Saint James Family Centered Catechesis
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Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. -- Deuteronomy 4:9
Under the auspices of the Saint James Evangelization Council, the Family Centered Catechesis Program is designed to engage the whole family in religious education 
and spiritual formation. As an approved alternative to weekly classes in the School of Religious Education (CCD), Family Centered Catechesis meets one Sunday each month during the academic year, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Children in Kindergarten through 8th Grade attend classes in Saint James School while parents congregate in the school gym for an adult learning session. By involving the entire family in catechesis, there is an opportunity for faith to be a continuing journey to deepen one's relationship with God, at all stages in life. After catechesis, the whole family is encouraged to attend noon Mass.
Creative classroom activities for the children and dynamic speakers for the adults provide an enriching learning process.
The Family Centered Catechesis team of volunteers sees its primary role as active participation in the universal mission of the Roman Catholic Church, taking seriously the Gospel directive mandated by the Risen Christ to His disciples: Go therefore and teach all nations. We are committed to awakening in our students and their families an appreciation of the faith dimension of their lives, an understanding of the Faith Community both locally and globally, and a realization that service to the world community is an important part of the Gospel message.
Click for direct access to the following topics:Enrollment
The Saint James Family Centered Catechesis Program is offered to the families of children who attend public or private non-denominational elementary schools. Classes are held on one Sunday each month, September through May.
Registration forms are available to families who are registered members of the parish by contacting the Program Administrator, Debi Murray at debra.murray830@yahoo.com or 908-334-6778/908-766-1227; or by clicking the link below. All students must include a copy of their Baptismal Certificate with the application. Registration forms will not be processed without a Baptismal Certificate and a signed handbook receipt on-file.
Fees
The enrollment fee is $150.00 per child which includes the Adult Learning Sessions. There is an additional fee of $30.00 per child for sacramental preparation in the 2nd Grade (first Penance and First Holy Communion) and 8th Grade (Confirmation).
There is no fee for families of catechists in the Family Centered Catechesis Program.
Program Curriculum Philosophy
We strive to provide a safe environment for learning and to bring quality religious education to each family by offering a curriculum approved by the Diocese of Metuchen. Ultimately, we call our families to believe in God‘s love, to live it, and to spread it.
The following objectives flow from this philosophy:
- To proclaim Jesus, His person, His words, His teachings as He reveals them to us through Sacred Scripture and through Apostolic Tradition, as interpreted by the successor of Peter, the Church‘s supreme pastor. (Second Vatican Council, Ad gentes, 5)
- To proclaim the infinite love of God for each of us.
- To provide the family with an opportunity for growing in personal prayer, and for participating in the spiritual life of the Parish.
- To provide opportunities for the students and parents to be of service to others.
- To aid in the development of self and responsible behavior.
- To integrate faith and Christian living within the family by strongly encouraging participation in the parish Mass and parish community.
- To provide continuous religious education for parents and children.
Call to Faith Catechetical Program and Text
Each student is supplied with a textbook (Call to Faith, Harcourt Publishers). Students are asked to write their names in their books and treat all class materials with care and respect. Lost books will have to be replaced at the student’s expense. Students are expected to bring their text books to each class/session.
The wisdom and richness of Scripture, the power and solace of prayer, the beauty and comfort of creation, and the enlightening doctrines of the Church: all of these are woven into the fabric of the family program. The curriculum includes seven teaching units; Revelation, Trinity, Jesus Christ, Church, Morality, Sacraments and Kingdom of God. The curriculum also incorporates lessons on the Liturgical Year, Catholic Social Teachings and the Lectionary.
The goal of the program is to help the students and families grow in their faith as Catholics. A faith that is alive and growing is grounded in a deepening relationship with God, in Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. The program encompasses the mind and body with its facts and truths, the heart with trust and love, and the hands and feet with social action, care and service.
