Family Religious Education

Seeds -  Our Pre-School Program
A weekly leaflet entitled Seeds, based on the Sunday Gospel, is available to 3- to 5-year-old children. Parents are provided with a detailed guide for each leaflet. 

Kindergarten Through Grade 5
The School Model of religious education (school year, textbook, classes, grades, teachers, etc.) was replaced several years ago with a pastoral approach based on family, scripture/Mass, community, and church year.

Family Religious Education

 Religious materials for children and adults enable parents to teach their children at home with the Sunday Scriptures as a focus. Once a month from September to March,  all these families come together for age/grade level instruction while parents have their own adult discussion led by a presenter knowledgeable about the topic of the day. 

Family participation, Scripture, Sunday Mass, and the Church Year become the teaching tools. Parent/family involvement based on Scripture readings at Sunday Mass and group experience/instruction for children are basic.

The foundation of the Parish Plan is Adult Education for parents of children in kindergarten through Grade 5. Parents receive instruction and support both at Mass and at special sessions. Throughout the year, evenings are planned that provide unique opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.

The Children's Liturgy of the Word is celebrated several Sundays each month and allows children in Grades K - 5 to listen to the scriptures and a homily at an age appropriate level.

First Communion - "We Celebrate the Eucharist"

Children ages 7 - 9 receive their primary instruction at home with their parents using the Silver Burdett text "We Celebrate the Eucharist" (commonly known as the Gold Book).  Children gather once a month during their regular cluster sessions to prepare for the special liturgies planned from October through March, celebrating the themes of:

Belonging

Celebrating

Listening

Caring

Making Peace

Giving Thanks for Creation

Giving Thanks for New Life

A potluck supper in April celebrates the theme of "Sharing A Meal".  The Celebration of First Eucharist takes place over a period of several weekends after Easter based on the choice of each family.

First Reconciliation

Preparation for First Reconciliation takes place in the home and during monthly cluster sessions and is celebrated during Lent in a communal Penance service. 

Parent Meetings

Parent Meetings are offered from September to March to assist families in their responsibility to prepare their child for the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation.  Repeating families need only attend two parent meetings.

Activities

Parent-child food bags to benefit St. Matthew's Parish in Dorchester

Epiphany pageant and celebration

Good Friday activities

End of Year Celebration