Curriculum

FAMILY CATECHESIS

1st through 6th Grade Children

This Faith Formation model brings families together for a shared experience that combines Prayer, Education, and Community in a way that forms our Faith for our integrated needs. Together, gathering ONCE per month, yes, we will learn information, but more importantly, experience ways to model prayer within our families. Family Catechesis provides support to parents empowering them to lead each other and their children into relationship with God as they journey together toward salvation. Over a family's time participating in St. Catherine Labouré Family Catechesis, they will be equipped with physical resources, as well as other experiential opportunities to support them between the family sessions. 

 As we attend Family Catechesis sessions together, we have the opportunity to grow in community. We form relationships with the parents we meet at sporting events, PTA, scouting, etc, and this method provides an opportunity for your Parish to create a community in the place where you and your family need it most- among people who share your struggles and joys as you walk a life of faith.

Family Catechesis is a bridge between the formation methods we are familiar with and one that empowers, equips, excites and embraces what we don’t know. Father began our meeting with some Q & A about certain Catholic topics. Some families thought one way about the topic, while others felt the other way, and still some did not know. This emphasizes that we are where we are on our faith journey, and, in turn, we don’t know what we don’t know… our team at St. Catherine Labouré is committed to experiencing the faith journey with our families and leading where the Holy Spirit takes us, together.

Beyond Family Catechesis, we are offering two age-specific programs for our youngest and oldest students. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3-grade 3 (grades 4-6 after Level 2 completion) and Middle School Ministry Confirmation Prep for Grades 7-8.
High School Youth Ministry is already thriving and well, and we hope you will encourage your high school students to join in the fun!

                                                                              Home Lessons               At Home Lessons Form
 

7th and 8th Grade Children

MIDDLE SCHOOL MINISTRY

Our program for middle school will follow a youth ministry model.  This means we will be leaving the classroom model behind and using a more engaging format to catechize our young people in the joys of the faith.  We will provide them with an environment in which they will feel at home.

What does a youth ministry model look like?  It looks like your student walking in and being welcomed and helping them grow in community and grow closer with the Lord.

Practically, it looks like these five things:

Preparation:  leave what we carry in with us at the door and re-center ourselves to be fully focused on the night and our time together, a time of fellowship and games
Proclamation:  a statement to express the whole point of the night in just a sentence - a one line take away
Explanation:  a teaching about whatever topic we are going over
Application:  a time to relate this topic to our own life - either in discussion, prayer, or activity
Celebration:  a time to turn it all back to the Lord and to thank Him for this time together and all that we learned

This method is much more engaging than the classroom model because the teachings are shorter and then community time is longer, and there is discussion - the teaching will be related to their lived experience.

In these meetings your young people will be able to cultivate community with their fellow students and with others in the church - they will experience the lively joy of our faith through our topics and our programs - and ultimately they will come to know the all loving heart of Jesus - and know that they are loved and seen in this place.

CATECHESIS of the GOOD SHEPHERD

Children ages 3-8(going into 3rd grade) by August 31

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori-based Catholic faith formation program for children, founded on two pillars:
Sacred Scripture and Holy Liturgy. Through the use of Scripture and materials, called “work,” children are invited to enter into a deeper relationship with God. Beginning with children as young as age three, the program uses a specially prepared environment called an "atrium" where trained catechists (adult facilitators) present materials related to scripture and liturgy, allowing children to work "hands-on" with and reflect on these themes. A “goal” of CGS training is to use as few spoken words as possible to permit the Holy Spirit space to rest within the children.

CGS Faith Formation options are available to children ages 3 (by Aug. 31) through grade 3. Level 1 is structured for the child ages 3-6, Level 2, children ages 6-9, and Level 3, children ages 9-12 who have completed Level 2. The nature of the CGS method fulfills "First" Sacrament preparation, as well as two additional sacrament specific sessions for those children who are ready for First Reconciliation and Eucharist.
St. Catherine Labouré atria are located in the lower level of St. Louise de Marillac Church. Level 1 atrium is limited to 10 children, Levels 2 and 3 atria are limited to 12 children. Six and nine year old children are placed in either Level 1 or 2 and Level 2 or 3 at the programs discretion, based on the child's ability and their CGS experience. Please note that our youngest children must be toilet trained to enroll.

click here for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd page
 

Curriculum will include, but not be limited to:

Prayers: Traditional prayers of the church are taught and reinforced throughout the elementary and middle school years: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, the Confiteor, Act of Contrition, the Rosary, Memorare, Morning & Evening prayer, Grace before meals, and Apostle’s Creed.

Precepts: The following are generally introduced in the elementary grades and developed in more detail at varying grades: Creed, Ten Commandments, Corporal & Spiritual Works of Mercy, Stations of the Cross, Beatitudes, Mysteries of the Rosary, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Precepts of the Church.

Liturgical Year & Saints: The feasts and seasons of the church year, particularly Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Ordinary Time, and Holy Days of Obligation are covered throughout all grade levels. Saints are introduced in Kindergarten and lives of saints selected for each grade level. The Blessed Mother is treated by all grades in the context of Marian feasts and the Holy Family.

Service: We encourage children and families to get involved in the service activities of our parish. Confirmation candidates need to do 10 hours as part of their sacramental prep.  Sign up at this link if you would like to get emails with upcoming service opportunities.