Sts. Joachim and Ann
Parish School of Religion
2012-2013 Family Handbook
Father John Brockland, Pastor
Father Jim Gahan, Associate Pastor
Mrs. Rose Wieschhaus, Director of Religious Education for Children
Mrs. Jean Truglio, Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Sue McCoy, PSR Administrative Assistant
636-926-0021 PSR office, 636-441-3084 Fax
www.stsja.org –Parish website
PSR Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30AM-3:30PM
Mon. evenings 5:00 – 8:00 PM, Wed. evenings 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Closed Fridays
Dear Parents:
Welcome to Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish School of Religion. Our theme for the parish this year is “LOVE, let it Ripple”. God calls each of us, through our baptism to not only learn about Jesus, but live as His disciples. As parents, our actions are far more imitated than our words. When we think of the ripples of water, as a pebble is tossed into a pond, love which begins with us, can spread to far more people than we can possibly imagine. Even the simplest act of kindness to someone can trigger positive and peaceful actions to others, causing a ripple of kindness. If we can teach our children how Jesus wants us to act and treat one another, our actions of kindness will be done in Jesus’ name.
“The desire for God is written in the human heart.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 27). We strive to do this in our Parish School of Religion through classroom instruction, prayer experiences, liturgical life, service projects and personal witness. We will continue to use the Finding God religion series by Loyola Press for grades 1-8. Besides the textbooks, Loyola offers many online resources at loyolapress.com for parents and children to deepen their faith and develop a true relationship with Jesus.
As Catholic parents it is both your privilege and responsibility to teach your children about God and to guide them by example how to live out their Catholic lives of faith. It is our strong belief that parents are the primary educators of their child’s religious education. While PSR is an important element in your child’s religious education, it can not be their only source of religious training. Families who not only talk about God and teach their children Catholic values and virtues, but are living examples through service, have strong faith-filled children who are better able to stand up for their religious convictions, later in life. Some things which can spiritually strengthen your family are: to teach your child the basic prayers and moral teachings of the Catholic faith, attend Sunday Eucharist, become involved in parish events, support the parish with time, talent and treasure and talk to them often about how you experience God in your life.
Parents should set time aside each week to go over their child’s religion book. Each book has a parent page with activities and ideas to experience at home. Parents can log onto loyolapress.com to find more parent resources. Children can also find games and activities connected to their lessons. Besides the religion book, the Religious Education Center and PSR office offers a variety of books, videos, DVD’s and prayer ideas which can be borrowed for home use.
I invite you to become an active PSR parent by volunteering in the classroom and/or attending Parent activities and Adult Faith Formation throughout the year. All volunteers will need to attend Protecting God’s Children workshop and fill out a safety registry. As in the past, all families are asked to help with the parking lot once or twice a year.
I look forward to a year working in partnership with you as parents. We have a wonderful program with many dedicated and caring Catechists.
I believe that each child is a gift, and we at Sts. Joachim and Ann want them to learn not only who God is, but to help them experience the unconditional love and forgiveness that He has for each of us. Our goal is that they grow in their faith so that they then can pass God’s love on to others.
Blessings to you and your family,
Rose Wieschhaus, Director of Religious Education for Children
Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish School of Religion
MISSION STATEMENT
January 20, 1996
Our mission is to teach as Jesus did. Through education,
we seek to empower our members to proclaim the Gospel
and translate the Good News into action.
In building up the Kingdom of God, community is not
simply a concept to be taught, but a reality to be lived.
As we call forth discipleship, our community is strengthened
by the Gospel message of hope and illuminated by the
light of mature faith.
We invite all believers to grow in faith and worship
together in celebration of the
Word and Eucharist
from which we are nourished and renewed.
Through personal witness, outreach and evangelism,
we share our gifts in humble service to the Christian
community and the world, as we strive to grow in the
likeness of Christ.
Philosophy and Goals
The Catholic Church has an essential mission to teach the Gospel to all people. As parents and catechists we seek to prepare our members to hear and live the “Good News” and proclaim the message of Christ through worship, community, and service. We seek to integrate Scripture and the teachings of our Church into a life-style and society which reflects Christian maturity. Our goals:
· To deepen our personal relationship with Christ through prayer and discipleship.
· To increase our knowledge of God through Scripture study and to reflect on the teachings of the Catholic Church.
· To assist students in responding to God’s love and grace through faith, hope, charity, good example and willingness to serve.
· To be available to meet the needs of those growing in faith.
· To teach as Jesus did by presenting the Kingdom and the Gospel message in a joyful meaningful way for the transformation of lives.
. Curriculum Overview
Grades 1-8 will be using the Finding God series from Loyola press. This series reflects the inspiration of St. Ignatius of Loyola and describes what Catholic faith formation calls us to do; recognize the presence of God in the sacraments and in our communities of faith, and realize the presence of God in our experiences of God’s creation and in our lives as people for others.
