Preschool/Kindergarten Programs: During the 9:45 Mass on Sundays, three (3), four (4) and five (5) years olds are invited into a classroom setting to learn about Jesus through study and activities. 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 followed by regular classes until the end of November, closing the semester with GIFT.  No classes are held during the month of December.  The second semester of classes 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  a catechist or assistant. (Ask Sue Juliano for more details)

GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) 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 or family activities on topics relating to our Catholic faith. 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 18 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 Junior High students in grades 6^th, 7^th and 8^th 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, Junior High Nights and GIFT.

Trinity Modules:  Modules are nine weeks, two hours each week, with various catechists leading the class.  We offer two (2) tracks, each nine weeks in length available, Sunday or Wednesday. Space is limited so students would be placed in the track on a first come, first serve basis at time of registration.

In general, the categories of modules are:  Catechesis, Evangelization, Prayer and Worship, Pastoral Care, Leadership Development, Called to Serve, Justice and Peace.  Students absent from any of these classes will be required to make up the missed material in order to be promoted to the next grade level. Switching tracks because of absence in not permitted.

Trinity Junior High Nights: Junior High Nights are social events that are scheduled throughout the year, generally on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 6-8 p.m.  Students are required to attend three (3) per year. 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, Military Day, Movie Nights, Christmas Caroling and a Lent visit at the Shelby Nursing Home, Game Nights, Sports Nights, Shelby Clean-up, WIND Conference, Leadership Workshops, Girls Night, Boys Night, Pump it Up, Vacation Bible School.

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 or family activities 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.  See the current year GIFT dates below.

Sacrament Preparation and Celebration
Students in Grade 2 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.

Parent/students attend 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 - Preparation for this sacrament begins in the 9th grade and requires that the student complete the Junior High Trinity program (described above).

In the spring, 9^th grade students will receive an invitation from the parish to become a candidate for Confirmation, followed by a “come and see” information meeting for parents of these candidates. Registration packets will be given out at this time.

Once the student is registered, attendance is required at all ten two hour sessions (referred to as “tracks”).  An overnight retreat will also be part of the requirement to participate in the celebration of Confirmation. Failure to complete these requirements will delay confirmation of the student.

Two tracks of preparation are held. The student will choose a Sunday or Wednesday track. These will be filled on a first come first serve basis, as class size is limited.

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.