The Call to Faith text is deeply rooted in Church Tradition. With its dependence on and faithfulness to both the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the General Directory for Catechesis, it remains true to the Magisterium, the teaching office of the Church, and draws from Catholic wisdom: Scripture, Doctrine, Lives of the Saints and People of Faith, and Cultural Customs and Celebrations.
The program is based on the following principles:
Conversion is central to catechesis.
The aim of Call to Faith is to form participants into disciples who act with the mind and heart of Christ.
Catechesis is a lifelong process.
Catechesis is gradual, systematic, and lifelong. We are touched and transformed by the living God and by the lived Tradition of the community throughout our lives.
Catechesis is the responsibility of all baptized members of the Church.
The whole parish community (including parents, family members, catechists, and pastors) is called to hand on the faith through faith sharing and the witness of daily life.
Curriculum By Grade
Kindergarten
+ God loves me and shows His love through others.
+ Jesus, Son of God and Mary, teaches me how to love others.
+ I belong to the Church family guided by the Holy Spirit.
Grade 1
+ God, Father and creator of the World
+ Jesus, Son of God and Our Friend
+ The Holy Spirit, Giver of Strength and Joy
Grade 2
+ The Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist
+ Jesus, Model of Christian Living
Grade 3
+ The Traditions and Beliefs of the Catholic Church
+ The Apostles Creed and the Seven Sacraments
Grade 4
+ The Beatitudes
+ Catholic Christian Moral Values
+ Review the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Grade 5
+ The Sacramental Life of the Church
+ The Liturgical Year.
Grade 6
+ God’s Plan of Salvation as Recorded in the Bible
Grade 7
+ A synthesis of Catholic Beliefs
+ Trinity, Christian Community, Sacraments
Grade 8
+ A synthesis of Catholic Beliefs
+ The Church in the Modern World
Parents
Parent and guardians are the primary teachers of their children, including faith formation, the basis of which takes place in the home and at weekly Mass. The religious education of a child provides an opportunity for parents to re-educate and update themselves in the practice of the faith. We encourage parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to participate in the Adult Learning Sessions of the Family Centered Catechesis Program. Attendance by at least one parent or guardian is mandatory. It is our hope that these sessions will acquaint the parents with authentic Church teachings pertinent to a deeper appreciation of the Catholic Faith.
Families that would like to bring their preschoolers to the program are asked to accept the responsibility for hiring two child care providers. The staff will provide a list of families that have requested child care. The expense for this service will be divided among the families who would like to have this service. The selected two child care providers must contact Debi Murray at debra.murray830@yahoo.com or 908-334-6778/908-766-1227to complete paperwork and fingerprinting.
Sacramental Preparation
Preparation for the sacraments is part of the regular class curriculum. Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion is covered in 1st and 2nd Grades; preparation for Confirmation is taught in 7th and 8th Grades. Class attendance is mandatory during the two-year preparation cycle. Children enrolled in Family Catechesis will join with the traditional Saint James CCD Religious Education Program to receive the sacraments. Although children in the Family Catechesis Program will use materials different from those used in the CCD Religious Education, all will be prepared to receive the sacraments with the larger community.
Sponsor Requirements and Responsibilities
A Confirmation Sponsor represents the Christian Community into which the candidate is further initiated through the Sacrament of Confirmation.
All sponsors must obtain a certificate of eligibility from their parishes; i.e., the parishes in which they are registered parishioners; this includes those who are registered at Saint James Church.
Requirements:
- A sponsor must be baptized, confirmed, and be presently practicing his/her faith.
- A sponsor must be sufficiently mature as a Catholic and a Christian role model.
(Usually 14 or older)- Baptismal sponsors may act as Confirmation Sponsors and are encouraged to do so.
- A sponsor may be either male or female for any candidate.
- A sponsor may be a member of the religious-priest, nun, or brother.
- A sponsor should be reasonably informed on current Church teachings.
