RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS 

Two program options are offered. The Sunday Religious Education program is held at St. Joseph School, and the Family Program is based at St. Margaret Mary Parish. Parishioners from any of the area parishes are welcome to register for either option.

REGISTRATION:

Please read this LETTER TO PARENTS 

To register for either program, please click here:  REGISTRATION FORM. 

Please print form, fill out, and mail with payment to:

Director of Religious Education

161 Main Street

Suite 108, Keene, NH  03431.

 

UPDATES FROM THE DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Letter to Parents, August 10, 2011 

Confirmation Reguirements, August 10, 2011

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CALENDARS:

Classroom Religious Education Calendar 2011-2012

Family Program 2011-2012

Edge and Lifeteen Program 2011-2012 

SUNDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM:

This classroom style program for grades 1-5 meets on Sundays during the school year from 10:45 - 11:45 a.m. at St. Joseph  School. (following the 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Bernard)  Children meet in classrooms according to grade level.  All teachers have met the requirements for volunteers working with children according to the Diocese of Manchester Safe Environment standards.  
 

FAMILY PROGRAM:

The Family Program option for Religious education for grades 1-8 is based out of St. Margaret Mary parish.  The Family Program will involve you, as parents and primary educators of your children, more actively in your child's faith formation.  The program consists of 3 components:  A parent education once a month, on a weekday evening; 2 home-taught lessons; and a Community meeting where you will get together with the other families in the program and share what you have learned, as well as do other projects.  Although this may seem like more "work" initially (and it is!), through this process the whole family will come to better integrate the faith into daily life, and in time it will become the "natural" thing to do.  Many of the home-taught lessons can be done as you sit around the table for an evening meal or are together in the car.  The curriculum for Family Program in 2011-2012 will focus on Salvation History.  We will work through the 14 narrative books of the Bible to help families better understand the scriptures and increase their comfort level with reading God's Word.
 

CATHECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD:

This year we are offering both Level 1 (ages 3-6) and Level 2 (ages 6-9) in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  This Montessori method program recognizes that children particularly capable of receiving and enjoying the most essential elements of our faith – the announcement of God’s love, in the person of the Good Shepherd, who died and is risen.  The children will work in a special classroom, called the atrium, which is to be established at St. Margaret Mary church.  The child will become familiar with Jesus, selected parables about the Kingdom of God, and parts of the Mass.  The role of the teacher, or catechist, is to make presentations in the atrium that “call forth” the child’s response to God and listen with the child to discover more deeply how much God loves them.  
The deadline to register for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is August 1.  There will be required parent meetings prior to the first session, and class time will be determined by demand and availability of catechists.  For more information, call Joy Davis at 352-2861 or email holyspiritfaithformation@gmail.com
  

EDGE:

Middle School students in grades 6-8 who are enrolled in the Sunday Program participate in our EDGE program.  EDGE is designed to meet the catechetical, educational, spiritual, emotional and social needs of young adolescents.  The Edge format brings the students out of the classroom and into a larger group setting for group activities, presentations of the material and prayer, and then gives them the opportunity to break into smaller groups to process the teaching and build relationships with the others in their class.  It will facilitate them making the faith relevant to their everyday lives and help form their Catholic identity.  EDGE will meet from 5 – 6:30 PM on Sundays during the school year.  For more information, call Joy Davis at 352-2861 or email holyspiritfaithformation@gmail.com

 

HIGH SCHOOL CATECHESIS - LIFE TEEN 

High School students in grades 9-12 are invited to continue their faith formation in our new LifeTeen program. In accordance with the US Bishop's new Curriculum Framework, Life Teen recommends that a 4-year (or 8 semester) catechetical plan be implemented in each parish to ensure that complete and quality catechesis is offered to every teen involved in the parish. Each semester will topically build on the others and work together to create a systematic curriculum. Below an overview of the entire 8-semester plan:

Sacred Scripture
Person of Christ
Paschal Mystery
Church
Sacraments
Morality
Social Justice
Vocation

Those students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation will have a six-week class during class time immediately prior to the celebration of the Sacrament. Class will meet on Sundays from 5 - 6:30 PM.
First year confirmation students attend an evening retreat. Most students then attend the Steubenville East Youth Conference - a weekend retreat - during the summer between their first and second year of confirmation preparation. Student Masses are geared toward the students and their particular needs, and students are encouraged to participate in these Masses by either reading, participating in music ministry, or helping as an usher. The emphasis during the time of preparation for Confirmation is placed on helping the students to develop a relationship with God and a living faith as they prepare to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

 

Contact Info:

Joy Davis

Director of Religious Education

161 Main Street

Keene, NH 03431

Phone: 603-352-2861

Email: holyspiritfaithformation@gmail.com