What is the Sunday Family Program?

Families with children in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade gather at the 9:00 Mass, then attend class on Sunday mornings from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. in the St. Clare School Faculty Room for opening prayer and discussion questions on the Sunday Gospel reading.  Afterwards, children are dismissed with their catechists for their own class sessions, while the adults gather for reflection and sharing on the Sunday Lectionary readings.  Children are expected to bring two pencils and a textbook for sacramental preparation and catechesis each week.  This program is offered in lieu of the Wednesday format, or may supplement the traditional class at no extra charge.

 All children must be dropped off to their Sunday Family classroom and picked up by a parent or guardian.  Children will not be permitted to leave without a parent or guardian picking them up.

• Food and beverages are not permitted in classrooms.

• All children are expected to bring two pencils and their textbook to each class.

• Pursuant to the policy of the Archdiocese of Detroit, Anyone who volunteers in the religious education program as a catechist, aide, hall monitor, parking lot supervisor, office helper, etc. MUST submit a criminal background check form to the Director or Religious Education before beginning their volunteer ministry.  A Protecting God's Children (PGC) Class must be taken within four months of commencing ministry, or the individual may not have any contact with children.  A Protecting God's Children and Teen Called to Serve class will be held here at St. Clare on August 21, 2011 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. and are also held throughout the year at parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Coming soon:  Religious Education Parent Handbook Online containing parish sacramental policies, parish religious education goals and objectives, Archdiocese of Detroit safety procedures, Questions and Answers, and the scope and sequence for learning goals for each grade.

Coming Soon:  Brand New textbooks from RCL Benziger, The Faith First Legacy Parish Edition for grades kindergarten through 8th grade, featuring the New Roman Missal changes to the Mass which will begin the First Sunday of Advent. November 27, 2011. For a sneak peak inside these exciting new books and to see all the online resources for catechists and parents, click here: http://faithfirst.com/

 

      

►Special Sunday Masses for all Religious Education and Saint Clare School Families◄

September 18, 2011 9:00 a.m. Mass  Catechetical Sunday

Father will Bless children's book bags/backpacks and we will have a special, Catechetical Sunday recognition and blessing of all parish catechists, School teachers and parents as the primary educators of their children.        

What is Lectionary based Catechesis?

Lectionary based Catechesis makes the fundamental connection between Liturgy and Catechesis: faith as believed, celebrated, lived and prayed.

Through study and reflection together on the Sunday readings over time participants learn from each other the value of God’s word in their lives.

What is the lectionary? The lectionary contains the Scripture readings for all the Eucharistic celebrations (Sundays and weekdays) of the liturgical year. The liturgical year, and consequently the lectionary, begins with the first Sunday of Advent. It continues through the Christmas season, after which Ordinary Time be- gins. Ordinary Time is interrupted by the seasons of Lent and Easter, then it resumes and continues to the end of the liturgical year.
The Sunday readings are divided into three cycles that rotate year to year. The Gospel of Matthew is used in Year A, the Gospel of Mark in Year B, and the Gospel of Luke in Year C. The Gospel of John has a special place in the Lenten and Easter seasons of all three cycles.  Each Sunday in the lectionary includes three readings and a psalm.

Why choose the Lectionary as a  basis for catechesis?

 For many Catholics—including young people—exposure to the Bible comes primarily at Mass, when the Scriptures are read from the lectionary. For these Catholics, the activities in class will review and reinforce the scriptural word they hear on Sunday. For those who do not attend Mass regularly, this approach will put them in touch with the Sunday Scriptures and may even serve as an invitation to celebrate the Word with the community in the Sunday Eucharist.

Also, the Catholic lectionary offers an organized and thorough method
for listening to God’s word as it comes through the Scriptures. The selection of Sunday readings for the three cycles of the liturgical year ensures that the principal portions of God’s word will be heard and considered over a suitable period of time.

‘Scripture provides the starting point, foundation and norm of catechetical teaching.’

The focus on the scriptures at Sunday Mass means that Lectionary based catechesis is suitable for all catechesis. The richness of the scriptures offers flexibility to explore those matters that are relevant to the group. Catechesis involves the formation of the person in ‘intimacy with’ Christ as well as the handing on of doctrine. Such catechesis has also worked successfully with parents of children preparing for the Sacraments, equipping them with skills to pass on the faith to their children.

Sunday Family Program Schedule 2011-2012

Following 9:00 am Mass (10:15 to 11:30 am)

(This is a DRAFT calendar and is subject to change.)