Dear Parents, In His Love,

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1 Dear Parents, Our Religious Education program is drawing to a close. We are grateful that you have chosen to send your children to our program. We appreciate the opportunity to work in collaboration with you bringing the children of our parish into a deeper relationship with Our Lord. Please find attached the registration form for Religious Education We are including a slight increase in tuition. As in the past, volunteers in our program are offered free tuition. Volunteers are the life blood of our program. We are in need of several volunteers and would welcome your efforts. Attached is a volunteer form to be completed if you chose to volunteer. We will continue to offer traditional Religious Education program for Pre-K and Kindergarten on alternate weeks during the 9:30 am and 11:30 am Masses. These sessions run approximately one hour. Our First through Sixth graders will have the option of attending on s at 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm; Mondays at 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm; and Tuesdays at 4:30 pm. These sessions run one hour and fifteen minutes long. Our Seventh and Eighth graders are scheduled to attend on alternate s at 6:30 pm. These sessions will run two hours and fifteen minutes long. We also offer the Family-based program headed up by Marge Fitzpatrick. Marge, through contact, will encourage and supervise a home study program. This program is an excellent option for families who want a firsthand experience in raising their children in our Catholic faith. It also offers convenience for busy, fluctuating schedules. Descriptions of the program options are attached. Due to the popularity of our program, many sessions are closed before the beginning of classes in mid-september. I recommend completing the registration form and submitting payment promptly to ensure your preference of classes. Religious Education calendars for the various programs are available online at under the Religious Education tab. Additional registration forms will be available in the Gathering Areas outside the Parish Office and outside the Religious Education Office as well as on our website (address above.) We look forward to another Religious Education year. If you should have any questions regarding this or any matter, please feel free to contact me. May God s love continue to shine down upon our parish and may God bless your family. In His Love, Gretchen Hennen Marge Fitzpatrick Dawn Gracz Director of Religious Coordinator of Family Administrative Asst. Education Faith Formation & Registration

2 St. James Religious Education Programs Welcome to St. James Religious Education Program for We have an exciting year planned! You will notice some changes to our times and programs offered. We surveyed families for their preferences and our offerings reflect the vast majority of preferences. Pre-K and Kindergarten Program Pre-K and Kindergarten will continue to be offered on alternate s during 9:30a.m. and11:30a.m.liturgies. Our Pre-K and Kindergarten will begin mid-september and continue through the end of April. Grade Level 1-6 Parish Based Catechesis Grades 1-6 will attend on a weekly basis for 1 hour and 15 minutes for a total of 24 session beginning in mid- September and continuing through the end of April. Grades 1-6 classes will be offered at the following times: 2:30-3:45 4:30-5:45 Monday 4:30-5:45 Monday 6:30-7:45 Tuesday 4:30-5:45 Grade Level 7-8 Parish Based Catechesis (Confirmation Prep) Grades 7 and 8 will attend 2 ¼ hour sessions on alternating evening beginning in September and running through April. These interactive classes include large and small group instruction, prayer, service projects and community building experiences in a youth ministry environment. Homework assignments, service projects, and a grade level retreat are required components of St. James Confirmation program. Grade 7 and 8 classes take place s from 6:30-8:45 Volunteering Our Religious Education classes could not happen without the generous support of our volunteers. Volunteering as a teacher, assistant, or session support is a rewarding experience and gives you the opportunity to grow in faith as well. Volunteers receive free tuition. See Volunteer Form. Family Faith Formation (Home Study) St. James Family Faith Formation is the home program of religious education, which allows parents and caregivers to teach the Catholic faith to children at home. This presents families the wonderful opportunity to share their faith stories, strengthen family bonds, and grow in faith together. Our goal is to provide parents and guardians the structure and support to make faith formation a primary component of their busy lives. Family Faith Formation may be completed at home individually, as a family, or with other families. Many children enjoy learning together with siblings and friends and build confidence through sharing their faith with others.

