Registered families receive a Family Handbook outlining the curriculum and policies and procedures for the program. In addition, a Parent-Student Assessment Book is provided to assist parents in reviewing key faith elements with their children.
Nursery School - age 3

Pre-Kindergarten - age 4

Kindergarten These three age levels use the This is Our Faith Early Childhood Education Program designed to encourage young children to discover and explore the wonders of God in the world around them, in themselves, their family, their friends, and in the special gift of Jesus.

Grades 1 – 6 We use Silver Burdett Ginn’s Blest Are We program for the elementary grades. Units are organized by the following topics: What Catholics Believe, How Catholics Worship, How Catholics Pray, and how Catholics live.

Junior and Senior High CONNECT Mini-courses used with small groups and a facilitator.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Children Youth not baptized as infants, who are between the ages of 8 and 17 are initiated into the Church through the process of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC). This program is also intended for those children who were baptized as infants, but who have had little or no formal religious education, or for anyone whose religious education has been interrupted, and who now desires to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and/or Confirmation.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Parish Initiated Programs

Students ages 3 - Grade 5: Sunday – sorted alphabetically by last name Session A 8:20 - 9:20 a.m. and Session B 10:20 - 11:20 a.m.

Grade 2 Sacrament Preparation and RCIC: Wednesday 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Grade 6, Junior High, and Senior High: Sunday (bi-monthly) 12:30 - 2:45 p.m. Confirmation candidates, parents, and sponsors meet four Saturdays during the course of the year.

RCIA: Wednesday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

The Catechists

Currently, 175 dedicated persons of faith generously volunteer their time and talent to minister to the Parish Family. Our catechists include High School students, 19 husband and wife teams and 20 family teams with parents and young people ministering together. Our catechists strive to build a community spirit which will strengthen and nourish, and which will call one another to discover, internalize, proclaim, and live the Gospel.

The volunteers are from many walks of life and professions; one need not be a professional teacher to become a catechist. Office and classroom aides, Liturgy of the Word presiders, hospitality and Religious Education Board volunteers are needed. All are invited and welcome to participate in the coordination and facilitation of the program.

In order to volunteer, all catechists must be in compliance with the Youth Protection Program of the Diocese of Harrisburg by way of obtaining the appropriate clearances and a parish volunteer badge. As a small token of appreciation for those who serve in this ministry, tuition for one of the catechist's children is waived and a special dinner is held at the end of each school year.

Finances

Each family is requested to contribute $50 tuition to the Religious Education Program for each child in attendance through Grade 8. Tuition for high school students is $25 each. The Confirmation Program is an additional fee of $25. Additionally, various retreats are offered throughout the year to our second grade students preparing for the sacraments. A family fee of $15 is requested for attendance at retreats to cover the cost of materials and food used during the day.

Two fund-raisers are held each year with the proceeds allotted to specific projects. These include a pizza fundraiser in the fall and a Spaghetti Dinner held at the parish on the first Saturday of February. Fund-raising projects from prior years have resulted in the acquisition of additional personal computing hardware and software used to administer the Religious Education Program, materials for the renovation of the Parish Center, and updated audio visuals.

Information