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Welcome to Religious Education!

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away. Matthew 19:13-15

Welcome to the Religious Education Program of our clustered parishes of St. Joseph & St. Patrick. Children are most welcome to join our program and hear the Good News of Jesus, know the love of their Heavenly Father and be enriched by the Holy Spirit. Although a child’s home is absolutely the first and most important in teaching God’s love to their children we are happy to partner and help enforce the faith and teachings of the church.

ROLE OF PARENT
“Parents are the first and foremost catechists of their children. They catechize informally but powerfully by example and instructions. They communicate values and attitudes by showing love for Christ and his Church and for each other, by reverently receiving the Eucharist and living in its spirit, by fostering justice and love in all their relationships. Their active involvement in the parish, their readiness to seek opportunities to serve others and their frequent prayer, all make meaningful their profession of belief. Parents nurture faith in their children by showing them the richness and beauty of lived faith.”
(Sharing the Light of Faith--National Catechetical Directory for the United States)

CATECHIST
Catechists are working towards, or have attained, Basic Catechist Certification under the Archdiocese policy on Religious Education Certification. Catechists are instructed in areas such as: Theology, Scripture, Sacraments, Discipline and Teaching Techniques. Catechists are volunteers who receive no monetary payment for sharing their time, talent and faith life with the children.
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 that “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, teach and form disciples.” (GDC 231)