Introduction
The Saint James Parish Family, heeding the words of our Lord, seeks to fulfill
this great commission to proclaim the gospel message in Word, Sacrament and Service.
Through our Religious Education Program we assist parents, the primary educators of their
children, to nurture the life of faith received at Baptism and lived in the home
environment. We encourage daily prayer, acts of Christian love, and worship in our parish
family through weekly celebration of the Eucharist. Without such a commitment our Program
will have little, if any, effect on the lives of our young people.
We use the Christ Our Life Program, published by Loyola
University Press, and written by the Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio.
Our Program is developmental, i.e., we teach content appropriate to
age level for our students. No learner, child or adult, is ready for the study of the
totality of doctrine at any one point in life. The curriculum builds and expands on
knowledge gained during previous years of study.
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Classes
Classes are scheduled based on the availability of teachers. Classrooms in St.
James School are used for Grade 1-5 classes on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Grade 1-5
classes are also held in “homegroups”, when the students meet in family’s
homes on various days and times. All Grade 6,7 & 8 classes are held in
homegroups, on various days and times.
Grade One:
God as Father, Jesus as Friend, Savior, Lord and God, Holy Spirit, Baptism,
Church, Mary. Prayers: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Morning
Offering, Prayer to the Guardian Angel. Parental involvement is crucial in order for
students to learn the prayers. Please help your child. We will closely monitor your
child’s progress with basic prayers and advise you of any difficulties we observe.
Grade Two:
Love and Life as God’s Gifts, Sin, Forgiveness, Sacrament of Reconciliation,
Mass, Doctrine of the Eucharist, Real Presence, First Communion, Church, Mary. Prayers:
Grace Before and After Meals, Consecration to Mary, Act of Contrition, Prayer to the Holy
Spirit, Acts of Faith, Hope & Love.
Grade Three:
Faith, Grace, Reconciliation and Eucharist, Nature of God, Kingdom of God,
Redemption, Role of the Church. Prayers: Rosary, Apostles Creed, Morning Offering, Prayer
to St. Michael. The children will memorize the Apostles Creed.
Grade Four:
Revelation, Holiness, Law of Love, Ten Commandments, Beatitudes. Prayers: Prayer
to the Holy Spirit, Acts of Faith, Hope & Love.
Grade Five:
Worship, Sacraments, Grace/Holiness. Prayers: Morning Offering, Come Holy Spirit,
Angelus, Vocation Prayer.
Grade Six:
Bible and Salvation History, Creation Cycle, Patriarchs, Exodus and Covenant,
Judges, Monarchy, Prophets, Jesus. Prayers: Regina Caeli, Prayer of Our Lady of
Guadaloupe.
Grade Seven:
Jesus, Gospels, Fulfillment of the Prophecies; Living as Jesus’ Disciples
today, Sacraments, Church Teaching, Moral Life, Gospel of Life, Sin and Repentance.
Prayers: Nicene Creed, Memorare.
Grade Eight:
Church (Origins, Fathers, Middle Ages, Reformation, Missions, Church in America,
Vatican II and the future), Living as A Catholic today ( Faith, Sexual Morality, Prayer
and Worship, Service, Social Justice). Prayers: Prayer to St. Joseph.
The St. James Religious Education Program does not conduct formal
classes for Grade 9 students. We highly recommend and encourage them to attend the
enriching sessions of the St. James Youth LIFE Group for high school students.
( See Bulletin for Youth Life Group details. )
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