Faith Formation Program The main educators of children remain the parents. We partner with you and should you need any help or support please do not hesitate to contact Maria Christie at 835-3133 or your child’s catechist. For example, if your child is ill and cannot attend class we are happy to provide any or all of the lessons or take home pages. Thank you so much for entrusting and allowing us to share in the religious education of your child. We always welcome questions, ideas, or concerns regarding the religious education program. The prayers and practices study guide by grade is detailed to the right with supporting documents. Elementary Faith Formation  FAITH: In Blest Are We, faith is developed through a spiral curriculum based on the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. These four pillars of Catholic Doctrine are: What Catholics believe, How Catholics Worship, How Catholics live and How Catholics Pray. The four pillars are taught in every unit, at every level, every year. WORD: In Blest Are We; Sacred Scripture provides a solid foundation for learning the Catholic faith. Individual verses and scripture passages develop the themes for the lesson. The opening prayer in most lessons is scripture based. At each level, there is an introductory lesson on the bible which helps the children develop an understanding and appreciation for the Word of God. In addition, Blest Are We has an excellent web site with great resources for families, including the ability to download the take home pages in your Child’s book should you need to because of absence or the dog ate the pages! Be sure to check it out Blest Are We.com. The children are also expected to know the prayers and practices (see right column) introduced during the year. Catechists will do their best to introduce and review these but it remains the parent’s primary responsibility to ensure that the children are familiar with basic catholic teaching. See Parents for the parental responsibilities as outlined in the Saginaw diocese religion curriculum. Again, should you ever need our assistance in this, please do not hesitate to contact Maria Christie at 835-3133. We are here to serve.  Attendance/Calendar: Attendance is strongly encouraged and monitored. Certificates/awards are presented in recognition of good attendance. The children spend around 27 hours per year in parish faith formation classes: this is just over a day per year!! I think you would agree this is not a lot of time spent on something that is of great importance. This is why it is important that the children attend all sessions and our families faithfully complete the take home pages. These take home pages are an extension of the lesson the children have on Sundays. Not to mention the enjoyment you can have sharing your faith, it is a precious thing experiencing God through a child’s eyes. Parental classroom visits: Parents may visit the classroom and experience firsthand what the children are learning. Perhaps you would like to coincide your visit with the day you supply snacks? Cancellation of classes: Inclement weather could be heavy snow, freezing rain or sleet, or extremely cold conditions. You will be notified by e-mail or telephone. Classroom behavior: Our classrooms are for making the children’s faith come alive. Therefore it is necessary that each child has the opportunity to learn and each catechist has the opportunity to teach. To enable this to happen should a persistent behavioral concern arise the parents will be contacted. Home School Program: a Home school program also available through our association with Blest Are We. We can supply all that you need :books for parents and children at the various grade levels.
| Prayers and Practices Study Requirements From Kindergarten through 5th grade all children should know and understand the following for their grade level and the previous grades' material. All the content below is available in this PDF file. KINDERGARTNER Should Know.....  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. GLORY BE Glory Be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. GRACE BEFORE MEALS Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen. PRAYER TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL Angel of God, my Guardian Dear, to whom His love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. 1st Grade Should Know.....  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 2nd Grade Should Know..... THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist THE HOLY TRINITY The Holy Trinity is the three Persons in one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 3rd Grade Should Know..... THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with your whole mind. And your neighbor as yourself. SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY Counsel, Comfort, Instruct, Bear wrongs patiently. Forgive all injuries. Pray for the living and the dead. CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY Feed the hungry. Give drink to the thirsty. Clothe the naked. Visit the sick. Shelter the homeless. Visit the imprisoned. Bury the dead. THE FOUR MARKS OF THE CHURCH 1. One 2. Holy 3. Catholic 4. Apostolic 4th Grade Should Know.....  THE BEATITUDES (Meaning and Actions) 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 2. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. 3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. 4. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 6. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. 7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 8. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  1. I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have strange gods before me. 2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. 3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. 4. Honor your father and your mother. 5. You shall not kill. 6. You shall not commit adultery. 7. You shall not steal. 8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. 10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS 1. Baptism 2. Holy Eucharist 3. Confirmation 4. Reconciliation 5. Anointing of the Sick 6. Holy Orders 7. Matrimony ACT OF CONTRITION Oh, My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong, and failing to do good, I have sinned against you, whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen. 5th Grade Should Know..... NICENE CREED We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic And apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and life of the world to come. Amen. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 1. Wisdom 2. Right Judgment 3. Knowledge 4. Wonder and Awe 5. Understanding 6. Courage 7. Reverence PRECEPTS/PRACTICES OF THE CHURCH 1. To worship God by participating in Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. 2. To celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. 3. To receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist frequently. 4. To do penance and observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the church. 5. To join in the missionary spirit of the Church and support the material needs as well. |
Faith Program |