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1. Recruit and prepare catechists for the religious education program.

2. Provide enrichment, in-service, prayer, and social opportunities for catechists.

3. Provide registration and placement for participants in catechesis.

4. Offer 25+ hours of age appropriate catechesis.

5. See that each class has a special time for liturgical and social celebrations.

6. Prepare grade five to present the Liturgy of the Word at the Christmas Eve Mass.

7. Make participants aware of their responsibilities to those less fortunate through charitable and outreach opportunities.

8. Increase global awareness through education about and partnership with the communities of Ellecuria and Outreach Kenya.

9. Initiate school age children in the concept of stewardship.

10. Maintain the Sunday School Program, which reaches 3, 4, and 5 year old children

Attendance
The Archdiocese of Detroit expects a minimum number of hours spent in religious education classes per year. This is to assure parents that adequate time is given to the scope and sequence of religious education. Bearing that in mind, we have established the following guidelines:

1. If a catechist has to cancel a class, which only meets twice a month, that class will be made up during that week.

2. If a student misses 25-30% of the classes held, he/she cannot be given credit for attending that grade of religious education unless the work is completed.

3. Classes cancelled due to “Acts of God”, (blizzards, floods, earthquakes) will not need to be made up unless a class meets only twice a month.

Regular class times are:

Sun. 11:30AM-12:45PM (Gr. 1-6), Mon. 4:45PM-6:00PM (Gr.1-6),
Mon 6:30PM-7:45PM (Gr.1-6)
Sun. 6:30-8:00 PM (Gr. 7-8) Sun. during Mass (Sunday School)

Because we conduct all classes on the Chapel premises, in our attempt to facilitate the comings and goings of the children in an orderly and safe manner, the following procedure has been established:

DROP OFF:
Please drop off all children at the northern entrance on the lower level. The younger children (grades 1-3) may be “delivered” to their individual classrooms until they feel comfortable coming in alone.

PICK UP:
Please pick up grades 1-6 at the upper level/main Chapel doors.
Please pick up grades 7-8 at the lower level.
The catechist will escort children to the upper level Chapel doors.
Parents of grades 1-3, please come into the building to meet your child.

All Sunday School children must be “dropped off” and “picked up” at their individual classrooms - by a PARENT immediately after Mass. Please pick up children promptly after Mass.
 

Eucharist preparation involves:

• Individual parent conferences
• Parent catechesis session
• Family participation in an enrollment ceremony
• Parent preparation of candidates
• Individual interviews of Eucharist candidates prior to family celebration
• Optional group celebration of the Eucharist

Reconciliation
Reconciliation is ungraded. It may be celebrated in grade 2 and/or in subsequent grades.
Reconciliation preparation involves:

• Parent catechesis session
• Parent preparation of candidates

Confirmation
Confirmation is offered to students in grades 9 and higher. Candidates are expected to participate regularly with his/her parents in weekly worship at the parish.

Confirmation preparation may begin formally in the 8th year of religious education and involves:

• A day long retreat
• Participation in a 4 hour Saturday or Sunday workshop
• Service activities within and beyond the parish, including service to the poor
• Individual interviews with each candidate for Confirmation with a letter to the pastor written by the candidate
• Providing baptismal certificate, sponsor and Confirmation name