Preschool/Kindergarten Programs: During the 9:45 Mass on Sundays, three, four and five years olds are invited into a classroom setting to learn about Jesus through study of the Readings for Sunday. These classes are held from September through April following the same schedule as the students attending the weekly religious education program. Parents are welcome to volunteer as Catechists and Assistants for this program coordinated by Mrs. Lisa Brown.

Religious Education for Grades 1 – 5
The school year begins in September with GIFT then  regular classes continue until the end of November, closing the semester with GIFT.  No classes are held during the month of December. The second semester begins in January and closes out the school year with GIFT. The parent may choose to have their child attend on either a Monday or Tuesday class. Each day also has a choice of two sessions. The first session runs from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and the second session runs from 6:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Parents are always invited to participate as catechist or assistant. (Ask Sue Juliano for more details)

GIFT is a “family night of catechism” and is part of the curriculum for all students. The whole family participates in a simple meal, prayer and age appropriate classes on topics relating to who we are as Catholics. An outreach to a group or organization is featured at each GIFT and families are asked to bring an item to support this outreach. GIFT is held in addition to the regular classes on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they are held at 6:00 p.m. Dates for GIFT are included with your family registration for religious education.

TRINITY Program for Grades 6 - 8

The Trinity program for students in grades 6^th, 7^th and 8^th is new for the 2009-2010 school year.  Trinity is a way to engage our today’s youth to experience our God in a real way.  This process is modeled after Youth Ministry and allows our youth to explore their faith on a new level.

There are three requirements of the Trinity program: Modules, GIFT and Junior High Nights.

Trinity Modules: Modules are flexible classes that allow students to choose what they would like to know or experience about God.  In general, the categories of modules are: Catechesis, Evangelization, Prayer and Worship, Pastoral Care, Leadership Development, Called to Serve, Justice and Peace, and Theology of the Body.  The modules are scheduled year round, and allow students the freedom to choose when they will attend around their busy schedules.  Four modules are required each year, and each module consists of three (3) sessions.

G.I.F.T: (Growing In Faith Together) GIFT is a “family night of catechism” and is part of the curriculum for all Religious Education students, including Trinity students. The whole family participates in a simple meal, prayer and age appropriate classes on topics relating to who we are as Catholics. An outreach to a group or organization is featured at each GIFT and families are asked to bring an item to support this outreach.  GIFT is held on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. or on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Dates for GIFT are included with your registration for religious education.  GIFT sessions occur three times during the religious education school year – once in the fall, again in the winter, and last in the spring.

Trinity Junior High Nights: Junior High Nights are social events that are scheduled throughout the year, generally on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  The events range from service projects to fun activities designed to bring the students together outside of the classroom.  Some examples include:  Bon Fire, Drive by Rake, Movie Nights, Christmas Caroling and a Lent visit at the Shelby Nursing Home, Game Nights, Sports Nights, Shelby Clean-up, WIND Conference, Leadership Workshops, Lifetime Fitness, Pump it Up, Vacation Bible School.

This whole process helps to prepare these students to participate fully in our Confirmation program in 9^th grade.   Registration for the Trinity program occurs in September.  Attendance at Registration and Orientation sessions is critical to the sign-up process for Trinity, and both teen and parent must be present.

The current Trinity class schedule is listed below in the 2010 Dates to Remember section.

Sacrament Preparation and Celebration
Students prepare for their First Reconciliation (Confession) prior to receiving First Eucharist (Communion). Students are required to complete two years in religious education classes before they are prepared for these sacraments.

Parents attend a meeting and a workshop to complete the process of preparation prior to celebrating. Reconciliation is celebrated in the winter and First Eucharist is celebrated in the spring. Preparation for Reconciliation begins in October and preparation for First Eucharist begins in January.
 

Confirmation is also celebrated in the spring.  Preparation for this sacrament requires that the student complete the Trinity Religious Education program described above.

Student’s in the 9th grade (provided they have completed the above requirements) will receive an invitation from the parish to become a candidate for Confirmation. This will include a registration, and attendance at ten classes.  An overnight retreat will also be part of the requirement to participate in the celebration of Confirmation.
All questions regarding this process will be answered at registration time.
 

Family Discipleship
In lieu of “service projects” families are being asked to select one project per year as a family and to journal that project along with pictures. At each GIFT families will be asked to share about what they have done as a family in outreach to others. Families are being asked to continue this project yearly with their students.