Religious Education Program
8925 S. Kostner
Hometown, Illinois 60456
(708) 499-0832
Sr. Julia Lydon, CND
Director of Religious Education
P U R P O S E
The primary task of Religious Education is to build a loving, caring and sharing Christian Community. We seek to develop the faith and love of Jesus Christ within your children. In accordance with the National Directory for Catechesis (NDC), we remind parents and guardians that Christian Community begins at home first and foremost. The NDC says “Because it is the “church of the home,” the family provides a unique locus for catechesis. It is a place in which the word of God is received and from which it is extended. Within the Christian family, parents are the primary educators in the faith and “the first heralds of the faith with regard to their children.” You are the primary Religious Educators of your children through your example and daily life. Parents should understand that Christian formation is not limited to preparation of a sacrament, but rather must continue as long as one lives. This includes instruction in basic doctrine, scripture and worship while relating this to daily living. Catechesis is based on a word meaning “to echo”. Through this process of education and formation for all ages our Catholic faith is shared and our children grow in the knowledge and discipleship of Jesus Christ. So, as parents and guardians, go forth “to echo” your faith.
P O L I C I E S
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
The Religious Education Office must be notified immediately of any change of address, and/or change of phone number at home or work. Our records must be kept up-to-date for emergency use.
Our Lady of Loretto Religious Education Program presumes that both parents of a child have equal access to the child, even if the parents are divorced or separated. Thus, unless informed otherwise in writing and with adequate evidence that a parent is not permitted to have unqualified access to the child, the catechetical program will permit either parent to have access to the child while at the catechetical site and will release the child from the site to either parent. The Our Lady of Loretto RE program abides by the provision of the Buckley Amendment. Divorced and/or separated parents should file a court certified copy of the custody section of the divorce decree (or separation agreement) when the child is enrolled in the program. Legal Guardians must also provide the appropriate information.
FEES In order to fund the RE program, we rely on fees paid by parents/guardians as well as general parish funds allocated to this program. Basic fees include the text book and supplementary RE materials used by the catechist. If a family is experiencing some financial difficulty and is unable to meet payment obligations, we request that you meet with the Director of Religious Education. A $50.00 per family registration fee is required at the time of registration and is non-refundable. This will be applied toward your tuition fees. Families will receive reminders when there is a balance due. Please call the RE Office if there is a mistake on your invoice so the appropriate corrections can be made.
FEES for 2009-2010
Tuition Fees
One child - $175.00 - Two children or more - $270.00 - Three children or more -$400.00
Special Fees
TBA
Return Check Fee - $15.00 ***
All fees should be paid in full by January 30, 2010. We encourage families to use the 5 month payment plan, and make a payments September through January.
The RE office should be informed in advance of withdrawals from the program so that proper arrangements can be made. There is no refund after the first class and the registration fee is non-refundable.
Children transferring into Our Lady of Loretto’s RE program are required to provide previous RE information. Copies of Baptismal and other sacrament certificates along with sacrament dates must be given to the RE office at the time of registration. Written program information and attendance records must be provided to Our Lady of Loretto at the time of registration from all previous RE or Catholic school programs. (See the Director of Religious Education for specifics.) Children transferring out of Our Lady of Loretto will be provided with program information upon registering.
MANNA/BOUNTY PROGRAM
The MANNA program offers families a way to offset tuition fees by participating in a program to earn financial credits. The parish sells gift certificates for local vendors as well as national department stores. The stores give a percentage back to the church
and Our Lady of Loretto splits that percentage 50%-50% with participating families. Tuition credits are applied to your tuition fees twice a year. Please inform the RE Office if you are involved in this program for credit.
SACRAMENTAL INFORMATION
Basic sacramental information must be provided at the time of registration or during the year. If sacraments were received at Our Lady of Loretto, only dates are needed. If sacraments were received at other churches, then certificates must be provided. Each child must meet the sacramental requirements before receiving the sacrament. The church of the child’s Baptism holds the records for all sacraments. Therefore, Our Lady of Loretto will provide that church with appropriate information at the time of sacraments.
FAMILY MASS
Family Masses are held once a month from September through May. The student and family are required to attend the grade level Mass pertaining to their children. Of course, all families are strongly urged to attend all RE family Masses throughout the year.
