2023-2024 Religious Education Class Schedule — 9:40-10:50am
September 17, 24
October 1, 15, 22, 29
November 5, 12, 19
December 3, 10, 17
January 7, 21, 28
February 4, 11, 25
March 3, 10, 17, 24
April 7, 14, 21, 28
2023-2024 Meeting & Sacramental Dates
– Meet & Greet Ice Cream Social (at pavilion) – September 10 at 4:00pm
– Closing Prayer Service & Last Class – April 28
First Penance & First Communion
– Parent Meetings – October 15 & February 4
– First Penance & First Communion Retreat – April 13
– First Communion Practice – May 2
– First Communion – May 5 (during 11:00am Mass)
Confirmation
– 7th & 8th Grade Parent Meeting – October 29
– 8th Grade Parent Meeting – TBD (depending on Confirmation date)
– Confirmation Retreat – TBD (depending on Confirmation date)
– Confirmation – TBD
Overview St. Philip the Apostle Church holds Religious Education (RE) classes for children Grades 1-8. Regular attendance is mandatory for children in Grade 1 through Grade 8 who attend public or other Christian (non-Catholic) schools from. We follow diocesan curriculum and guidelines, and use a diocesan-approved textbook for Grades 1-8.
Catechists and Assistants St. Philip the Apostle Church is blessed to have a volunteer staff of dedicated men and women teaching our children and youth. These volunteers make our program one of the best around as far as teaching content and being living examples of faith in action. Our teachers and aides have all completed clearances according to diocesan norms for those who work with children and youth in the diocese. We are still in need of substitute catechists. If you are interested in getting involved with the Religious Education program, please contact one of our Co-Coordinators of Religious Education, Monica Beazley or Laura Potocki.
Class Times Sunday Mass times will be changing back to he fall schedule beginning the weekend of September 3 & 4. Masses will be held at 8:30am and 11:00am. Religious education classes will take place between the Masses on Sunday morning instead of overlapping a Mass time. Classes will be held from 9:40-10:50am. This will allow families to attend Mass on Saturday evening or either Sunday Mass. We will again not have classes on Sunday evenings. As a reminder, at baptism, you made the promise to raise your child in the Catholic faith, and celebrating Mass together is a big part of that promise.
Registration & Tuition Please fill the registration form out as completely as possible to cut down on us having to follow up with you. REGISTRATION LINK You will receive the medical information and release form on the first week of class. Tuition fees help cover basic costs of running our RE Program: textbook costs, supplies, etc. Tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is $50 for one child and $25 for any additional children in your family. Tuition can be paid by cash or check (made out to St. Philip the Apostle Church) and either mailed to the Parish Office or dropped in the collection basket in an envelope marked Religious Education. If you would like to pay by Credit Card, please click here. If tuition is a hardship for your family this year, please let us know and we will work with you. Registration and tuition due date: August 28. After registering, you will receive the medical form in the mail to return on the first day of class.
Sacramental Preparation If your child is in the year before and of sacrament preparation, we require satisfactory class attendance. Parent meetings for sacramental preparation are held, and parents must attend these meetings. Retreats are required for sacramental preparation years as well. There is a Penance Retreat for children preparing for First Penance and a Eucharist Retreat for First Eucharist Preparation. Students to be confirmed participate in a Confirmation retreat. Also, in addition to the Confirmation Retreat, those to be confirmed have other requirements: weekly Mass attendance, service hours, a saint report for their chosen Confirmation name, and a final interview with the pastor to determine the candidate’s readiness and desire to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. If your child attends Catholic School and is in grades 2 or 8, please reach out to our one of our Co-Coordinators of Religious Education, Monica Beazley or Laura Potocki, and let them know if your child is receiving their sacraments with our church or their school.