Welcome to the St. James the Apostle Religious Education Program. We are pleased to be of service to your family. The goals of the St. James Religious Education Program are:
- Development of children in the Christian community by embracing the teachings and values of Jesus.
- Full participation in the life of the Roman Catholic Church through the Sacraments
The Role of Parents
Parents are the primary educators of their children. The Religious Education team is eager to help you fulfill this responsibility and requests that your family cooperate in the following ways:
- Attend Sunday Mass regularly and punctually.
- Participate actively in the sacramental and community life of the parish.
- Share your faith with your children by discussing Bible stories and Bible readings.
- Pray with your children and help them understand, appreciate and memorize traditional prayers like the Our Father, Hail Mary and the Rosary.
The Role of the Child
Each child has a responsibility to cooperate in order to benefit from the program. He/She is expected to:
- Be respectful at all times.
- Listen carefully, follow directions and participate in class and all its activities.
- Complete home assignments.
- Share what they have learned and experienced in their class with parents and other family members.
Sacramental Life
There is some misunderstanding by Catholics about the Sacraments, in particular, the Sacrament of Initiation or Baptism, Communion and Confirmation. Some people believe that it is enough that children receive these Sacraments after completing their Religious Education and be declared Roman Catholics.
Sacraments will require a response from each one of us. Living the Sacraments is a life-long commitment to Jesus and His teachings and need to be nurtured so it may grow and flourish.
At Baptism we are welcomed into God’s people and our parents commit to raise us in the Roman Catholic Church. When we receive our First Communion we are reminded that we need to be nourished by God’s Word each time we celebrate the Holy Eucharist at Mass. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the way we celebrate and receive God’s forgiveness.
It is therefore very important that living the Sacraments of the Roman Catholic faith be an integral part of your family life.
First Reconciliation and First Communion
Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is a two-year process. Introduction to prayers and the church holidays begin in Level 1 and continue until the completion of Level 2. The catechists guide the children through their lessons, but it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their children are prepared in receiving the Sacraments.
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