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Religious Education:
Director of Religious Education: Ms. Maria Gaudelli - (914) 835-4291 Religious Education Classes and Times:
Statement of Philosophy We at the parish of Saint Gregory the Great look upon religious education as a total parish experience involving not just the child, but also parents, families, catechists, and priests that form our parish community of faith. We believe that religious education is getting to know Jesus and learning what is expected of one who chooses to follow him in the Catholic tradition. Our program reflects an integrated learning experience, composed of learning, catechesis, prayer, sacramental preparation, traditional catholic doctrine, biblical studies, liturgy, community building, and other dimensions of vibrant church life. Through the light of faith, we hope to develop in those entrusted to our care a deeper relationship with God. Letter from Pastor and Director of Religious Education Dear Parents: Right after your children were baptized the priest offered this prayer for you as fathers and mothers: "God is the giver of all life human and divine. May he bless the fathers of these children. With their wives they will be the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith. May they also be the best teachers bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord." In addition to instructing your children in Christian truth we welcome the opportunity to assist you in fulfilling your primary obligation to help you teach your children to walk in ways of faith. This can only be done when each family places Jesus Christ and His teachings at the center of their lives through Sunday worship, family prayer and daily living of the Christian message. We ask you to consider especially your attendance, wherever possible, at the Family Mass. Whether you find it possible to attend at that time or not we urge you to consider regular attendance at Sunday Mass with your children as an essential part of their religious education. We look forward to genuine cooperation with you in communicating Catholic Christian values to your children. We need to pray together, talk together and plan together. In that way we can draw fully from sacred scripture and church teaching and work to support each other in instilling them in our children who need these values so much in today's world. The Parish Staff of Saint Gregory the Great Church May God bless us in the work of Christian Education which we carry on in His name. Role of Parent/Guardian The parent/guardian has the primary and sacred responsibility to educate their child in the faith. Saint Gregory the Great Parish's Religious Education Program is established to assist them in this responsibility. It is essential to the child's growth and development in the Catholic faith that the parents/guardians live the life of faith at home. The effectiveness of the religious education process radically depends upon this. The child learns in the religious education classes that celebrating the Eucharist on Sunday in the local parish as a community of faith is essential to being a Catholic. Therefore, the child must attend the weekly Sunday or Saturday evening liturgy supported by his/her parents. It is obvious that the values of parents/guardians become the values of the child. The child receives a "mixed message" which causes inner conflict when what is taught by the church is not experienced by the child in his/her family. Role of Student Religious Obligations for Children in Our Program:
The Director of the Religious Education Program of Saint Gregory the Great is delegated by the Pastor to be responsible for the development, implementation and administration of the parish catechetical program, in accordance with the Guidelines of the Archdiocese of New York. The Director of Saint Gregory the Great Catechetical Program has the responsibility of implementing the principles of civil law concerning the safety of students in accordance with the Archdiocesan Safety Guidelines. The Director is also required to provide Catechesis/Religious Education for all students of the parish including those who have physical, emotional, mental or learning disabilities. The Church is responsible to nourish the faith of the baptized person to the degree that the individual is capable of growing. The placement of the student is determined by the Director, after consultation with the parent and catechist. These programs are developed in accordance with the Archdiocesan Guidelines for students with special needs. Role of the Catechist A catechist is a person of faith, who has the task of creating the atmosphere of the Holy Spirit to bring about growth in faith among believers. They foster "mature faith" through a regular systematic presentation. The primary mission of a catechist is to communicate God's love to those entrusted to their care, by proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. This is accomplished through the fourfold activities of message, community, worship and service. The tasks of the catechist are as follows:
Parish Based Program Our Religious Education Program offers instruction to students in elementary and junior high school, who attend Saint Gregory the Great Church. It offers a nine year course of study in which all Catholic children attending public school are expected to participate. The Religious Education Program offers an ongoing, continuing development of the Christian personality. This program is not a convenience for the reception of the three sacraments of Confirmation, Eucharist and Penance. Just as sacraments are not isolated events, but rather an integral part of the Christian life, so too, each grade in Religious Education adds to the development of the Christian life. Our aim is to provide a loving and caring Christian atmosphere in which our parish youth can grow in sound Christlike attitudes and values. Released Time Classes For students attending religious education programs during the regular school day released time cards entitled "Registration for Released Time Religious Instruction" must be used. The Director obtains these cards from the main Catechetical Office. After the Director signs the card the parent signs it and submits it to the public school principal. The student is usually dismissed for the last hour of the school day. Once dismissed from the public school, the student is in the care of the parent or the parent agent, which is the Director of Religious Education. Bus transportation is provided. After the catechetical session, the students are picked up by their parents/guardians. The latter gives the catechetical program more flexibility and allows the students to have the minimum session time of an hour and 15 minutes. New York state law prohibits substantial new academic matter being taught when released time students are at religious instruction. The Supreme Court Zorach decision says that public schools can adjust schedules to facilitate released time. Released time classes usually take place every week that the public school is in session. The calendar of the individual school district is followed. Special Religious Education Special Religious Education is a ministry that responds to the religious and spiritual needs of persons with a physical, mental, or emotional disability which impairs their functioning in a regular classroom. Because of that disability the student may require individualized instruction in a small group, or in a one-on-one setting, or may be mainstreamed into the regular catechetical program if assistance is provided. The universality of the Christian message: "Go teach all nations . ." includes those who are marginalized because of their disability. The Church's responsibility is to nourish the faith of the baptized person to the degree that the individual is capable of growing in that faith. The Church constantly reaffirms the sacredness of all human life, especially those who are fragile in mind, spirit, and body and Catechetical programs reflect this love and concern of Jesus and the Church for persons with disabilities. In consultation with the parent, the Director will appropriately place each child in a program that will service their special needs and further encourage spiritual growth. Sacramental Preparation Christian initiation is celebrated in Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Through these visible actions a young person is incorporated into the Church and shares its mission in the world: full initiation into the church occurs by stages. Sacramental Catechesis has traditionally been of two kinds: preparation for the initial celebration of the sacraments and continued enrichment following their first reception. Requirements for the reception of First Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation are determined by Canon Law:
Youth Ministry The Saint Gregory the Great's Program, God's TYM youth ministry offers high school youth of the parish an opportunity for deepening their relationship with God and one another and lots of fun! The Youth Ministry group meets weekly on Sunday night from 7-9 pm. Meetings include discussion and reflection on living as Catholic Christians in our world today, group prayer, guest speakers and outreach projects. New members are invited at all times. Catechesis Saint Gregory the Great's Religious Education Program meets all of the requirements of the Catechetical Office of the Archdiocese of New York, and adheres to the Archdiocesan Guidelines for Catechesis. Our program ensures for all the children of our parish a clear and uniform presentation of the faith in concepts appropriate to each age level we instruct. The Religious Education Program is designed to assist parents in their sacred responsibility to educate their children in the faith. It complements, but can never replace parents in carrying out their responsibilities. "Parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children." (National Catechetical Directory for Catholics of the United States). In addition to enlightening your children in doctrines and tenets of our faith, our Religious Education Program welcomes the opportunity to aid you in teaching your children to walk along the path of faith. This can only be achieved when parents, through word and example, place Jesus Christ and His teachings at the center of their lives through liturgical worship, frequent prayer, and communication of Christian values and attitudes. In this way parents make meaningful their professions of belief and nurture faith in their children by showing them the richness and beauty of the lived faith. |
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The St. Gregory the Great Early Childhood Enrichment Program: Religious Education: |
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