Religious Education 1st - 8th grade | Assumption Catholic Church | 2023-2024

Dear Parents,

As we near the end of this school year, we are opening CCD registrations for the 2024-2025 school year. Save yourself time next year by registering early! Please see the button below for registration.

In Christ and the Immaculate, Sr. Marina Hernández, SHM

Director of Religious Education - Assumption Catholic Church sistershm@assumptionjax.org | 398-6355

All communication this year will be done through announcements on this website and the MyParish App. See below for more details.

Faith Formation

Over the course of their Religious Education, they will receive their First Communion on or about 2nd Grade and be Confirmed on or about 8th Grade. Many people believe they simply need only attend Sacramental Prep and then not return until the next Sacramental year. This is not the ideal way to ensure that your child is receiving the fullness of instruction or the lived example that our Faith offers. Growing in our love and knowledge of our God and the Church He established is a lifelong journey.

RCIA (Children)

Similar to RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), RCIA (Children) is a program for children between the ages of 7 and 14 who have not been baptized or who are baptized but have not received their 1st Holy Communion. These classes are designed to educate children in the Catholic faith and prepare them for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

When does RCIA (Children) meet?

Classes will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time. RCIA (children) students will begin on September 13th, in the normal CCD classrooms pertaining to their current grade. Classes directed towards RCIA (children) will begin in October and end prior to Easter Vigil. We will focus on the sacraments, faith community, service, prayer and basic beliefs and practices during specified class times.

What is expected?

Regular attendance at Mass and classes, as well as active participation in class discussions and activities will be required of RCIA (children) students. There are also two mandatory retreats for students and families for both year I and II.

Circle of Grace

The goal of the Circle of Grace program is to educate and empower children and young people to actively participate in a safe environment for themselves and others.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Circle of Grace is the children’s education component of the Diocese of St. Augustine's Safe Environment training. It serves the dual purpose of educating and informing children and youth about the value of positive relationships with God and others.

Through Circle of Grace, adults assist children and youth to recognize that each of us lives within a Circle of Grace that holds our very essence in body, mind, heart, soul, and sexuality. Children and youth are taught to identify and maintain appropriate physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual boundaries; recognize when boundary violations are about to occur; and demonstrate how to take action when boundaries are threatened or violated. Circle of Grace is clinically sound and grounded in the Catholic tradition. Its strong parent component means parents can actively participate in their children’s education and formation.

A DOMESTIC CHURCH

Our program this year will be more Family based Catechesis. The children will have class every Wednesday. You, the parents, will attend an in-person session once a month with your child. During this session the parents will gather together with other parents and the students to receive a topic and catechesis for the month and to have a time of prayer together.

This will allow you to understand what your child is learning and help you to bring it back to the home. Our Church has always taught that children receive the gift of Faith primarily from their parents through example and word.

HOW IT WORKS

The program will be very simple. Besides attending Mass every Sunday, your child will come to class every Wednesday, from 6:30-7:45pm. In addition, you will attend a special class once a month with your child where there will be a catechism lesson, activity, and time of prayer. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have during that time.

COMMUNICATION AND CONTACTS

This year we will be using the MyParish APP and this website as our main forms of contact for general announcements for the Religious Education Program. The MyParish App will send you messages with any updates you need to know and it will tell you when we have updated the website with new information. Please make sure to download the MyParish App and make an account.

Once you have made an account you can go to groups and join the Religious Education group to receive all the updates.

For questions please contact Sr. Marina: (904) 398-6355 or sistershm@assumptionjax.org