- A person who is married outside the church or who is divorced and remarried without an annulment may NOT serve as a sponsor.
- Parents CANNOT be sponsors for their children.
Responsibilities:
- Assist in the preparation for the sacrament by helping the candidate integrate the teachings of Jesus into his/her daily living.
- Encourage the candidate by growing in a faith relationship.
- Accompany the candidate to special liturgies and any pertinent programs.
- Assist in determining the candidate’s readiness for the sacrament.
- Accompany the candidate and present him/her to the Minister of Confirmation.
- Help the confirmed person fulfill his/her baptismal promises faithfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Student Learning Sessions
Students attend regular grade level classes. Classes will be held in the Saint James School. Sessions begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Food will not be permitted in the classrooms. Children and catechists will join parents for a 10 minute break mid-morning.
It should be noted that assignments are sent home regularly: a written assignment, a reading assignment, or a project. Each child should complete the work during the three weeks between classes. Homework reinforces what was taught in class.
Upon successful completion of program requirements, students receive a program grade level certificate.
Students with Special Needs
The Saint James Family Catechesis Program is inclusive of students with special needs. If we are unable to accommodate the needs of a student in our program or through special arrangements with his/her parents, the Office of Religious Education of the Diocese of Metuchen may have alternative options. Contact: Pat Martin at the Diocesan Office at 732-562-2446, Ext. 1310.
Adult Learning Sessions
Adults meet in the school gym at 9:00 a.m. for refreshments (coffee, tea, juice and snacks). There will be a scheduled break mid-morning for children and adults in the gym. Parents/guardians are asked to provide snacks for their children. In addition, each family is asked to provide food donations for the sharing table. Presentations begin at approximately 9:15 a.m. followed by a Family Catechesis Session after the mid-morning break. The program will end at 11:40 a.m., at which time families who are participating in the program are requested (but not required) to attend the noon Mass together.
One parent/guardian is required to attend the Adult Learning Session. Failure to do so will count as an absence against the student whether or not the student is present.
Class Attendance
Families must sign-in upon arrival at the gym. Regular attendance is essential for meaningful learning. All absences must be reported to your catechist before class time on the day of absence. For missed assignments, please contact your child's catechist to review material covered in your child's absence. It is imperative that all students keep up with class work. Please be aware that a child cannot miss more than ONE session. Illness will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Absences in excess of one may require your child to repeat the year in the traditional Saint James CCD Religious Education Program. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian and students to obtain any necessary make-up work that has been missed due to an absence.
Any student arriving after classes have begun must report to the hall monitor. Habitual tardiness is not acceptable. Tardiness in excess of 10 minutes beyond the start of classes will be recorded as an absence.
Mass Attendance
Students who are studying the Catholic Faith must regularly attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Attendance at the noon Mass after the Family Centered Catechesis session is suggested.
Liturgy feeds the faith and enables students to better understand what they are learning. Sunday Mass readings will be discussed in class and Gospel messages reinforced. Mass Attendance is especially important in preparation for receiving the sacraments. Avoidance of this responsibility seriously undercuts the training through religious education.
Mass Attendance Signature Slips will be provided at the monthly sessions to all families enrolled in Family Centered Catechesis. Mass attendance is recorded each week and checked regularly. Signed Mass slips should be placed in the regular collection baskets at the weekly Offertory. Families who attend Mass at a church other than Saint James are asked to clip the front banner/masthead (with date) from the bulletin of the other church and either turn it in with the attendance slip the next time they attend Mass at Saint James or to the child’s catechist.
Dismissal
Dismissal will be from the gym at 11:45 a.m.
If a child must be dismissed early due to an emergency or sickness, a parent or guardian must check with the Administrator before removing the child from school. Any student who needs to be dismissed prior to the end of a class session must have a reasonable excuse in writing that is signed by a parent or guardian that must be hand delivered or emails to the appropriate catechist, who will confirm the dismissal time and date with the parent. For early pick-up, parents are advised to approach the Administrator, Debi Murray, in the gym and she will escort you to your child’s classroom.
