The Religious Education Program of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church exists in order to bring adults and children into a lasting, loving, and fruitful relationship with Jesus Christ lived out in the Catholic Church. We accomplish this task through catechesis, the handing on of the faith. Catechesis is a stage in the process of evangelization that seeks to deepen one’s knowledge of the faith and arouse in one’s heart ongoing conversion to Christ. In his apostolic letter on catechesis, Pope John Paul II stated,

“The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only he can lead us to love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Trinity” (Catechesi Tradendae, “On Catechesis in Our Time” 5).

We seek to bring each person to a profound and personal communion with Jesus Christ by imparting knowledge of the Catholic faith in its fullness and entirety, leading each person to deeper conversion and greater love for Jesus Christ, and fostering in each person an active participation in the liturgical and apostolic life of the Church.

Furthermore, in all of our programs, we uphold the sacred dignity and preciousness of every human life, created in the image and likeness of God by looking at each individual as a unique child of God.



Program Information

Adult Religious Education
As Catholics, we are on a life-long journey to know, love, and imitate our Lord, Jesus Christ, more and more. For this reason, continuing education in the faith is essential to our lives as adults. “God's Word, the Church's traditions and teaching, and our informed conscience all compromise our lifelong Christian formation” (St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church Mission Statement). Education in the faith is a lifelong process. It is very important that parents grasp and live out their faith so that they can successfully pass it on to their children. At St. Francis de Sales we seek to offer and promote various programs for adults

Adult Bible Study
“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ” ~ St. Jerome
By our reading of Sacred Scripture we come to know Christ and the plan of the Father He reveals.
We cannot have a relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ, unless we take the time to get to know Him. Hearing the Word of God proclaimed, studying the sacred text, and pondering God’s Word in our hearts, enables one to grow in understanding and love for our Lord. Thus, St. Jerome is right, we must know Sacred Scripture in order to better know, love and serve our Lord. For this reason, there are several opportunities to join a Bible study at St. Francis de Sales.

K-8 Religious Education Program
Supporting parents in their sacred right and duty to educate their children in the Catholic Faith, our K-8 Religious Education Program seeks to bring each child to knowledge of the doctrine of the Catholic faith, and into a loving and lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. It is our goal that each child will experience the fullness of life in the Catholic Church and be heralds of the Gospel to all they come in contact with throughout their lives.

Our catechists commit to the faithful transmission of the Gospel message and seek to engage our youth in an authentic experience of Christian life. In addition, we recognize the importance of using various methods of teaching to effectively pass on the faith to our children. We strongly encourage the use of sacred art, sacred music, and literature (movies, fiction, poetry, etc.) to bring the mysteries of faith to life. Further, one will learn best through the experience of the One Teacher, our Lord, at work in the Sacred Liturgy. For this reason, we promote the frequent attendance at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and reception of the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist.


RCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process by which interested adults gradually enter into the Catholic Church. The RCIA, which dates back to the beginning of the Church, has four distinct periods that contains both teaching and sacramental elements. The RCIA leads catechumens and candidates into a deeper relationship with God and full communion with the Catholic Church.

Inquiry
A time of investigation into the Catholic Church and of hearing God’s plan for his people faithfully proclaimed

Formal Catechetical Instruction
Catechumens and Candidates receive suitable instruction, and pastoral formation aimed at training them for the life of faith in the Catholic Church.

Purification and Enlightment
A six-week period that ordinarily coincides with Lent and presents the theme of repentance in preparation for baptism or in reminder of it, as well as renewal of the entire community along with the catechumens and candidates in preparation for the Easter Sacraments.

Mystagogy
A final period where adults complete their Christian formation and become fully integrated into the community


RCIC and RCIA for Teens
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) is a special sacrament class for students grades 3 through 8, who have not yet received the Sacraments of Baptism, Penance, and/or First Holy Communion. These students will also be required to attend class regularly, attend parent/child meetings, complete student assignments, and participate in a retreat.

RCIA for Teens is a class for all high school students who have not yet received the Sacraments of Baptism, Penance, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation.