The Religious Education program at St. Michael Parish offers children a strong background in their Catholic faith and works to augment what parents teach at home and when they bring their children to Mass. Though parents are the primary catechists for their children, St. Michael's Religious Education staff and volunteers strive to support our families in creating a strong, faith-based foundation on which our children can fall back as they grow and face life's joys and challenges.

Our classes meet on Sunday mornings, before and after the 10 am Mass, for Grades K - 5, and Sunday evenings for Grades 6 - 10. We also offer Monday afternoon classes for Grades 1 - 5, which meet from 4:30 - 5:30 pm. Registration opens up for returning students on the day after classes end each year through JUNE 1. The online Registration Form can be found here.



The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, so we do encourage all families to keep Holy the Sabbath, and attend Mass each weekend as a family, either at one of our three services (5 pm Saturday, or Sunday morning at 7 or 10), or at a service at another nearby parish. There are many local Mass times to choose from to accommodate your busy schedule.

The St. Michael Parish Religious Ed program is designed to build upon what the child has learned each year, thereby giving them a solid foundation of their Catholic faith. Our goal is to prepare them for the Sacraments of the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation. If your ultimate goal is to ensure that your child participates in the Sacraments, they MUST be enrolled at each grade level. If time constraints or schedule create a conflict, please feel free to contact the Religious Ed office, Pat Marks for Grades 1 - 5 or Ron Stewart for Grades 6 - 10 to discuss home-schooling so that all material is covered.

The following is an overview of each grade level's curriculum.

Grade K (Optional)

Children in Grade K will learn that God made the world and He created us. He made the sun, the moon and stars, and all the animals. God loves all His creations and wants us to love Him. Our families and friends are gifts from God, but His greatest gift is Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem. Jesus shows us God's love and wants us to share it with others.

Grade 1 - PART 1 OF THE 2-YEAR SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM FOR FIRST EUCHARIST

Children in Grade 1 will begin the 2-year Sacramental Preparation program, as they journey toward making their First Penance and First Holy Communion in Grade 2. They will discover how Jesus teaches us about God's love. They'll begin to understand how we, as Catholics, are followers of Jesus. We belong to the church, and our parish is another type of family we've been gifted with. They'll learn how we celebrate and live our faith.

Our Grade 1 students enjoy a special "Workshop on Mary" early in the year and a "Tour of the Church" in January or February.

Grade 2 - SACRAMENT YEAR

Children in Grade 2 will continue to prepare to make their First Penance (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) and their First Holy Communion. They will learn how the Holy Spirit helps us to make good decisions but when we make mistakes, God's mercy is endless, and we can start with a clean slate and extra strength through the Sacrament of Reconciliation! They will learn that we receive Jesus through the Eucharist, our spiritual nourishment!

Two mandatory retreats — one covering Reconciliation and one covering the Eucharist — are held at the Parish Hall during the child's Grade 2 year. They will also be our very special guests at the May Procession and the Crowning of Mary, held on Mother's Day weekend. It gives them an additional opportunity to wear their beautiful First Communion outfits after their big day.

Grade 3

Children in Grade 3 will learn that God the Son became one of us to teach us how to live. He grew up in Nazareth, and began His ministry when he was 30. He teaches us about the Kingdom of God, dies and rises again to give us eternal life. Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit and the Apostles lead the early church. We are called to be His disciples, too.

A special "New Life" workshop will be held for our Grade 3 students during the spring.

Grade 4

Children in Grade 4 will learn that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and will once again discover all the examples He gave us for how to live. They will learn the 10 Commandments, covering each one in depth, and will learn the Beatitudes.

In Grade 4, the children will host a parish-wide Commandment Fair to showcase and teach others what they've learned. This is a family event, and the younger children love the informational displays and fun games!

Grade 5

Children in Grade 5 review the Sacraments in depth. They will learn how Jesus shared His life with us. They will discuss Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist, and discover why they are referred to as the Sacraments of Initiation. They will talk about how the Sacraments of Healing—Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick—restore us. And they will talk about loving and serving others through the Sacraments of Marriage or Holy Orders.

The Grade 5 Religious Ed year culminates with a Sacrament Fair, an informational forum where our students can teach others what they've learned through displays and games.

Grade 6

Children in Grade 6 delve into the Old Testament with their very own Bibles, and begin to discover in a very hands-on way the wonders and richness of God's word. They learn how God formed His Covenant with His people, the roles that Old Testament figures including Moses, Solomon, Judah played, and how God eventually made Himself known through Jesus, His Son.

Grade 6 students end the year and showcase their knowledge at our annual "Scripture Jeopardy" game. We cap the year off with an Ice Cream Social.

Grade 7 + 8

Students in Grades 7 + 8 switch from the Sadlier workbooks to the "Pflaum Gospel Weeklies" program, a method of teaching which integrates Religious Ed instruction with the life of the parish community. The content of the program originates from the weekly gospel and appeals to the upper Middle School-aged students.

Grade 9

"Finding God" Program for Children with Different Learning Abilities

St. Michael Parish offers a wonderful program for the children of our parish community who have special needs. Loyola Press's "Finding God" makes use of beautifully designed instructional tools and colorful hands-on materials to help the children understand the tenets of our faith. 





Would you like to become part of our Religious Education program as a catechist, assistant catechist or substitute? Please contact Pat Marks or Ron Stewart for more information.