Some still call it CCD, some call it Religious Education, these days we call it lifelong “Faith Formation” but what ever you call it, if your child attends public school from pre-K to eleventh grade, we invite them, we invite the whole family, to learn, practice and grow deeper in their faith.
If you have not done so already, please take a moment to register for the 2013-2014 academic year.
We offer two styles of faith formation on two different days; our Sunday program centers on the family and church, and our Monday program offers traditional in classroom instruction.
I have some exciting new developments to report since I last wrote to you! We are now offering the Generations of Faith program FREE OF CHARGE! And we have not raised the tuition of our Monday program in two years. Enclosed, please find materials that you need to register your child, or children.
SUNDAY CLASSES – Generations of Faith - All people of all grades and ages are welcome to join
our intergenerational faith sharing program. Parents are the first and often the most influential teachers of the faith Generations of Faith is a wonderful program to strengthen faith in your home, as well as within our larger family of faith, the church! Children, parents and adults in the parish gather on key Sundays throughout the year (see schedule below). Each learning session or "preparation" is two hours and twenty minutes long, from 9:00 AM – 11:20 AM, which includes: a delicious breakfast, prayer, lively discussion and engaging presentations. Each preparation helps us appreciate a eucharistic celebration in the Liturgical year.
2013 – 2014 Liturgical Year
Theme: Two Inspirational Saints: St. Benedict & St. Scholastica
Preparation: September 22, 9:00-11:20 a.m. in Cafeteria
Celebration: October 6, at 10:00 a.m. mass
Theme: We are all called to be saints!
Preparation: October 20, 9:00-11:20 a.m. in Cafeteria
Celebration: All Saints Day, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. mass.
Theme: Advent Season: Preparing The Way
Preparation: November 17, 9:00-11:20 a.m. in Cafeteria
Celebration: December 1, 10:00 a.m. mass.
Theme: Christmas Season: Incarnation
Preparation: December 15, 9:00-11:20 a.m. in Cafeteria
Celebration: December 24, 4:00 p.m. mass
Theme: Call to Mission: Ordinary Time
Preparation: January 12, 9:00-11:20 a.m. in Cafeteria
Celebration: January 19th, 10:00 a.m. mass.
Theme: Lent: Three Practices – Praying, Fasting, Almsgiving
Preparation: February 9, 9:00-11:20 a.m. in Cafeteria
Celebration: Ash Wednesday, March 5th, 7:00 p.m. mass.
Theme: Holy Thursday – table fellowship, sacrifice & service
Preparation: March 16, 9:00-11:20 a.m. in Cafeteria
Celebration: Holy Thursday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. mass.
Theme: Easter Season: New Life
Preparation: April 6, 9:00-11:20 a.m. in Cafeteria
Celebration: Easter Vigil, Saturday April 19, 8:00 p.m. mass.
Theme: Feast of Pentecost: Holy Spirit
Preparation: May 18, 9:00-11:20 a.m.
Celebration: Sunday, June 8th, 10:00 a.m. mass.
MONDAY CLASSES - Traditional Classroom Instruction
Grades 1-5 meet from 4:00 - 5:15 PM
Grades 6, 7, 8 & 11 meet from 6:45-8:00 PM
(Note: Grades 9 & 10 now meet at St. Leo’s for Confirmation preparation, see
http://www.
We will meet: September: 23, 30 October: 7, 21, 28 November: 4, 25 December 2, 9, 16 January: 6, 13, 27 February: 3, 10, 24 March: 3, 10, 17, 31 April: 7, 28 May: 5, 12
In summary, one engages the whole family in sharing our faith and meets on Sundays, the other program is traditional classroom instruction and meets on Mondays. Sunday gatherings are longer (and include more homework) but only meet once a month. Monday classes are shorter and meet most every Monday during the school year. Families are invited to choose which program they like best.
Transportation: Please note parents will need to arrange for their child's transportation both to and from all classes. To ensure student safety, we request that parents walk their children into the school building and come into the building to pick their children up, especially of students in grades K-5.
Tuition: For St. Benedict’s Parishioners, the tuition for one child is $60, two children $100, three or more is $140. For non-parishioners, the tuition for one child is $80, two children is $140, three or more is $190.
No one will be turned away from the program if they can’t afford the tuition. Tuition is waived for the children of teachers in our program.
Snow: If the Public School is closed due to snow or bad weather, we automatically do not have class.
Sacraments: Information about the Sacramental Programs will go out in another mailing, but for now please note that First Confession for children in 2nd Grade will be held in early March, and First Communion for children in 3rd Grade in early May, and Confirmation in the 10th& 11th Grade will be held sometime in early May).
Office Hours: Please feel free to stop by the Office of Faith Formation before or after all masses on the weekend, or set up a meeting any other day by appointment. The Office is located on the ground floor of the School near the front door, as indicated at the top of this letter, or you may email Matt Smith, the Director of the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation, at msmith@saintbenedicts.com