Table of Contents
Prayer for Parents
…………………………….Page 2
Welcome
Staff
RE Board
…………….........................Page 3
Parent Support/Mass
……………………………Page 4
Attendance
Discipline
Special Needs
Communication
……………………………Page 5
Volunteers
……………………………Page 6
Drop Off/Pick Up
Transportation
Emergency Procedures
………………………….....Page 7
Sacramental Prep
……………………………Page 8
Calendar
…………………………….Page 11
Prayer of Parents
for Guidance of their Children
Most loving Father, the example of parenthood, teach us
what to give and what to withhold.
Show us when to reprove and when to praise. Make us
gentle and considerate yet firm and watchful.
Keep us from weak indulgence, or from great severity.
Give us the courage to be disliked sometimes by our
children, when we must do necessary things which are
displeasing to their eyes.
Give us the imagination to enter their world in order to
understand and guide them.
Give us all the virtues we need to lead them by word and
example in the path of righteousness. Amen.
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Nativity of Mary Mission Statement
Nourished by the Eucharist and guided by the Holy Spirit, We proclaim the
Gospel as good stewards, sharing God’s love.
Welcome! Nativity of Mary is excited to begin the new Religious Education year
for 2012-2013. This handbook contains general information about the program, to
help guide you through the year. If you have questions that were not answered in
the book or need to contact someone about the program, we can be reached at the
Religious Education Office.
The Parish Religious Education office is located in The Nativity of Mary Rectory
at 313 E. Wall St. During the school year, office hours for the Rectory are Monday
through Friday, 7:30-3:30. The phone number is (608)752-7861. Coordinator for
Religious Education, Cathy Crofts, can be reached at extension 29 or by email at
ccrofts@nativitymary.org.
STAFF
Pastor: Fr. Steve Umhoefer
Coordinator of Religious Education: Cathy Crofts
Director of Liturgy: Bob Craig
Parish Administrative Assistant: Heather Rude
Business Manager: Kathy Fisher
Director of Pastoral Outreach: Sr. Ruth Brings
School Principle: Julie Garvin
School Secretary: Sue Vodak
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD
Dan Bekta
Jan Bier
Kathy Clanfield
Val Crofts
Lori Cunningham
Val Crofts
Brigid Terry
New Members Welcome!
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Parent Support/Mass Attendance
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that:
“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their
children in faith, prayer, and all the virtues.”
The goal of the religious education program is to assist you, the parents in forming
your children in their Catholic faith. Unlike sports, music, or other instructional
situations parents give our children, Religious Education is a unique opportunity
for parents to learn with the student and to model for them what it means to be an
active Christian.
Conversion is a lifelong process and we are always changing, growing or not
growing in our faith life. Our faith life is best nurtured by our frequent
participation in the worship of the Christian Community around the table at the
Eucharist. Christ is present in a most profound way through the scriptures
proclaimed and in the bread and wine that is changed into his body and blood.
Christ gives himself as food for us. What better way is there to help us live as
Christians in our daily life?
If it you have not been attending Mass for a period of time and feel uncertain about
what it going on please contact us. We sincerely welcome you and will help you
feel at home again at Mass. Our Christian community is not complete without
you!!!
If you are in a situation where you would like more information to grow personally
or resources to help with your child’s growth, please let us know and we are happy
to help in any way.
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Class Attendance
Due to the limited time we have in the classroom, it is very important for students
to attend regularly. Understandably, some situations will require absences. Please
leave a message at the Rectory 752-7861 ext 29 if your child will be absent. The
Diocese requires that a call be made to your home if your child is absent and we
have not heard from you. If you wish to be on the “no-call” list for absences, you
will need to sign a waiver and return it to the religious education office.
In the case of an absence, we ask that the student make up the material at home. In
cases of excessive absences, students will be given an option to make up work over
the summer to advance to the next grade level the following year.
Discipline
The most important rule for students attending class is RESPECT. Students
should respect themselves, their catechists, their classmates, and their meeting
space. In the event a student’s behavior is disrupting a class, they will be given a
verbal warning. If this does not correct the behavior, they will meet with the
Coordinator. If further help is needed, parents will be notified and arrangements
will be made for alternate instruction.
Special Needs
If there are any special needs or special circumstances that might affect your
child’s learning or behavior, please share this information with the Coordinator.
The time a child spends in religious education should be a positive experience and
being sensitive to special needs is one way to do this. If such information needs to
be shared with the catechist, it will be done on a confidential basis.
Communication
Throughout the year, letters, memos, and parent information sheets will be brought
or emailed home. Please make sure to ask your child about any items handed out,
as well as discussing what they learned and talked about. Discussing topics
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covered each week will help reinforce the material and parents will get to benefit
from a review. Parents are always welcome to visit the classes.
Volunteers
There are many wonderful events and opportunities offered at Nativity of Mary.
These do not happen without help from the community. Please consider joining in
one or more of the following. You’ll be surprised at the results. “I can do things
you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” Mother Teresa
Religious Education- We are always looking for parents to become involved in
the program as room parents, door monitors, and RE Advisory Board members.
All volunteers will need to take part in the Diocese Program “Protecting God’s
Children” an awareness session for all volunteers at Nativity of Mary who work
with the youth of the parish. For more information on the program, go to
www.virtus.org.
Family Masses - Assist with ministries during Mass and special events after.
September 23, 2012
November 11, 2012
December 15, 2012
March 17, 2012
April 20, 2012
10:30am Parish Festival
8:30 am Event for Veterans
4:30 pm Babysitting for parents after Mass
8:30 am St. Pat’s Day Fun
4:30pm
End of year gathering 4/21
Parish Festival - September 23, 2012. Students are asked to help with games and
parents needed to supervise. Families also needed for set up, take down, and
kitchen assistance.
Steeple Chase - October 14, 2012 Help with set up, stations during race, and
other needs.
Catholic Women’s Club Brunch - December 2, 2012 9:15-11:00 Help with
set up, serving, and clean up.
Mardi Gras - February 12, 2013 Help with set up, activities, and clean up.
Salad Luncheon - March 8, 2013 Help with meal prep, serving, set up, clean up
Catholic Women’s Brunch - May 5, 2013 Set up, serving, clean up
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Graduation Mass & Brunch - June 2, 2013 Set up, meal prep, serving, clean up
DROP OFF/PICK UP
Classes for K-8 will be held at Nativity of Mary School. We ask students to enter
through the main doors of the school. Classes for high school students are held in
the Nativity House.
Student should not arrive more than 10 minutes before class begins. K-10 grade
classes are scheduled from 9:30-10:25 and Confirmation from 9:00-10:15.
Students are not allowed in the room until the catechist arrives. There is no
supervision before this time.
For younger grades, we ask that a parent or responsible caregiver please escort the
child to and from class, for the first sessions. In order to ensure the safety of the
children, we will have a sign up sheet for parents to help with arrival/dismissal for
classes. If it is difficult to walk a student in due to younger siblings or mobility
issues, please let us know and we will have a volunteer help you.
Please remind students that the playground is closed. There is no supervision.
If a student is still waiting 10 minutes after dismissal, they will be brought to the
school office to wait for their ride.
Transportation
Parents are responsible for the safe transfer of their children to and from religious
education sessions and activities. A properly signed permission form will be
required for any child before participation in activities away from the parish or
primary site.
Emergency Procedures
In the event of severe weather or other emergency situations, we will notify you
through an announcement on 1230 AM, WCLO. We will also attempt to contact
you by phone or email if class cancellation is necessary. In the event of a safety
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issue during the dismissal time, children will be held at the class location until an
all clear is given. Children will then be released to parents/guardians only.
Sacramental Prep
Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will be a joint effort
between parents and catechists, with additional help from the Religious Education
Coordinator via parent catechesis, written material and prayer opportunities. In
addition to preparation in religious education classes and through St. Mary’s
School, candidates use a book to prepare at home with the help of parents and
other family members for each of the sacraments. Preparation is traditionally in
grade 2; however, older children can be part of the preparation program using ageappropriate materials.
Reconciliation:
- Parent/Student Meeting & Sacramental dates to be announced
Eucharist Preparation:
- Parent/Student Meetings: To be announced
-
First Eucharist will be celebrated on April 27th & April 28th and on May
4th & 5th at all of the Nativity of Mary weekend Masses.
Confirmation
Confirmation students will meet in the Nativity House on scheduled class days
from 9:00-10:15. Students attend class their junior year and Confirmation is
celebrated the fall of their senior year, with the Confirmandi from our cluster
parishes. Confirmation is hosted at a church in the cluster which can accommodate
the large group.
As Confirmation is the last “Sacrament of Initiation” and the final step to
embracing our Catholic faith as an adult, it is a much deeper study of our faith.
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Students must therefore have attended religious education classes the year
immediately preceding enrolling for Confirmation.
In addition to regular classes, students will need to participate in additional
Sponsor meetings and a weekend retreat. Our goal is to prepare the Confirmation
candidates to see that receiving Confirmation is not the END of their religious
education, rather that faith formation is a lifelong process.
Our curriculum includes the texts: Theology of the Body for Teens (Ascension
Press), Send out your Spirit (Ave Maria Press), The Catechism of the Catholic
Church, and The Catholic Youth Bible (St. Mary’s Press), and YOUCAT (Ignatius
Press). Throughout the year, classes will focus on the four basic catechetical
elements: Community, Worship, Service, and Message.
- Community: Belonging to the Church. Confirmation is one of the three
sacraments of initiation. The candidates are in the process of moving
forward to adult membership in the church.
- Worship: Personal and liturgical prayer and faith. Along with active
participation in weekly Mass, we will help them deepen their own faith and
prayer life. They will experience a variety of prayer forms and methods,
especially the praying of scripture. We will emphasize the fact that
Confirmation is, above all, a commitment to Eucharist and the Eucharistic
community.
- Service: Justice and love in action. We believe that commitment to
Christianity involves a way of life, the living out of a moral code and value
system based on the principles of justice and Christian love in our Catholic
Church. The candidates will be actively involved in living the faith through
ministry in our parish and the community.
- Knowledge: Knowing the Christian/Catholic tradition. A meaningful
celebration of Confirmation requires us to reinforce and build on the
candidate’s basic knowledge of the faith.
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As a Confirmation candidate, each student will choose a sponsor. The sponsor
needs to be a practicing, confirmed Catholic who is not a parent, and is willing to
spend time with the student as a mentor both before and after Confirmation.
Sponsors typically participate in our mini-retreats and need to be available for the
celebration of Confirmation.
Students will also choose a saint as their Confirmation name. We will look at
many saints throughout the year and the students will have ample opportunity to
read about others on their own. They should choose a saint whose life they admire
and perhaps wish to emulate. A one-page essay about their saint’s life and why
they chose him/her as their Confirmation name will be due at the end of the year.
Finally, as part of our high school and Confirmation studies, we place strong
emphasis on service, or ministry in our parish and community. As such, we expect
that our Confirmation students will participate in many ministries throughout high
school and their life as an adult Catholic. We will present them with a variety of
opportunities and services to choose from. Please encourage your student in
developing a habit of “giving to others.”
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Religious Education 2012-2013 Calendar
Classes Begin …………………………………. September 16, 2012
Catechetical Sunday
Regular Classes……………………………….. September 23, 2012
Family Mass 10:30
Parish Festival
Regular Classes………………………………... September 30, 2012
No Class
……………………………….. October 7, 2012
Regular Classes………………………………... October 14, 2012
Regular Classes………………………………... October 21, 2012
No Classes
……………………………….. October 28, 2012
Regular Classes ……………………………….. November 4, 2012
Regular Classes …………………………….…. November 11, 2012
Family Mass 8:30am
Regular Classes………………………………... November 18, 2012
No Classes
………………………………... November 25, 2012
Regular Classes………………………………… December 2, 2012
Regular Classes……………………………….... December 9, 2012
Regular Classes……………………………….... December 16, 2012
**Family Mass 4:30 Dec 15**
Christmas Break………………………………... December 23-30
Classes Resume………………………………… January 6, 2013
Regular Classes………………………………... January 13, 2013
No Classes
…………………………………January 20-27
Classes Resume………………………………….February 3, 2013
Regular Classes………………………………….February 10, 2013
Regular Classes………………………………….February 17, 2013
No Classes
…………………………………February 24, 2013
Regular Classes………………………………….March 3, 2013
Regular Classes………………………………….March 10, 2013
Regular Classes………………………………….March 17, 2013
Family Mass 8:30am
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Easter Break …………………………………March 24-31
Classes Resume………………………………….April 7, 2013
Regular Classes………………………………….April 14, 2013
Last Class
…………………………………April 21, 2013
***Family Mass 4:30pm April 20**
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