Goal for Catechesis:

Integrally link the religious formation of children, youth and adults with parish life.   

Catholics believe Sunday Mass is the primary event which sustains and nourishes Catholic faith. Christ is really present in the gathering of the faithful, in the proclamation of the Gospel, in the Eucharist, and in the apostolic service rendered in the world as we are dismissed from the liturgy. What happens in the religious education classroom leads to and flows out of the Sunday Mass experience, and from this dynamic Catholics witness in their daily lives to the faith. Therefore ---

Strategies:

(1) By December 15, catechist coordinators, representative parents, DRE and pastor will meet to design an event that draws together all the catechists and parents of each grade level-

• to foster a more personal relationship with parents

• to partner with them in their children's religious formation

• to assess the spiritual needs of both the child and the parents.

This event will stress the vital importance of consistently attending Sunday Mass and that this attendance is an expectation of the religious education program.

This event will also emphasize the idea of consistent use of the child's numbered envelope as a way of gathering data for the religious formation program regarding Mass attendance and also establishing habits of good stewardship among children.

(2) Each classroom session will begin with a review of last Sunday's Scriptures and overall liturgy---

• to stress the importance of consistently attending Sunday Mass

• to encourage all children to attend Mass each weekend.

Catechists will use the Faith First web site resources to reiterate the Scriptures and to apply their message to life

Periodically, post-cards or notes will be sent home from the religious education office to inform parents on the use of the child s envelope. These notes will include drawings by students to creatively call attention to the importance of coming to Mass regularly on Sundays.

(3) Selected grade levels, classrooms and their catechists will attend Mass monthly---

• to promote the idea of going to Mass each Sunday

• to highlight religious education's link with parish life.

Classrooms will contribute to the homily through banners, placards, other 'props," etc. that bring the Gospel to life.

On this Sunday we will serve refreshments in the parish hall for all the parents, children, catechists and entire assembly.

Catholics believe the task of conversion is on-going. We engage in a life-long process of deepening our conversion to Christ. We help and challenge each other in the process of conversion, we support each other, we learn from each other. Therefore---

(4) By December 1, the formation board will establish a task force which will investigate whole community catechesis ---

• to educate itself and be a resource to the Parish Council with regard to whole community catechesis

• to draft a plan implementing this type of catechesis at all age levels and in every area of parish life at St. Julie over the next seven years.

Staff can use their education stipends to attend workshops. In implementing such catechesis we will be mindful of publishers' resources in this newest area of catechetics.

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