Registration for the 2019-2020 Catechetical Year is now closed.
Parent Orientation Information for 2019-2020
Is your child ready for catechism?
If you have a child entering first grade Fall of 2019 in regular school, then YES, your child is ready to start his/her faith journey with Good Shepherd. Our Catholic faith is a lifelong learning experience. When you baptized your child, you made a commitment, before God, to raise them in our faith. We are here to help you honor your commitment and to offer an ongoing Catholic Education to your child or help older children “catch up” who are behind in their sacraments.
Our curriculum offers a progressive faith formation in order to better prepare them for life and to join our Confirmation Program. We also want to take this opportunity to remind you that for children who just received their Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, that this is not the end of their faith journey. Our curriculum is stacked fittingly by grade level with age-appropriate language until they are ready to enter the Confirmation Program. To further encourage you to provide for your child’s ongoing faith education, we are copying the Christ our Life curriculum summary below. It demonstrates how each year provides a further step in their Catholic Formation.
“The first-grade program of the Christ Our Life series, God Is Good, is designed to provide a simple overview of the mysteries of our faith. Through learning of the goodness of God, and the love of Jesus, the children respond to God in friendship and prayer. The children should:
• become aware of God’s presence and goodness in their lives, in others, in the world, and in his Church.
• respond to God’s goodness by loving him and others.
The second-grade program – God’s Gift – focus on preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.
The third-grade program, We Believe, presents the main truths Catholics believe and express in the Apostles’ Creed. The children should:
• grow in the power to make decisions in the light of God’s Revelation and the redemptive acts of Jesus.
• come to a knowledge and an appreciation of the mysteries of their faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed.
The fourth-grade program, God Guides Us, focuses on the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes as guides for living. The children should:
• grow in understanding and appreciation of God’s call to eternal life and his ever-present and loving guidance.
• choose to live the Commandments in the spirit of the Beatitudes.
The fifth-grade program, We Worship, focuses on the 7 sacraments, especially the Eucharist, the center of Christian life. The children should:
• grow in their appreciation of the Church as a worshiping community, and of Christ’s action among us in the Eucharistic liturgy and in the sacraments.
• give worship to God by prayer, loving service, and celebrating the liturgical seasons.
The sixth-grade program is devoted to the study of God’s saving love as it is revealed in Sacred Scripture, particularly the Old Testament. God Calls a People is designed to help the students increase their knowledge of salvation history so that they may respond to God with ever-deepening love and gratitude. The students should:
• come to a deeper appreciation of the person of Christ and of his presence in his Church through the study of salvation history.
• grow in their relationship with God and in giving witness of their faith.”
For Families Registering for First Eucharist and/or Confirmation:
Parent’s requirement for our Sacramental Preparation Programs
We ask you to recommit yourselves to your own faith renewal & growth and fulfill the criteria outlined below for each phase of your child(ren)’s sacramental preparation.
- Family Attendance at Mass each weekend. GSCC Mass Times are: Sat. 5 PM or Sun. 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM or 5 PM.
- AT LEAST FOUR (4) hours of Parish Involvement per catechetical year: You may fulfill your Parish Involvement hours by volunteering at a Parish Event, Religious Education fundraiser (our Holiday Basket Raffle), volunteering with a Parish Ministry, or volunteering as a Religious Education Catechist, Assistant Catechist, or Core Team Member. This requirement is per family (combined parent hours), not per individual parent. Click here for volunteer opportunities.
- SIX (6) Parent Workshops within the two years of your child's sacramental preparation (we recommend at least 3 workshops per year): We encourage you to choose as one of your Parent Workshops any workshop that specifically addresses a Sacrament that your child is in preparation to receive. This requirement is per family, not per individual parent.
- Active Participation in your child(ren)’s Sacramental Preparation journey. Attend all Parent/Guardian mandatory events throughout the year and when specially requested by the Coordinator or your student(s).
