Parent/Guardian Religious Education Handbook Religious Ed... · 1 | CCE Religious Education Handbook – Aug. 21,2015 Parent/Guardian Religious Education Handbook St. Philip the Apostle

1 | CCE Religious Education Handbook – Aug. 21,2015

Parent/Guardian Religious Education Handbook

St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church

2015-2016


Table of Contents

Staff Directory 1

General Guidelines 2-5

Class Calendar 3

Required Prayers 6

Elementary CCE Classes 7

MS & HS Youth Ministry 8

First Sacraments Preparation 9

Confirmation Sacramental Program 10-11


St. Philip the Apostle Parish

CCE Office Phone: 281-324-1934 Office Phone: 281-324-1478 Mail: PO Box 2363, Huffman, TX 77336-2363 Website: http://www.stphiliphuffmantx.org/

CCE Email: [email protected]

Pastoral Staff

Father Richard Barker, Pastor

Deacon John Sarabia

Windy McMichael, Church Secretary

Mass Times Saturdays at 5:00 pm

Sundays @ 8:30 am and 11:00 am

Confessions are on Saturdays from 3:30 – 4:30 pm or by appointment. Please call the church office to make an appointment with Father Barker.

CCE Core Team Members

Marie Hohmann, K-5th Grade Coordinator Becky Pursell, CCE Core Chairperson Phone: 281 – 360-9032 Middle & High School Youth Ministry Email: [email protected] Phone: 713-516-7376

Email: [email protected] Lupe Cupples Lynette Zaunbrecher, First Sacraments Coordinator Confirmation Coordinator Phone: 281 414-3705 Phone: 281 – 386-9783 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

We will keep you informed of happenings in CCE primarily through the weekly bulletin; please read the parish bulletin to keep up-to-date with CCE Ministry. Occasionally, we will also communicate by classroom/teacher handouts, phone calls or email. Please feel free to share your questions, comments and suggestions with your child’s catechist, appropriate catechist staff member or by contacting the CCE office, phone or email.

http://www.stphiliphuffmantx.org/

mailto:[email protected]






CCE GUIDELINES & POLICIES

Admissions Students will be enrolled in the same grade in which they are enrolled at school, unless they are undergoing special circumstances due to sacramental preparation.

Weekly Mass Attendance & Participation

Both Mass and CCE class attendance are essential and highly encouraged for our children to

build and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ.

In order to properly connect religious education, sacramental preparation and prayer to the love of Jesus Christ and to worship God in the Sacred Mass, students must attend Mass each weekend. Religious education cannot build and strengthen one’s Catholic formation when the central act of worship is not honored.

Home-school Protocol Children who are home-schooled will be placed in the class corresponding to the public school grade they would be in based on their birth date. Any requests for special placement outside this norm must be made to the CCE Core team and documentation supporting the reason for the request may be required.

Whether such an exemption is in the best interest of the child, a decision will be resolved on a case-by-case basis by the CCE Core team with the approval of the Pastor.

CCE Fees

The CCE Registration Fee is $25 per registered parish family. These fees help to offset

the cost of books, class supplies, catechist training, etc. After classes have begun, a

late registration fee of $20 per family will also apply.

The tuition fees are $25 for the first child, $50 for two children and $75 for three or

more children.

Sacramental preparation classes incur extra fees:

o First Reconciliation/Communion Class: $20

o Confirmation class: $100 retreat fee for each year of the two-year program.

Scholarships are available for families in need of assistance. Please contact the CCE office or

the parish office for assistance. No child will be refused CCE classes due to financial concerns.


Student/Catechist Class Date Calendar

Month Weekday Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5

September

Sundays 6

No CCE 13 20 27

Wednesdays 2

NO CCE 9 16 23 30

October Sundays 4 11 18 25

Wednesdays 7 14 21 28

November Sundays 1 8 15

22 NO CCE

29


NO CCE

December Sundays

6 13

20 No CCE

27 No CCE


No CCE 30

NO CCE

January Sundays

3 CCE Class

10 17 24

31


February Sundays 7 14 21

28


March Sundays 6

13 NO CCE

20 27

NO CCE

Wednesdays 2 9 16

No CCE 23

No CCE 30

April Sundays 3 10 17 24


May Sundays

1 Last Class

8 No CCE

15 1st Communion Mass

Wednesdays 4

Last Class 11

No CCE

Weekly Class Time Schedule

K- 5th grade Sunday morning classes: 9:45 am – 10:45 am

6th- High School Wednesday evening classes: 7:00 – 8:30 pm.


