We would like to thank our catechists for volunteering their time and talents to teach our young people the faith. Graciously, many answered the call to serve as teachers in our Religious Education Program. Some are brand new, here for the first year, while others are going on their fourth decade. No matter the grade you have or the number of years you have been here, we are most grateful for all you are doing! God bless you!
Due to regulations and precautions with the corona virus, we will make some changes to the program for this year (2020-2021).
Confirmation will continue to meet on Sundays in the school cafeteria between 6 and 7:30 PM. They will be divided into smaller groups and in opposite corners of the room to lessen contact. All students in grades 1 through 8 will meet on Mondays between 5 and 6 PM. They will go directly up to their classrooms (not in the cafeteria). This will allow ample time for the custodian to sanitize rooms after school and before catechism, and after catechism before school for the next day. We must follow all guidelines of the state, Archdiocese of Hartford, and the local board of health. These changes allow for this.
Should anyone be too nervous to send a child to classes this year, we have a few options.
· You may register a child (not in sacramental preparation) and do home study. You will be given the book to review with your child. When the lesson is completed, the student will complete the review questions at the end of the section. Every other month, you will send in the completed answers.
· For the sacramental preparation years, we are looking into an online virtual course. We will notify you on this as it progresses.
· Class sizes will be limited to about 12 children per class for in person classes.
Classes begin Sunday, September 13th and Monday, September 14th. Come to the rectory for registration forms. Late fees apply, even for those home schooling. (the book orders will now require extra fees to deliver.)
MEMO: To Parents and Students in Religious Education
FROM: Sister Marie, M.P.F., Director of Religious Education
DATE: September 2019
Welcom to this year's Religious Education and Faith Formation Program! We look forward to this new opportunity for learning the sacred truths of our Faith, for growing closer to God and for "sharing in HIs Love through prayer and the sacraments.
Please use the links above this letter for the calendar of Religious Education classess. Grades 1-8 will be held in our parish school on Mondays at 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Students in Grades 9 and 10 will continuer to have classes on Sundays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
On the second Sunday of every month, or close to that date, beginning in October, parents and students in our parish CCD program are reminded to attend the Family Mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. Thomas Church. After the Mass, parents and students of the assigned grade will meet with me and the catechists in the church hall for a brief meeting on subjects pertaining to each particuluar grade.
This monthly scheduld for meeting with parents and students after Mass is as follows:
October 13 - First Grade (Prayer Study)
November 10 - Second Grade (First Reconciliation)
December 8 - Fourth Grade (Commandments/Beatitudes)
January 12 - Third Grade (First Communion)
February 9 - Seventh and Eighth Grades (Bible)
March 8 - Fifth and Sixther Grades (sacraments)
**If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at the convent. (860-621-1904)
Thank you for your continued cooperation. God bless you in abundance!
Prayerfully,
Sister Marie Roccapriore, M.P.F., D. Min.
Director of Religious Education