RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Celebrating the
Catechetical Year 2008 – 2009
The deadline to register your children for Religious Ed this year is September 12th. Classes begin on September 14th.
Click Here for the Registration Form.
Click here for Religious Education 2008-09 Calendar.
Click here for
2nd Year Confirmation Class 2008-09 Calendar.
Newcomers
If your family is new to St. Denis Parish, you are encouraged to register in our parish community at your earliest convenience so that we may have your mailing address. The Parish Registration Form is available by clicking here.
Program Overview
St. Denis Parish is dedicated to the ongoing faith
formation and education of parishioners of all ages. We especially welcome the
children and youth to attend our Religious Education classes. Your family must
be registered in the Parish and actively participating in the celebration of
the Eucharist on Sunday.
Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday (vigil) 5:30
p.m.
Sunday 7:30, 9:30,
11:30 a.m.
Our Lady
of the
Saturday (vigil) 5:15
p.m.
Sunday 9:30 a.m.
Currently Religious
Education classes are being held only at St. Denis Church.
Religious
Education Fee
Pre-school thru Grade
8 including Sacramental Preparation.
$75.00 per family for one child. $100.00 per family for two or more children.
In addition there is a $5.00 fee for each child in grades 4 to 8
for Archdiocesan Safe Environment Training.
Families are
encouraged to attend the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Religious Education for the children
is held in the
The youth of the
parish are welcome to the Sunday hospitality in the Parish Courtyard at 10:30
a.m. Religious Education is offered for them September to June. Classes are held
in the
We are pleased to
present the text series Faith First Legacy Edition by
Resources for Christian Living (RCL). Click here for information for families
on their home page providing ideas for family prayer, faith sharing, activities
and more.
The timeless truths of our Catholic faith
are taught every year on every grade level with a unique spiral learning
method. Each primary grade text book contains:
Doctrine—Our Beliefs
The four pillars of
the Catechism of the Catholic Church—Creed, Sacraments, Morality, and
Prayer—taught every year on every grade level.
Scripture—Our Stories
Special Chapters
dedicated entirely to the in-depth study of the Bible.
Liturgical
Year—Our Celebrations
Material for all the
weeks of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.
The junior high texts cover the main topics
in four specialized books.
First
Reconciliation and First Eucharist
The preparation for
the sacraments can be a grace-filled time for both you and your child.
Preparation takes place in the Second Grade with supplemental materials for the
Faith
First Grade 2 text. Regular attendance at class is required. The
involvement and cooperation of parents in this process is essential. There will
be opportunities to gather with the other families at workshops and your own
family-style potluck suppers. Children who are prepared will receive First
Reconciliation in the Winter and Eucharist in the Spring.
Confirmation
At it’s April 2007 meeting, the Parent
Advisory Board approved a new two-year Confirmation Program. Click here for further information.
Sacraments
of Initiation
If you or your child(ren) have not completed the sacraments of initiation into
the Catholic Church (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist)—at the time that these are normally conferred—you’re welcome to meet with the Pastor to discuss a process for preparing
and receiving the sacraments.
Parent
Involvement
Much of what we do
would not be possible without the involvement of parents who are willing to
step up and contribute their time and effort to our Religious Education Program.
Our catechists who teach in the classrooms are primarily made up of parents.
Also we look short-term voluntary commitments in the classroom on any given
Sunday—watch for a sign-up sheet for your child’s class—as well as assisting
with our Sunday Family Potluck suppers. The receptions held following the
celebration of the sacraments are also an opportunity to contribute to the
parish to help make your family’s tie to the parish very special. We also have
a Parent Advisory Board that meets once a month in continuing support of the
faith formation of families at St. Denis Parish.
Our local Deanery—area
represented by neighboring Catholic parishes—is pleased to present a series of
training workshops both in the summer and winter for adults interested in
exploring the catechetical ministry. Attendance at these workshops also counts
towards certification in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
What you “know” will
resonate loudly with the children and youth. In the Religious Education program,
we expect the teachers to do their very best and be an effective role model in
the faith. St. Denis Parish also has available a basic-level, video-assisted
resource for the formation of catechists through the Echoes of Faith video
series by RCL. Our aim is to have a team of two adults to teach in every grade
level. They may take turns presenting the lessons from one week to the other.
We offer continued support and opportunities for further enrichment at the
annual Faith Formation Conference. If you’re interested in exploring this
ministry in the Parish, please contact Mr. Victor Valdez in the Office of
Religious Education, vvaldez@stdenisparish.org
You are welcome to observe one of our
classes or participate in one of the Deanery workshops during the year. You can
also help in the classrooms with tasks as an aide. You can also let the
catechist know of your interest.
2007’s theme was SonForce Kids. 16 children and youth participated or helped with the activities. Their ages ranged from 6 to 16 years. It was a big success.
You can view snapshots from summer 2006’s VBS
by downloading the photo album below.
Liturgy of the Word for Children
During the summer months, children in grades 1
to 4 are invited to participate in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word during
the 9:30 a.m. Mass at
Prayer
Generous
Father, We thank you
for so many gifts: The gift of
family and friends, the gift of life and health,
the
gift of your constant love that sees us through
life's
hardships and suffering, blessings and joys. Thank you for
everything we have. Through your
beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
we
turn to you in faith today;
help
us never to take for granted your gifts--
so
many gifts to share!
Help us to use
all that we have
to
show the world the way to you. In this coming
year, help us to join
with
all the catechists and other ministers in this community
who
share their faith with others.
Through the
Holy Spirit,
help
us to pray, to love, to live as you want us to live. We now commit
ourselves to thank you in prayer daily,
to
share the Good News of salvation,
and
to use the gifts you give us for the benefit of our parish,
community,
and world.
Amen!
On September 18, 2005, a group of interested parents
gathered to form a Parent Advisory Board for the Religious Education Program.
They are meeting on the first Wednesday of the month at 8:00 p.m. in the Parish
Library in the
Catechesis
for the Whole Community
Watch our calendar for the Sunday Family
Potluck suppers. Your family is invited to these suppers in the
+ + +
Questions???
Please call the Office of Religious Education
at (650) 854-1081,
Fax (650) 854-3754 or
E-mail vvaldez@stdenisparish.org
St. Denis Parish
2250
Avy Avenue