CCE Arrival and Departure Procedures

Students are expected to be prompt to class; late arrivals and early pickups disrupt prayer and interfere with the learning process. Parents are to wait in the vestibule until class is dismissed.

A parent or guardian must drop off and pick up Kindergarten through 2nd grade students at the child’s classroom. If there is no catechist in the room (Grds K-2), please wait with your child until catechists arrive.

Students in grades 3rd thru 5th should report to their classrooms each Sunday morning and will be released to meet their parents at the vestibule doors.

Middle school and high school students (6th – 12th graders) should arrive by 6:55 pm and be seated in the classroom ready to begin class promptly at 7:00 pm. Parents may form a car line to pick up their child at the front porte cochere at 8:30 pm.

Attendance and Absence

Students are expected to attend class weekly. Students should have no more than three

absences per semester. When a student has more than two absences, parents will be

contacted by the lead catechist. High school parents receive a phone call or text message by

lead catechist when their child is absent from CCE class.

Code of Conduct for Students & Parents

Please refer to the full Parent/Student Code of Conduct (green sheet).

Show respect and courtesy toward catechist, volunteers and fellow classmates at all

times.

Use the classroom supplies and facilities properly always showing respect for church

property.

No chewing gum, eating, or drinking in classrooms, worship area or chapel.

Keep church, classrooms and facilities neat and clean.

Turn off all electronic devices and store them during classroom instruction, meetings,

retreats and Mass.

Full participation in all CCE activities is expected.

No soliciting is allowed for any fundraiser on church campus.


Student Dress Code

Skirts and dresses should be worn at knee length or longer. No mini-skirts.

Pants must be clean and fit modestly at waist. No shorts.

Necklines should be modest. If in doubt, use the four finger rule. No see-through

garments, halter tops, spaghetti straps, tube tops, muscle shirts, bare mid-riff shirts or

blouses that rise above the waist.

No inappropriate emblems, insignias, badges, slogans or tattoos are permitted.

No piercing jewelry should be worn other than earrings for girls.

Clean and appropriate footwear should be worn. No flip flops.

Sacred and Safe Program

The Archdiocese requires our CCE Programs to conduct the appropriate scripted age/grade

level lesson plan by December each year. Parents are welcome to read and discuss their

specific grade level at the start of the year. Catechists will designate when the lesson will be

shared within their lesson plan outlines. A parent may choose at the parent orientation

meeting to opt out their children from this specific lesson as an excused absence.

Inclement Weather

We will follow the same guidelines for bad weather as the Huffman/Humble Independent

School Districts. If weather is deemed unsafe and class has been canceled, you will be notified

by your child’s catechist.

Medications and Health Concerns

Any medication or health conditions/concerns should be noted on the registration paperwork.

It is our policy not to administer any medication to students. If a child is diagnosed with a

medical condition after registration, please inform the CCE office as soon as possible. All

medical and health conditions will be confidential.


REQUIRED PRAYERS The Family that prays together stays together.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston provides a

detailed list of grade level prayers to be memorized each year.

The K-5th grades prayers can be found in the “Prayers by Heart”

family booklet which is distributed to new K-5th grade families

each year. The 6th -12th graders will receive a paper copy of their

specific grade level prayers in class.