For the protection of the students, parents/guardians are not allowed free access to the classrooms.
If a student becomes ill or has an accident during class time, he/she will be escorted to meet his/her parent/guardian at the Adult Learning Session in the gym.
Communication
Parent/guardian meetings may be scheduled as needed to keep the parents informed about changes in policies. Families involved in sacramental preparation will be notified of meetings held by the traditional CCD staff.
All important notices pertinent to our program are communicated through the Saint James School of Religion Monday’s Message or the Saint James parish bulletin, as well as with flyers sent home with the students.
If your telephone, emergency or cell phone number changes during the school year, please notify your catechist who will let the administrator know of the change.
In case of an emergency closing, catechists will be notified and they, assisted by Class Parents, will make every effort to call and/or email each student.
Student Code of Behavior
Students are asked to be presentable when they come to class and dress according to regular school dress codes. They should be mindful that classes often go into the church so modest and appropriate dress is expected.
Students are not allowed to bring in any items, books, iPods, headphones, portable games or schoolwork that does not pertain to the religious education program. Any and all items will be confiscated and a meeting with the student’s parents/guardian will be arranged with the administration to discuss proper recourse. Cell phones are allowed for emergency use only. Text-messaging is prohibited. Repeated offenses may result in a student’s expulsion.
Care and respect is required for use of Saint James School classrooms. Catechists will remind the children that the rooms are shared with other students. Desks and their contents must not be disturbed or defaced, and the classrooms must be left neat and orderly.
We need to live and embody the Christian values that we learn. Therefore, all students are expected to be courteous to catechists, staff and other students. Any conduct unbefitting a young Catholic Christian will be reported to parents.
We expect our children to contribute to an atmosphere of Christian concern for others. If a problem arises, a form entitled “Points for Parental Concern” will be given to the parent. A parent’s signature is required. After signing, it is expected there will be a follow up with either a phone call or a conference with the parents. It is best to correct a problem immediately to ensure a pleasant religion class where learning, love of God, respect for self, and respect for others exist.
Student Code of Behavior
Parents/guardians should review the following with students:
- Students must conform to the attendance policy as stated in the handbook.
- Students are expected to show respect for all persons in words and actions.
- Students must comply with the classroom rules set by their catechists.
- Students must not cause physical harm to themselves or to another.
- Students must not destroy, deface or remove any property from the classroom, desks or the building.
- Students are responsible for completing all homework assignments to the best of their ability and according to the time schedule provided.
- Students are expected to come to class on time, prepared with textbooks, notebooks, pen and or pencil.
- Students are expected to comply with all rules and regulations listed in the handbook.
Deliberate disregard of the policy may lead to:
- Reprimand by catechist
- Parent notification
- Parent conference
- Dismissal from the program
Program Protection Policies
Child Abuse Policy
If a catechist or administrator suspects a child has been abused, New Jersey Statutes require that the Division of Youth & Family Services be notified immediately.
Visitors
For the safety and welfare of our students, while classes are in session and immediately before/after class, no unauthorized people may be in the school building. Under no circumstances may any unauthorized person go to a classroom or be in the class area when classes are in session.
Religious Education Teachers and Administrators
Our catechists are committed to their faith and have a strong desire to share it with our students. There will be two catechists for each grade level 1st through 8th. The team of administrators and teachers are volunteers from our parish. The children of the catechists will be enrolled in the family centered program. On-going training and workshop sessions will be provided by the Diocese and by programs initiated by the Saint James FCCP Administrator.
Volunteers
We are always in need of help from special people who are willing to share their time and talents. If you would like to volunteer to assist us with the Family Centered Catechesis Program, please email the FCCP Administrator, Debi Murray at debra.murray830@yahoo.com or call 908-334-6778/908-766-1227.
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