Bringing the Fullness of the Faith Alive
In St. Mary and Sons of Zebedee’s Religious Education program, your child will learn from the Word of Life Curriculum. This program from the Augustine Institute will help your child grow in faith. Word of Life covers the breadth of the Catechism in a rich and age-appropriate way, to connect with students of diverse backgrounds and differing familiarity with the Catholic Faith.
2022-2023 Elementary Religious Education Classes
Religious Education for grades one through five meet at least twice a month on Mondays. This year children will continue learning about the Mass as a large group during the first 10-15 minutes. Then, students will be dismissed to class. Also, families are encouraged to participate in the family faith sessions, a spiritual retreat, and the safe environment lesson.
In order to run the program, we are in need of catechists to mentor the children in their faith. Our children benefit from your witness to our Catholic faith to help them grow. Please pray and consider joining our enthusiastic team of volunteers!
Topics Taught By Grade Level
Grade 1 God’s Promise of a Savior
- Learn about God’s love for creation and us.
- Learn the story of salvation history.
- Understand that we grow in relationship with God through prayer.
- Identify the theological virtues.
- Learn about Mary and her example of virtue.
- Learn that Jesus was both God and Man and He was sent to save us from sin and create the Church.
Grade 2 Salvation History and God’s Presence in the Sacraments
- Understand salvation history and know God’s plan to save us.
- In addition to in class curriculum, parents will receive the Blessed curriculum to complete at home.
- Special focus is placed on the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist this year.
- Learn that God is merciful and heals us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Learn that Jesus is the bread of Life and truly present in the Eucharist
- Continue to learn about the parts of the Mass, the lives and lessons of the saints, and more ways to pray.
Grade 3 Holy Spirit and the Life of Grace
- Understand that we are called to live in Communion with God and one another.
- Basics of the Trinity and all seven Sacraments.
- Build on what they have learned about prayer, and explore what it means to live as children of God.
Grade 4 The Creed: Truth and Response to Our Faith
- Begin to understand what Truth is.
- Know that only in God can they find the truth and happiness that we desire.
- Will understand eternal, moral and natural law and that faith and reason are not against one another because both come from God.
- Can distinguish between the cardinal moral virtues and the theological virtues.
- Explore conscience formation, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Golden Rule, and the Great Commandment.
- The reality of sin and the necessity of virtue are emphasized.
Grade 5 Liturgy and Worship
- Explore what it means that God is the source of all life.
- Learn more about Holy Mass and Holy Days of Obligation.
- Read and discuss longer biographies of the saints, especially young saints.
Class Schedule
2022-2023 Elementary Religious Education Calendar