3 Students in grades 1-6 will complete three ed lessons each month. Most lessons include a chapter in the student book, Be My Disciples, and an online chapter quiz, which is ed to familyfaithformation@sjnovi.net. Home program students will be invited to join their in-class friends for special experiences throughout the year. Parents and guardians will receive weekly s with lessons, family faith talk, and suggestions for making faith a central part of your family life. Sacramental Preparation Eucharist and Reconciliation The Church acknowledges that parents are the first and most effective catechist of children. Children learn from what they experience as faith in their homes. Parents are also best able to determine the readiness of their children to comprehend the mysteries of Eucharist and the nature of sin and reconciliation. It is with this knowledge in mind that our Religious Education programs ask parents to assist with the preparation of their children for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation. Children are eligible to receive these sacraments after two years in a Religious Education program. This is usually in second grade. Parents will prepare their child(ren) to celebrate Reconciliation before First Eucharist in grade two as a part of their preparation for First Eucharist. The Parish Based Program emphasizes Eucharist in the classroom for grade two. First Eucharist has two options for celebration. One is the Group celebration where classes gather to celebrate together at a specially scheduled Mass. The second option is an Individual Family celebration, where families celebrate the sacrament in the context of a regularly scheduled Mass. Confirmation Our programs begin to prepare students for Confirmation in grade seven, with the celebration of the sacrament in grade eight. Young adolescents are eligible to receive this sacrament after two years in a Religious Education program. Because Junior High students are particularly social in nature, and because of the subject matter, we strongly encourage 7 th and 8 th grade students to select the Grade 7-8 Parish based Catechesis Program Special Preparation When Students do not prepare in the traditional grades, special, age appropriate preparation is offered. Please contact the Religious Education Office at to discuss options.

4 St. James Religious Education Registration Are you a member of St James Parish? Yes No (We require Parish membership for our classes) If not is a Parish Registration Form attached? Yes No Family Name Address City State/Zip Home phone Emergency Contact Emergency contact Emergency Name number Relationship Family s Family s Father s Name Religion Occupation Cell Phone Mother s Name Religion Occupation Cell Phone Maiden Name Child s First Name (last name if different) Gender Grade Date of Birth Session Requested or Home Program Baptized Reconciliation 1 st Communion 1 st choice 2 nd choice Yes/no Yes/no Yes/no Any special needs such as allergies/medical/ learning Child(ren) live with? Please provide a copy of your children s baptismal certificate if you have not already done so. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY: Amt. due: Amt. Paid: Check # M.O. #: Photo disclaimer St James does/or does not have my permission to display photos of my child for the Parish/diocesan/press media Parent s Signature Date Costs - Pre K and K $75.00 One child $ Two children $ Family Cap $ Balance due: Cash:

5 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION VOLUNTEER FORM Name Telephone Cell 9:30 Pre K/K 11:30 Pre K/K Grades 1-6 2:30 Monday 4:30 Tuesday 4:30 4:30 Monday 6:30 Grades 7&8 Grade 7: 6:30 Grade 8: 6:30 Free tuition is offered for the following volunteers: Catechist (lesson plans/materials and support provided) PreK 6 th grade Assistant Catechist (help in class/possibly co-teach) PreK 6 th grade Table Guide Gr. 7 and 8 (lead a small group of students though supervised activities) Session Support (child care for catechist s children/substitute in the classroom/hall monitor/traffic to ensure the safety of our children with arrival/dismissal and office help when needed) All volunteer positions require regular attendance.

6 Religious Education Schedule :30/11:30 2:30-3:45 4:30-5:45 6:30 8:45 Monday 4:30-5:45 Monday 6:30 7:45 Tuesday 4:30-5:45 Pre K Grade 1 Grade Grade 1 Grade 1 Grade 1 Pre K Grade 2 Grade Grade 2 Grade 2 Grade 2 K Grade 3 Grade Grade 3 Grade 3 Grade 3 K Grade 4 Grade Grade 4 Grade 4 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 6 Grade 6 Grade 6 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Please indicate your first and second choice for each child. If you choose Home Program, simply write Home Program in the Session box. Kindergarten and Pre-K parents, in the session box please write the Mass time of your choice. Classes will not run with less than 12 children