Kinder – 5th Grades Kindergarten: Sign of Cross; Morning and Evening Prayers, and Guardian Angel Prayer First Grade: Sign of the Cross; Our Father; Hail Mary and Glory Be Second Grade: Act of Contrition & Assembly’s responses and acclamations during Mass (Greeting, Penitential Act, Gloria, Response to the Biblical Readings, Prayer with the Priest over the Offerings, Preface Dialogue, Preface Acclamation, Mystery of Faith, Litany at the Fraction Rite, Act of Humility and Sending) Third Grade Nicene Creed, Fatima Prayer & Hail Holy Queen Fourth Grade 10 Commandments; Apostles’ Creed; Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy; Beatitudes; & Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary Fifth Grade Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary; Act of Faith; Seven Sacraments; Holy Days of Obligation & Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (Shema)

6th – 12 Grades Sixth Grade Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary; Act of Hope; Precepts of the Church; Sanctus; Mysterium Fidei and Agnus Dei In Latin Seventh Grade Act of Love; Stations of the Cross; Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary and Gloria in Latin Eighth Grade Cardinal Virtues; Theological Virtues; Principles of Catholic Social Teaching and John: 25-26a Ninth Grade Gifts of the Holy Spirit, major feasts of the Blessed Mother and of the Lord, Psalm 23 Tenth Grade Come Holy Spirit, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, 1Corinthians 13:4-8a Eleventh Grade Magnificat, Matthew 28:16-20 (the Great Commission) Twelfth Grade Benedictus


ELEMENTARY CCE CLASSES

Mass Manners

K-2nd Grade Students

Bless yourself with holy water upon entering the worship area with the help of parents.

Bow when approaching the altar to place charity funds in the children’s basket, and genuflect

toward the altar before returning to the pew.

Cross arms over the chest to receive a blessing when accompanying parents to the altar for

communion.

Pause and bow before the chalice as you return with your parents to the pew.

3rd-5th Grade Students

Bless yourself with holy water upon entering the worship area.

Genuflect before entering or leaving the pew.

Bow reverently before the altar for blessing or Holy Communion with prayer hands.

Pause and bow before the Chalice before returning to the pew.

Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least 3 times a year (Advent, Lent and Ordinary

Time).

Textbooks/Workbooks used: “Jesus Our Life”, Faith and Life Series by Ignatius Press

Each student will be assigned a textbook and workbook set with a designated number to use

for the year.

Please refrain from writing in textbooks; they are to be read only. Students may write their

names on the front of workbooks, and write in the workbook activities.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Father Barker will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation during CCE Sunday class time at least

twice a semester to all CCE students who have made their First Sacraments.


MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL

Middle School Texts

Middle school (6th – 8th Grades) use the Faith and Life Series published by St. Ignatius Press as

their primary text.

Rosary

Each week, we conclude with the Rosary in the worship area. The Sign of the Cross, “Our Father”, “Hail Mary” and “Glory Be” are prayed in Latin in accordance with Pope Benedict XVI’s call to preserve the faith’s Latin heritage. Students are provided prayer sheets to use.

Reconciliation and Youth Mass

At least twice per semester, Father will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to all students during class. At least twice, we will have Mass followed by a youth night in the parish hall. Pizza will be provided along with a communal lesson/activity.

Confirmation

St. Philip begins a new Confirmation class every two years. It is a combined class of 9th and 10th

grades. This class will remain together for the entire two year Confirmation journey. The next

new Confirmation class will begin in Fall 2016.

Mystagogy Class

Beginning in Fall 2016, St. Philip will offer a Mystagogy class for post-Confirmation students in 11th and 12th grades. This class will focus on the effects of Confirmation in the students’ lives. The class will assist them as they discover what it means to fully participate in the sacramental mysteries of the Church as fully-initiated members of the Body of Christ.

Middle School Youth Ministry

Our 6th – 8th grade students have the opportunity to participate in the St. Philip Middle School Youth Group. The group will participate in archdiocesan gatherings for Jr. High students as well as parish organized service projects and retreats. Please watch the bulletin, e-mail and flyers sent home with the kids for information on up-coming activities.

High School Youth Group

The St. Philip High School Youth Group meets once a month for an afternoon or evening of fun,

faith and fellowship. Pizza is provided as we discuss up-coming events and learn to actively

live our faith. In addition, the group participates in monthly service/faith building trips that

live out our call to serve in the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Every summer, we

attend the Archdiocesan Youth Conference in Houston.


SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION PROGRAMS To enter the First Sacraments or Confirmation programs, all children must have been enrolled and attended the previous year of a CCE program with suitable attendance, Catholic school or an approved home-school program using a United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved text.

First Sacraments Preparation

The primary focus of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation is to

nurture the life of faith that was begun at Baptism. The children continue their

growth in the Catholic faith and in the life of the Church by experiencing God’s

mercy and forgiveness in Reconciliation and by receiving the very life of Jesus in

his Precious Body and Blood.

First Reconciliation and First Eucharist sacraments are two separate sacraments and distinct programs

with Reconciliation (January) preceding the reception of the First Eucharist (May).

Text used: “Jesus Our Life”, Faith and Life Series by Ignatius Press

The program requirements consist of the following:

Attending and participating in weekly Sunday Mass.

Registration as a member of St. Philip the Apostle parish.

Regular CCE class attendance with no more than three absences

per semester.

Two mandatory parent meetings per sacrament.

One mandatory rehearsal per sacrament.

Two mandatory sacramental retreats per year.

Attend at least one Lenten Friday attending Mass, Stations of the Cross and

Lenten Supper.

Attend at least one Holy Week Mass (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, or Saturday

Easter Vigil.)

Student/Family Portfolio

Re-issued original Baptismal Certificate due by November 1. Our Lady of Fatima Pilgrimage and Rosary Prayer Student/parent Communication Folder with class lessons outlined. Saint poster project


Confirmation Sacramental Program

Preparing students for the Sacrament of Confirmation involves a

partnership among the youth, their families, sponsors, and their

catechists. The aim of Confirmation preparation is to lead young people

toward a more intimate union with Christ and a vibrant acceptance of the

Holy Spirit’s counsel in their daily lives.

Confirmation is a two-year program with preparation beginning in high

school. Students are confirmed in the fall of the third year. Participation

in the yearly retreat is required. Our program strives to awaken a sense of

responsibility and belonging to the universal Church and to the parish

community of St. Philip’s.

Text used: YOUCAT – Catechism of the Catholic Church for Youth by Ignatius Press, Catholic Youth

Bible by St. Mary’s Press and Spreading and Defending the Faith by Ignatius Press

The program consists of:

Registration as a member of St. Philip the Apostle parish

Attend weekly Confirmation classes with no more than six absences per year.

Memorization of the Nicene Creed (English), Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be (Latin).

Participation in each Confirmation retreat each program year.

Serve (mandatory) in an approved Ministry within the parish for the two-year timeframe.

Participate in a minimum of three service projects with the St. Philip Youth per year.

Successfully complete interview which determines Confirmation readiness.

Parents are required to attend two parent meetings per year. These meetings will address

the Confirmation process itself, the commitment and expectations of parents, students and

their approved sponsors.

Participate in Summer intensive activities; classes and outings.

Student Portfolio (Required paperwork)

Photocopy of Baptismal Certificate

Sponsor Information Form

Retreat Expectations form

Confirmation Retreat Participation Behavior Guidelines

Liability Release form/Medical form for retreat

Saints report – Year 1

Service Report – Year 2

Letter to Confirmation Sponsor

Liability Release Form for Summer Intensive


Confirmation Sponsor Criteria

Each confirmation candidate is required to choose a sponsor at least 21 years of age. This

person must be a baptized and confirmed Roman Catholic in good standing.

The Confirmation Lead catechist will review sponsor information before approving sponsors.

Potential 18-20 year old sponsors will be considered and will require Confirmation coordinator

and Pastor’s approval.

New-Transfer Confirmation Students

If your child attended their first year of Confirmation preparation at another Parish, you will

be required to supply a letter from that parish. The letter must have grade, year and number

of classes attended.

Please note: The second year of preparation should be in continuance and without

interruption from the first year.

Documents

Parent/Guardian Religious Education Handbook Religious Ed... · 1 | CCE Religious Education Handbook – Aug. 21,2015 Parent/Guardian Religious Education Handbook St. Philip the Apostle