Elementary FAITH FORMATION (CCE)

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED 

EXCEPT HOME STUDY

Thank you for considering our weekly Elementary Faith Formation (CCE) program here at St. Laurence for your child(dren).  We support your commitment to passing along your love for Jesus Christ and the Catholic faith on to your children and appreciate the confidence that you have placed in us to assist you in that endeavor.

Our ability to gather in person for classes has been delayed.  Until the time when we are granted the opportunity to safely meet in person again, we will begin the year with a modified parent-led (i.e. ‘FLEX’) format with at home sessions for all of our weekly Elementary and PreK children.  This one-room schoolhouse approach, allowing families to engage children of multiple grade-levels (i.e. PREK3 through 5) simultaneously,  will simplify the implementation and provide opportunities for family prayer and formation.

We will begin faith formation as scheduled the week of September 8th/9th with a carpool distribution of resources to the families of all registered children.  The specific dates and times will be directly communicated to all registered families via email as their registrations are confirmed.

After the materials pickup you will be sent an invitation to watch a ‘getting started’ video, followed by a weekly email sharing an easy to implement lesson outline guiding your family through each week's activities.    We pray that this opportunity to learn together as a family will bear much fruit. 

We hope that as conditions improve, we will be able to invite children to participate in on-campus formation once again.  This decision will be influenced not only by guidelines from Cardinal DiNardo but also by whatever local protocols are in place at the time to maintain safety as we gather.  It will also require enough adult volunteers to facilitate the program and serve the children.  Updates will be sent by email and will also be posted on this web page.   
 
If you are concerned about eventually sending your child for onsite faith formation or are concerned about potential disruptions to their schedules and your family routine as the year proceeds, we would recommend that you consider registering for the Home Study program. 

Note that families who choose to teach their children at home in an intentional and systematic way have greater opportunities to share the Catholic faith and to grow deeper in their relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, together as a family.  This is perhaps the greatest benefit of the Home Study program for families who are committed to its process.  Families teaching Home Study have also found an additional benefit, which is the flexibility of teaching lessons at their own pace and in accordance with their particular (and sometimes challenging!) schedules. It is also a perfect opportunity for Catholic families to join together with others to form Home Study groups for similarly aged children within their neighborhoods.  The possibilities of Home Study are endless in terms of growth for not only your children, but also yourselves, as faith formation and practicing the Catholic faith becomes more deeply integrated into your family’s daily life.

 To register for Home Study, please go to  REGISTRATION.   

No matter which program you choose we look forward to walking with you and your family on a faith journey throughout your lives.

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Children in grades Kindergarten-5 are invited to attend our
CCE (Continuing Christian Education) program.

Elementary CCE uses the Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) textbook series, 
Alive in Christ.   Alive in Christ is intentional in its focus on the life, mission and saving work of Jesus Christ.  This lays the foundation for a lifelong relationship with Jesus, who continually leads us to his Father’s love and call us through the Spirit to share in the divine life through His Church (CCC, 426).   Mirroring the divine pedagogy (i.e. the gradual and relational way that God reveals himself to mankind and teaches us), each lesson encourages a personal and ongoing relationship with God. 

Following a systematically organized scope and sequence, seven key themes of Catholic teaching - Revelation, the Trinity, Jesus Christ, The Church, Morality, Sacraments and the Kingdom of God - are repeated each year through a grade-level focus, which builds upon the child’s knowledge of the faith at each developmental stage. 

Presented via the use of a series of Essential Questions  (or EQ’s) which serve as cognitive bookends for each lesson,  the OSV texts support the Catechetical Framework for Lifelong Faith Formation (CFLFF) as promulgated for the Archdiocese by Cardinal Di Nardo in August, 2013. 
 
During the weekly classes, the children are instructed by Catechist volunteers who guide them in their journey of faith through lessons, discussion, Scripture, activities, and crafts.  Our program is designed to partner with the parents in order to help your child grow and develop in their faith through different themes and topics.

Catechists and parents have access to a variety of resources provided by OSV, including access to the  Alive in Christ website at http://aliveinchrist.osv.com/.    This website provides an amazing amount of content and links to help develop lessons and enhance faith formation. Families may access this website to further explore or deepen their  children’s weekly lesson experiences.
 
The CCE Program (Continuing Christian Education) is a structured class which meets weekly from September through the first week of May.  CCE students use the curriculum described above, as well as supplemental materials provided by their catechists.  Students share in their faith development with their peers in classroom based lessons.   Family participation is expected at home through regular Mass attendance, review of CCE materials and prayers as well as through parental involvement in prayer services
and/or service projects.
 
Families may also choose a Home Study option where they use the same materials as the CCE program, in order to study as a family at home.  This is a great opportunity for those who cannot commit to attending weekly classes and fits even the busiest of family's schedules.

CLASS SCHEDULES

• Session 1:  Tuesdays from 6 to 7:15 pm in the AMC, OR
• Session 2:  Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:30 pm in the AMC

REGISTRATION

VOLUNTEERS