Religious Education Program2023-2024 Registration Forms are now available. Email: fa[email protected] to receive a form. Thank you.
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Religious Education Program
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"Each encounter with Jesus fills us with joy, with that deep joy which only God can give." - Pope Francis
Dear Parents, Grandparents and Guardians,
Welcome! We are so happy that you have decided to enroll your children in our Religious Education Program here at St. Charles. It is our belief that passing on our faith in Jesus Christ to our children is one of the most important and precious gifts to our children.Our Religious Ed program educates children in grades 1-10. Children will learn about our Catholic faith, prepare them to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
Our goal in this ministry is to have every child learn and understand about their precious faith, the importance of knowing and living their faith, and to know how very much Jesus loves them - that they are loved unconditionally and that Jesus will always be there to guide them and support them, in good times and in bad. I look forward to starting this faith journey with you.
If you have any questions about the program, please don't hesitate to call at 781-933-0300 x242 or email me at [email protected].
In God's Love,
Joanne Campbell, Coordinator of Religious Education and Faith Formation
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Faith Formation Class Schedule Information
Religious Education classes are either on Wednesday's or Sunday's for most grades. Classes will be held twice a month unless otherwise marked. You decide which day and time fits your schedule. Classes will begin on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 from 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. for children taking their Religious Ed classes on Wednesdays and Sunday classes begin on Oct. 15, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. All classes are in the Parish Center, 8 Summer Street.
One weekend Mass a month will be a Family Mass with great upbeat music. This will be a wonderful time to get to know each other. This Mass is required for students and parents to attend. First Family Mass is on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023 at 10 a.m.
Wednesday Classes
Grades 1 - 8 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Parish Center)Sunday Classes
Grades 2 - 8 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. (Parish Center) There are NO 1st grade classes on Sunday just on Wednesdays.
Grade 9 - 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. (Parish Center) - 1st year Confirmation Class
Confirmation Classes (2nd year) - Monday's
Grade 10 - 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Parish Center) - 2nd year Confirmation Class
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First Reconciliation and First Communion
Children in the Religious Ed Program usually make their First Penance and First Communion in the 2nd grade, however, because of Covid some children will be receiving these sacraments in the 3rd and 4th grade. If you have a child entering the 2nd grade, they will be on track to make their sacraments in the spring of 2024.
In our program, children learn that through the power of the Holy Spirit and with the action of the priest, simple bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The children learn that by receiving the Host they receive Jesus himself. They learn to welcome Jesus into their hearts and they are united with the whole Church, the Body of Christ, through the Eucharist.
First Holy Communion scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
Rehearsals - There will be two rehearsals for children and parents. Dates will be picked as get closer to the date.
First Holy Communion Dress Code: Boys can wear the traditional white communion suit, but this is not required. They may wear a suit of another color or dress pants, shirt and tie. No jeans, sneakers or flip-flops.
Girls can wear the traditional white communion dress with a veil, the veil is optional. Girls can not wear gloves so that their hands are bare to receive the Host.
Extra First Communion Attire – Here at the parish we do have a limited selection of First Communion dresses, jackets, dress pants, shoes, etc. that can be borrowed. Contact Joanne Campbell at 781-933-0300 x242 if you would like to see the selections that we have.
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Confirmation
Grades 9-10 (Confirmation Program)
Students who are in the 9th grade begin preparing for Confirmation. It is a two year program finishing in the spring of their 10th grade. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person (baptized usually as children) is “sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. This is a very exciting time for students, parents, and the church.
Confirmation: No Date has been finalized for Confirmation.
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Grade 2 Curriculum - First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
For our great families who are striving to learn more about their faith Explaining the Mass is a great resource for formation and understanding our faith.
For our families who are preparing for first confessions, this is a 2 part series which will better help you prepare yourselves and your children for the reception of this sacrament of grace and healing:
Confession what you don't know part 1 and confession : what you don't know part 2
Dear grade 2 parents,
Grade 2 students often are preparing for two sacraments: First Reconciliation (Confession) and First Holy Communion. .
There is an excellent online resource for First Reconciliation we will be using going forward for this year at dynamiccatholic.org, under the ‘ for your parish ‘ tab and under ‘1st Reconciliation - Blessed’ tab. The link is available below for your use and you may want to bookmark it.
https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/blessed/blessed-program-view.html
There are 6 sessions in the Reconciliation model of the Blessed Curriculum: inside session 1 there are 7 short sessions videos to better explain this sacrament. They are very informative in a child friendly way.
