class or their parents are participating in Parish Enrichment Classes. Students who are not picked up within 10 minutes of dismissal will be taken to the Religious Education Office, room 201, to wait for their parents. Parents are required to walk to their children's classrooms to pick them up. No child will be dismissed from their classroom unless accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult.

Hallway Conduct & Fire Alarms:

Children must not run, play or climb in the hallways or stairwells of the school. Parents must ensure that their children behave properly while on the school grounds. School FIRE ALARMS DO NOT HAVE COVERS on them so parents must be very diligent around the alarms. In the event a fire alarm sounds, all students, catechists and parents must immediately vacate the building. No Person will be allowed to reenter the building until the Fire Marshal sounds the all clear signal. Catechists will remain responsible for the welfare of the children in their care until the alarm is over. Parents must inform the catechist before leaving with their children.

Church Life

Weekly participation in our Religious Education Program provides children with the developmental and age appropriate teachings of our faith. However it is the primary responsibility of the parent to assume the faith and moral development of their children. Attendance and participation in weekly Sunday Masses is essential in the faith formation of all. The sense of reverence for sacred time and space learned at home and in the Religious Education classes is affirmed during Mass. Children who are not provided with the opportunity to attend weekly Mass will not fully appreciate and understand the teachings of the Church. The personal witness of adults and children gathered as a worshiping community encourages children to grow in faith.

Praying with Children

It is important that our children are comfortable with the basic prayers and formulas of our faith. Prayers suitable for each grade level will be reviewed throughout the year. Your child will be expected to memorize and recite these prayers. Parents are expected to take the time to help your child learn these prayers.

Vacation Bible School

Feel the Power! New Friends * * Amazing Crafts * * Wacky Snacks*
Mind-blowing Bible Adventures * * * * Hyperspeed Games* * *
* * * Incredible Music* * *

Mark these dates on your calendar!

June 23rd – June 27th

Vacation Bible School

We’ve got the solution to summertime boredom…. Send your kids to Power Lab, where they’ll discover Jesus’

Call the Religious Ed Office for Space Availability on 249-6660.
 

Religious Education Office Information

Director of Religious Education - Mimi Coleman

Assistant Director of Religious Education - Barbara Markowski