RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT ST. TERESA OF AVILA

Our Goal
The St. Teresa of Avila’s Religious Education Program seeks to provide to all parishioners the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for their ongoing conversion to Jesus Christ and the Gospel in order to bring about full participation in the life of the Catholic Church. In nurturing all age groups we will foster community among the children, families and the parish community, encouraging all to be good stewards of the gifts God has given them, using these gifts to proclaim, celebrate and serve the Kingdom of God.


Our Focus
The Office of Religious Education focuses on the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ and His Church in proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God.The Religious Education Office is responsible for parish-based religious education/catechetical programs. These programs are for all ages - religious education is life-long learning. Catechesis includes sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation), religious education programs for pre-school, K-6, junior high, senior high, and adults.The Office of Religious Education focuses on the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ and His Church in proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God.Our FocusTeaching the Four Pillars of Faith.
 

Teaching The Four Pillars of Faith
The catechetical ministry of the Catholic Church has been nurtured and renewed in recent years with the publication of three important Church documents, namely the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the General Directory for Catechesis, and the National Directory for Catechesis. All of these documents remind us that families are the first teachers of their children in the faith and that we as catechists and catechetical leaders are to support them in this vital parent responsibility in every way that we can. It is our privilege to assist you, your child’s primary catechist, with their faith formation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides a systematic presentation of the content of Catholic doctrine that our catechists are to teach based on the four pillars of our faith. These are the Creed, Liturgy and Sacraments, Morality, and Prayer. The Faith First Legacy Program that is used in our Religious Education Program provides a similar four-unit structure to address the four pillars of our faith every year at every grade level.


Getting Started
We welcome you to St. Teresa of Avila’s Religious Education program! We are happy and privileged to have the opportunity to work with you and your family on your faith journey. Below are links to the materials you will need to both understand the program and integrate it with your own schedule. If you have any questions please call or email Carol Moriarty, 203-263-2008.

Registration
Read our newsletter, fill out your registration form, download our Religious Education handbook, get familiar with class schedules, and review your child’s weekly lessons.

Sacraments
Learn more about First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation requirements.

Prayers
Locate the necessary prayers for your child, Kindergarten through Grade 9.

Catechists and Volunteers
Essential to the success of the Religious Education program is having a dedicated group of adult and young adult volunteers willing to help and nurture our faith with our youth. Participants have the opportunity for additional and on-going training and education through the Archdiocese. Please visit this page for more information.
 

          


Liturgy of the Word for Children
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them, for the kingdom of
heaven belongs to such as these”.
Matthew 19: 14
  Liturgy of the Word for Children, Pre-K through 4th Grade, every Sunday during the 10:45 AM Mass. Pre-K students must be accompanied by a parent.
        The Celebration of the Word includes:
        First Reading
        Responsorial Psalm (Sung)
        Gospel
        Shared Reflection
        Creed
        Prayer of the Faithful
   In the Celebration of the Word, the children will arrive for Mass with their parents and join the assembly for the Introductory Rites. After the Opening Prayer, the children will be dismissed to a classroom with the volunteers and catechists; there they will hear and discuss the Sunday Readings, adapted for children, and participate in song/activity. The children will rejoin their families after the Prayer of the Faithful for the Celebration of the Eucharist. This venture is an option – it is not mandatory nor is it another religious education class. It is a Celebration of the Word on a child’s level.
  What better way to bring the children of our parish to Jesus than by sharing the Word of God with them! If you would like to become more informed on what your child will be experiencing, or would like more information on joining our ministry, please call the Religious Education Office at 203-263-2008.