The link for Session 1 videos: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/first-reconciliation/blessed-program-view-first-reconciliation-session-1-1.html
The link for Session 2 videos: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/first-reconciliation/blessed-program-view-first-reconciliation-session-2-1.html
The link for Session 4 videos: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/first-reconciliation/blessed-program-view-first-reconciliation-session-4-1.html
There is also a workbook that can be downloaded for your review and use. It appears below the videos.
Again the link is provided: https://files.dynamiccatholic.com/home/blessed/first-reconciliation/Blessed_FirstReconciliation_Workbook.pdf
Please be praying the following prayers with your child this year : Our Father, Hail Mary ,and the Act of Contrition of your choosing. These and others are available here for your convenience.
Dear Parents/Guardians/parishioners,
Praised be Jesus Christ!
It is our goal this year to collaborate with all families in order to provide your child(ren) with a positive experience that will enhance their relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. Please continue to check the Parish website http://www.sccwoburn.org and follow us on our facebookpage facebook.com/scbpc to receive new updates.
We appreciate your feedback, patience and understanding as we navigate this difficult time in our Parish and our world and assist your family in educating your child in this treasured faith.
I look forward to seeing all of you at our Saturday 4:00pm and Sunday 10:00am English Masses in which we celebrate the source and summit of our faith- The Holy Eucharist.
Prayer and relationship go hand in hand and it our goal for families to promote prayer as a family and in the family to assure your child is preparing for a lifetime of relationship with God. Below are a few wise words about prayer that may help families.
Fr John M. Capuci, Pastor
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Teaching Children How to Pray
By Dr. Joseph D. White
Perhaps the most important lesson we could teach our children is that God loves them. However, to truly teach our children about God’s love for them, we must teach them to have conversations with God. We must teach them to pray.
Praying with children can include various forms and circumstances, but there are some general principles regarding prayer that should be understood and communicated. One is that prayer is both talking and listening. In the book The Way of Prayer, Pope John Paul II states, “When we hold a conversation with someone, we not only speak, but we also listen. Prayer, therefore, is also listening.” Children should be taught that God wants to speak to them and that, while they may not hear him in the same way they hear family members and friends, God does make himself known.
Another important principle of prayer is that talking to God can take many forms. St. Thérèse of Lisieux taught us that even the littlest, everyday things we do can be offered as prayer to God. Still prayer can, and should, occur naturally within the flow of family life.
With the understanding that prayer can, and should, occur anywhere, creating a prayer space in the home can be helpful for children because it serves as a constant reminder of God’s presence and our need to connect with him. A simple home altar may consist of an end table or decorative table with a religious statue, a Bible, and a candle. You may also want to place various sacramentals, such as the Rosary, in your prayer space.
The forms of prayer we utilize with children should depend in part on their age and interests. Very young children (e.g., toddlers and two year olds) will benefit a great deal from the use of pictures and statues. They may be encouraged to say “Hi” or “I love you” to Jesus depicted in a statue or painting. They can be taught to make the sign of the cross and can be taught to sing hymns. Older children should be taught both spontaneous and our traditional Catholic prayers. Traditional prayers are valuable because they enable us to pray together, in unison, as God’s people. Traditional prayers also give us a repertoire from which to choose when we are not sure what to pray, but they should be introduced gradually as children are able to understand them.
Spontaneous prayer helps us to develop the unique relationship God desires with each of us. We should teach children to both thank God for what he has done (the blessings he has given us, etc.) and praise God for who he is (all powerful, almighty, loving and just). Other forms of prayer include petition (making our requests known to God) and intercession (praying on behalf of others). Prayers of sorrow and reconciliation are also useful for children to learn, especially when they are taught in the context of God’s unconditional love (“God always forgives us when we are sorry.”)
Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." May God richly bless your efforts to share his love with your little ones.
CONFIRMATION PAGE
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Family Links for more learning
Free Catholic Bible Online
Patron Saint Index
Learn and Practice Your Prayers
Explore the Meaning of Prayers
Learn About the Liturgical Year and Liturgical Color
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