Classes are held on Sunday Mornings: 9:30 am - 11:00 am. Each family will be mailed the RE calendar in September. Each student will have a copy of the RE calendar in their folder. Please refer to the calendar and place it where it is easily accessible. If schedule changes occur, the changes will be noted on the monthly calendar you will receive.
We make an effort to accommodate the many extra-curricular activities of our students. Our class schedule between September and May is compact.
We expect all parents to be responsible enough to understand that Religious Education should take precedence over other activities.
Therefore, we expect ALL students to attend class from September through our final Sunday. If you need a letter for an activity documenting your child’s participation in RE and the hours, please let us know. Students should not be punished for attending RE if they miss a game or practice.
Bathroom breaks for grades 1 – 3 are automatically worked into the schedule for the students. Bathroom breaks for grades 4 – 8 are permitted as needed at the discretion of the catechist.
Your child is expected to attend all the classes for the entire year. A child may be excused for serious reasons only. If a child is absent, it is the responsibility of the parent to contact the RE office at 499-0832 prior to the beginning of class on Sunday. Please leave a message on the answering machine with the name of the student and grade. Students in grade 1 through 6 with 3 absences or more for one year will have their progress reviewed by the catechist and the Director of Religious Education. Students in grade 7 and 8 will be allowed 2 absences per year. The DRE will contact the parents if necessary.
Your child is allowed absences for religious purposes from their public schools. The day will be marked as an absence according to the state but will not affect perfect attendance. Schools are notified in writing from OLL pertaining retreat days scheduled within the Religious Education program. If you have a question, please contact the Principal directly or the Director of Religious Education.
Early dismissals must be handled through the RE office. The RE office must be notified prior to class time of the early dismissal time and reason. A parent/ guardian must come to the RE office to pick up the student. Your child will meet you in the RE office.
If extreme weather warrants the cancellation of class, please listen to emergency broadcasting.
Each student is required to learn and understand certain facts and material that pertain to each particular grade. All students will be allowed to take their textbooks home every week if permitted by their catechist. If a catechist reports that a child does not have a textbook for consecutive classes, a new textbook will be given to the child with a $15.00
replacement charge. Most grades are required to do some type of homework. It is your responsibility to see that your child is bringing everything that is required to class each week. Each catechist supplements the classwork with additional materials approved by the RE office.
DISCIPLINE/ATTIRE
Children are asked to be respectful of people and property while attending class and to cooperate with the catechist. Classroom attire should reflect the willingness to learn. If a serious problem arises, the child will be sent to the RE office and a parent or guardian will be called. Food of any type is prohibited unless approved by the DRE. Toys or sports equipment is not allowed. Cell phones, Ipods, MP3 players, etc. are not to be used during class time. If used, they will be taken and not released to the child until the
parents or guardians meet/call the DRE and/or the Pastor. Cheating on tests or papers, bullying, fighting and false accusations are not tolerated. No wheelie shoes (shoes with
wheels on the bottom) are allowed in class or church.
TESTING/COMPETENCY
Testing will occur in all grades at the discretion of the catechist. A competency test will be given to students in grades 4 – 7 to test their basic knowledge of the content learned within the year. A basic understanding of our faith appropriate for each grade is expected of each student. Tests may be administered in different ways to accommodate the learning capacity of each student. Because 8th grade is the year in which the sacrament of Confirmation is received, testing will be done within the confines of the Confirmation preparation program. The same applies to 2nd grade and Reconciliation and 3rd grade with First Communion.
PARENT MEETINGS
Your attendance at general Parent Meetings and for the various sacraments is a requirement for your child’s reception of any of the sacraments. Dates and times are listed on the calendar and reminders are sent home with the children. Please allow 1 ½ hrs. per parent meeting. Parent Meetings are ADULTS ONLY unless otherwise stated on your reminder notice. Catechists may require a meeting with parents and students.
Children are ordinarily eligible to participate in extracurricular activities provided by Our Lady of Loretto with the following qualifications:
1. Parents or guardians must be registered parishioners.
2. Children must be enrolled and attending the RE program.
3. Children must maintain a passing average in the RE program to participate.
ALTAR SERVERS
All 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade RE children who have been baptized and have received Reconciliation and Communion are eligible to be altar servers at Our Lady of Loretto. A Staff Person will coordinate special training and scheduling. All questions should be directed to the Rectory at 424-7471.
First Reconciliation - Grade 2
First Communion - Grade 3
Confirmation Preparation - Grades 7 & 8
Confirmation - Grade 8
A proper understanding of each sacrament is taught to the children. Participation at regular Sunday liturgies is essential in the children’s understanding of sacraments. The DRE along with the catechist and parent or guardian can decide if a child is not ready to receive either sacrament. Celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation takes place in February/March. Celebration of First Communion takes place in April/May. Parents are expected to take an active part in the preparation of the sacraments with their children. There is at least one parent meeting scheduled for the sacrament of Reconcilation, and
at least at least one parent meeting for the sacrament of First Communion. Sacramental Retreat experiences for both sacraments may require family participation.
PARENT MEETINGS ARE REQUIRED FOR YOUR CHILD’S RECEPTION OF THE SACRAMENT. Please allow 1 ½ hrs. for each parent meeting scheduled. Children must attend an RE program or Catholic school one year prior to the preparation year of these sacraments. Prayers and basic Christian knowledge should be known before attending 2nd grade. Each student will be tested verbally by the DRE if necessary.
Preparation for Confirmation happens during the 7th and 8th grade RE years. There is at least one parent meeting scheduled in Grade seven and one in Grade eight for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Attendance at PARENT MEETINGS IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR CHILD’S RECEPTION OF THIS SACRAMENT. Sacramental Retreat experiences for this sacrament may require family participation. Students are to sign in after Mass each Sunday with the music director.
One of the hallmarks of a Christian community is the aspect of service. The concept of service begins with a parent encouraging the child to perform acts of kindness and compassion in the home and neighborhood. Parental involvement and assistance in this area is important and essential. The student and the parents are to develop service ideas. Hometown Community Chest collection which takes place in the fall is a required event for 7th and 8th grade students. Written service reports are required. A detailed service project folder will be given to each 8th grade student.
Students are required to have at least 2 previous years of catechesis prior to the Confirmation preparation year. Candidates must participate in every phase of the preparation of this sacrament including interviews with the Pastor and/or DRE, class projects, service projects, weekly class attendance, and regular Sunday Mass attendance. Each child’s progress will be reviewed by the DRE and catechist to decide if the child is ready to receive this sacrament.
Through life our faith is an ongoing process learning how we worship and why. We strongly urge the participation of children in the Religious Education program from grade 1 through grade 8. In every grade, the program takes a developmental approach to the sacraments, liturgy, prayer, scripture, and doctrine in their daily lives. There is progressive development of initiating the children into a personal as well as communal relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
The faith of children is modeled on that of their parents. You are invited to participate in our program in any way that you can. We value you as a vital and important part of
our program along with your children and we know that we can count on your support, encouragement and assistance with the following:
1. Review the prayers at home by saying them at meals or bedtime.
2. Attend weekly Mass on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
3. Attend parent meetings as required.
4. Assist children with completion of homework assignments.
5. Use the experiences of daily family living to develop Christian values.
You are always welcome to observe a class in session on Sunday mornings. However, you need to check in at the RE office before doing so. Accurate records must be kept of who is in the building due to fire regulations.
As parents and guardians, you play a special and integral part in the religious education of your child. Periodically, you will be asked to volunteer to help with special events for your children. Your participation is important to the success of the RE program. Please consider saying yes when asked to “help out”.
Catechists are members of the Our Lady of Loretto parish community who desire to share their own development of faith with your children. We request that you support what is done in the classroom by talking about our Catholic faith in your home. We ask for your continued prayers and support as the catechist commits themselves to this special ministry. We are always looking for adults to help in the classroom or in the office. If you are interested, please call 499-0832.
A Religious Education Calendar and newsletter will be sent home to you monthly. PLEASE POST this so you can refer to the calendar easily. If schedule changes occur, the changes will be noted on the monthly calendar. This is our way to communicate with you and keep you informed of what is happening in the RE office. The parish Sunday bulletin also provides general information about Our Lady of Loretto. We welcome phone contact whenever you have a question or concern. Please leave a message on the answering machine when we are not in the office.
RCIA
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is offered to adults who have not received their sacraments or are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. These sessions are held separately for adults only in an informal manner. The school model is not used for the adults. If you are interested, please call 499-0832.