Sessions starting in January and in March
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Catechism Classes 2022-2023

Dear Families of St. John the Evangelist,
 
            I’m pleased to announce that registration for our next Catechetical Year is now open. We are continuing our practice of Whole Family Catechesis, aiming to support parents in their role as the primary educators of their children. The goal is to strengthen your own faith and to equip you to catechize your children because your influence vastly outweighs anything we can give them 1 hour a week. So, we will provide resources and Becki and our volunteers remain available to help you that task.
 
Expectations

  • The Family Catechism Session will be once a month on Sunday immediately following the 9am Mass. It will usually be the 1st Sunday, but not always.
    •  1st Communion and Confirmation Students must attend this day as well.**
    • Parents and grades 7-12 will meet in the parish hall for a lesson with activities and small groups.
    • The younger children will be cared for by volunteers

  • One Wednesday night each month (usually the 3rd Wednesday), we will have a family game night. Attendance is expected of all families and students.
    • This will consist of 30 minutes of adoration, a meal, and communal time.
    • The focus will be spending time together, though we will sometimes have review games or activities. Building community is an important part of faith formation.

  • 1st Communion students and Confirmation Students will attend two additional Sundays each month to focus specifically on their Sacramental Preparation.**
    • Class is in the Parish Hall after 9am Sunday Mass. Mass attendance is part of the class.
      • If they need to attend Mass at another church for travel reasons, they should bring a bulletin from the Church they attended
    • 1st Communion parents will attend the two mornings of reflection offered by the parish:
      • Saturday, Dec 10 from 9-10:30am
      • Saturday, May 6 from 9-10:30am
    • 1st Communion students and parents should plan to attend the Parish Picnic following 1st Communion Mass in May so we can celebrate the occasion together
    • Confirmation students will attend a retreat. Date is TBA
      • Confirmation Parents, Students, and Sponsors will attend an evening of reflection along with the rehearsal before Confirmation.
    • Confirmation students are expected to complete 10 hours of service and 10 hours of spiritual growth. Opportunities for each will be provided throughout the year.
 
**If attending a Catholic School

  • 1st Communion Students attending a Catholic School
    • Weekly Mass Attendance is still required. School Masses do not replace Sunday.
    • Students and parents attend the whole family Sunday class
    • Students do not have to attend the additional classes each month, but are welcome to
    • Families should participate in the Family Game Night each month
    • Students and parents will attend the two mornings of reflection
    • Students and parents will attend the parish picnic after 1st Communion to celebrate with the whole parish

  • Confirmation Students attending a Catholic School
    • Weekly Mass Attendance is still required. School Masses do not replace Sunday.
    • Students do not have to attend the whole family Sunday class, but are welcome to
    • Students do have to attend the 2x/month Confirmation Classes
    • Families should participate in the Family Game Night each month
    • Students are required to complete service hours and spiritual hours – these can overlap with whatever the school already requires
    • Students are required to attend a Confirmation retreat
    • Students, parents, and sponsors are required to attend the reflection and rehearsal
 
 
Cost, Materials, and Paperwork
 
One change is that we will be charging a $25 registration fee this year. Human psychology tells us that people take things more seriously when they cost something. We tend to take things for granted when they are free or easy. The fee can be waived in individual cases. Just speak with me directly if you can’t afford it and I waive it and keep that fact confidential.
 
The registration fee will cover the parent guide and children’s activity books, which will be distributed at the first class. Each Family should also have their own copy of a Bible (NABRE, RSVCE, and ESV Catholic are all acceptable translations - I recommend “The Didache Bible”) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I also recommend the Baltimore Catechism for little ones and the YouCat for your older children.
 
For the sake of easy organization and communication, registration is online this year. Please go to our parish website – stjohnjeanerette.org – and go to “Religious Education à Registration” to complete the form. You can pay the fee online through the link at the end of the form or bring cash or check to the office. If online registration is not possible, you can visit the office to fill out a printed form and Ursula will complete the online form using that.
 
Finally, if your child was baptized somewhere other that St. John the Evangelist, we need a new copy of their Baptismal Certificate. You can call the church where they were baptized and ask them to mail a baptismal certificate to “St. John the Evangelist, 1510 Church St, Jeanerette, LA 70544.” Registration is not complete until we receive that certificate. We cannot give 1st Communion or Confirmation to someone without that on file.
 
As always, thank you for being a part of our family and I look forward to being together with you all soon as we deepen our knowledge and love of this great faith we share.
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alexander Albert,
Pastor,
St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette

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Link to online resources that accompany the books:
https://sophiainstituteforteachers.org/familyoffaithvol3supplements
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