The Finding God text is grounded in scripture and Tradition and Ignatian recognition of the presence of God in all things. The expression of that vision is based on our Catholic belief that effective catechesis:
· Reflects the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
· Center on the person of Jesus Christ
· Proclaims the liberating good news of salvation through Jesus Christ
· Leads the Christian into the world in mission and action
· Addresses the needs of the culture in which it is presented
· Invites the believers to reflect on personal experience in light of growing in relationship with God
· Leads to full, conscious, active participation in the liturgical life of the Church
· Creates a climate of prayer and nurtures a faith that is expressed in prayer
Finding God weaves together experiences in prayer, Scripture, Catholic social teaching, and liturgy for children and adults-as individuals, as families, and as learners on a faith journey.
Prayer-We nourish a relationship with God through prayer-traditional, reflective, liturgical and praying with Scripture. Through our classroom and school community, the children will have the opportunity to enter into deeper communion with Jesus Christ through prayer.
Scripture-Each chapter uses scripture and sets the foundation for the truths that are reflected upon in each lesson.
Catholic Social Teaching-Our Catholic faith moves us to have concern for others and to make a commitment to social justice. Our faith is shared in our commitment to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching: Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community, and Participation; Rights and Responsibilities; Option for the Poor and Vulnerable; The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers; Solidarity; and Care for God’s Creation. We teach these values through various service projects throughout the year.
Liturgy-The Finding God series demonstrates our strong belief that the celebration of the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life.” (CCC 1324). It helps connect our faith to the celebration of faith at Mass and invites all of us to join in a more meaningful participation in the Church’s sacramental and liturgical life.
A Four Step Catechetical Process
Faith formation is most effective when the concepts being presented connect with the life of the learner. Each session of Finding God incorporates the following four steps that lead the children, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to an increased awareness of God’s invitation to love Him and one another.
Engage-This introductory step engages children in discussion or activities that relate the session theme to their lives. This step is an opportunity to open the session by engaging the attention of the children. It serves as a way to gather the children and provide them with a transition into this special prayer time.
Explore-This step explores the teachings of the Church through Scripture, stories, and activities. During this step there may be highlights of special features such as Catholic Social Teaching, music, or a Scripture passage.
Reflect-To help children internalize what they are learning, this step allows them to reflect prayerfully on God’s invitation and their response. This step provides the opportunity for children to become more aware of God’s presence in their lives. During this time various forms of prayer will be used: traditional prayers (memorized) psalms, saint’s prayers, songs, or guided reflections that encourage children to talk and listen thoughtfully to God.
Respond-After reflection the children identify how they can respond to God’s invitation as they live each day. This step encourages children to demonstrate how the concepts learned in the session can make a difference in the way they live as they respond to God’s invitation to love him and each other in their daily lives. Each Unit ends with a six-page review session that summarizes the content of the unit and includes a Prayer Service.
Assessment-Because children learn in a variety of ways, a variety of forms of assessment is needed and used.
Formal Assessment-A formal assessment asks the question What do you know/understand? A formal written assessment (quiz) is included within each unit’s Review session. The quiz also provides an opportunity for children to do a self-assessment. Formal assessment provides the teacher and parent with an opportunity to identify which concepts need reinforcement, to affirm for children what they have learned, and to identify where specific assistance is needed.
Informal Assessment-Informal assessment asks the questions What can you do with what you know and how do you do it? This takes the shape of the following:
Ongoing Assessment-Each session offers many opportunities to assess children’s grasp of concepts by observing their participation in discussions, group work and their service to and care for others.
Specific Tasks-Many opportunities to evaluate verbal (oral and written) and nonverbal (drawn, crafted, etc.) expressions and responses are incorporated throughout the program.
Prayer in our School
Prayer is an important part of our school. Each week individual classes will begin with prayer. Occasionally, prayer may be said over the loud speaker for the entire school to participate as one. Children will also attend prayer services and liturgies throughout the year. Children will learn the different forms of prayer, which consists of praise, petition, thanksgiving and contrition.
Starting in kindergarten, students will begin memorizing specific prayers. The following is a list of prayers to be memorized by the students, the grade level at which the prayers are to be introduced for the first time, and the grade level at which the prayer should be memorized.
One of the best ways for children to learn these prayers is to say them everyday. Parents are also encouraged to volunteer with the testing of the prayers in the classroom. Prayers will be reviewed and tested each year after mastery is expected.
Grade Grade
Introduced Mastered
Sign of the Cross K K
Our Father K K
Hail Mary K 1
Glory Be K 2
Prayer to My Guardian Angel 1 2
The Rosary 2 4
Act of Contrition 2 2
Apostles Creed 2 6
The Angelus 3 6
Hail Holy Queen 3 6
Prayer to the Holy Spirit 3 8
PRAYERS
9
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Father
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.
Hail Mary
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.
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.
Grace after Meals
We give You thanks for these
and all Your gifts,
almighty God.
You live and rule forever.
Amen.
Prayer to My Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light, to guard, to rule, to guide.
Amen.
Act of Contrition
O 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.
Amen
9
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again
from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge