General Information
Welcome to St. Mary Religious Education Program. We offer classroom instruction for children in grades Kindergarten – 8th.
Classes meet most Sundays of the school year.
Classes meet most Sundays of the school year.
| 2023_one_page_calendar.pdf |
Link One Sunday each month students bring their parents to class for “Faith and Family Day”. These are required days of instruction and part of the curriculum for the school year. It is important for parents to attend with their children since the activities involve interaction between children and parents.
Class time: 9:55 AM – 10:55 AM
Location: St. Mary Ministry Center
Please contact us if you have any questions. annalisam@stmarydekalb.org or 815-758-5432 x101
Religious Education Mission Statement:
To help the young attain heaven by enthusiastically and faithfully transmitting the fullness of the Catholic Faith so that they may come to know, love, serve and bring glory to the God the Father in union with His Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
Through encounters with Jesus Christ in the sacraments, prayer, Scripture, moral formation, and liturgical education, the knowledge of faith will be promoted so that these young disciples, upon adulthood, will be prepared for active participation in the sacramental, liturgical, and community life of the faithful and be equipped to engage in works of mercy reflecting their Catholic identity and be living witnesses of the Gospel in the world.
Religious Education Program Vision for the 2023-2024 School Year
Facilitate a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ by creating an environment where every student and family can encounter Him each Sunday especially, His presence in the Eucharist. To accompany the children and their parents as we journey together in evangelization, catechesis, prayer and living out the faith in our daily lives.
"On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you."
-Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium
Curriculum Information
St. Mary Parish uses the Faith & Life Curriculum by Ignatius Press for grades 1st-7th. This curriculum asks students to complete an online lesson at home before coming to class on Sunday (Flipped Classroom). Coming to class prepared allows catechists to offer an engaging classroom experience. Since the chapter has been covered at home, time in class will be spent with activities, discussions, that will bring the topic to life. After the student’s time in class, parents will use the Family Guide book to review the chapter with their children. By following the program, the students are introduced to the material online and it is then reinforced in class and again with parents.
Kindergarten Curriculum – Christ Our Life by Loyola Press
8th Grade Curriculum – Decision Point by Dynamic Catholic and Theology of the Body for Middle Schoolers by Ascension Press
Included in the class schedule is the Empowering God’s Children Program which is required by the Rockford Diocese. The Empowering God’s Children Program allows parents and catechists to give children the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them. Parents may opt out of the program by filling-out an opt-out form. Link below.
Link to Empowering God's Children Parent booklet
Faith & Family Days
One Sunday each month parents are asked to attend class with their child. These classes will begin in the church immediately following the 9 AM Mass. After the time in church we will move to the cafeteria for family activities and refreshments. It is important that a parent attend since the activities involve interaction between the children and their parents. The goal of Faith & Family Days is to provide an opportunity for: Parents to explore the faith with their children and to build a faith community.
Class time: 9:55 AM – 10:55 AM
Location: St. Mary Ministry Center
Please contact us if you have any questions. annalisam@stmarydekalb.org or 815-758-5432 x101
Religious Education Mission Statement:
To help the young attain heaven by enthusiastically and faithfully transmitting the fullness of the Catholic Faith so that they may come to know, love, serve and bring glory to the God the Father in union with His Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
Through encounters with Jesus Christ in the sacraments, prayer, Scripture, moral formation, and liturgical education, the knowledge of faith will be promoted so that these young disciples, upon adulthood, will be prepared for active participation in the sacramental, liturgical, and community life of the faithful and be equipped to engage in works of mercy reflecting their Catholic identity and be living witnesses of the Gospel in the world.
Religious Education Program Vision for the 2023-2024 School Year
Facilitate a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ by creating an environment where every student and family can encounter Him each Sunday especially, His presence in the Eucharist. To accompany the children and their parents as we journey together in evangelization, catechesis, prayer and living out the faith in our daily lives.
"On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you."
-Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium
Curriculum Information
St. Mary Parish uses the Faith & Life Curriculum by Ignatius Press for grades 1st-7th. This curriculum asks students to complete an online lesson at home before coming to class on Sunday (Flipped Classroom). Coming to class prepared allows catechists to offer an engaging classroom experience. Since the chapter has been covered at home, time in class will be spent with activities, discussions, that will bring the topic to life. After the student’s time in class, parents will use the Family Guide book to review the chapter with their children. By following the program, the students are introduced to the material online and it is then reinforced in class and again with parents.
Kindergarten Curriculum – Christ Our Life by Loyola Press
8th Grade Curriculum – Decision Point by Dynamic Catholic and Theology of the Body for Middle Schoolers by Ascension Press
Included in the class schedule is the Empowering God’s Children Program which is required by the Rockford Diocese. The Empowering God’s Children Program allows parents and catechists to give children the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them. Parents may opt out of the program by filling-out an opt-out form. Link below.
Link to Empowering God's Children Parent booklet
Faith & Family Days
One Sunday each month parents are asked to attend class with their child. These classes will begin in the church immediately following the 9 AM Mass. After the time in church we will move to the cafeteria for family activities and refreshments. It is important that a parent attend since the activities involve interaction between the children and their parents. The goal of Faith & Family Days is to provide an opportunity for: Parents to explore the faith with their children and to build a faith community.
| opt-out-form_egc_2023.docx |
| faith___family_day_listing.pdf |
Safety
- The safety of all in our care is most important.
- Class begins at 9:55 AM. The doors to the Ministry Center are locked at 10:05 AM. If families arrive after 10:05 a door monitor will let you in.
- The building will remain locked until 10:45. Parents who arrive early to pick up their children are asked to wait in the Parent Room on the first floor until class ends at 10:55AM. Students in 4th grade and below require a parent or older sibling to sign them in when they arrive and sign them out when they leave.
- If anyone other than parents or siblings will be picking up, please notify the catechist when dropping off the child. Please do not leave children unattended in the classrooms, wait for a catechist or aide to arrive.
- Do not arrive more than 10 minutes before the start of class.