Dear Parents /Guardians,

Hello! In case we have not met before, my name is John McMahon and I am the Faith Formation Director for Holy Family & St. Lawrence. This email will provide an overview of classes and a Registration form for the 2018-19 HFSL Religious Education Program (grades 1-10).

We will continue our "partnership" with the good people of St. Pius X Parish & their religious education program for the indefinite future. I am pleased to announce the hiring of Mrs. Emma Goff -the new SPX Religious Education Coordinator. Emma & I will work closely together to coordinate & further-synergize the Religious Education Programs & Youth Ministry endeavors between our two parishes. For the year ahead, you can expect the following arrangement:

• Our Elementary & Middle School Programs (grades 1-8) will remain separate (HFSL catechism will be held on Sundays -SPX will meet on Monday & Tuesday afternoons /evenings). Families are encouraged to register with whichever program best fits their schedule & to stick with it for the duration of the program year.
• Our Confirmation Programs (grades 8-9) will have a combined process reflecting the Bishop's decision to begin transitioning to confirming 6^th grade aged candidates by the year 2021. For 2019-20, we will be confirming both 8th & 9^th grade candidates. The 8th & 9^th graders will begin the process on Sunday, September 29 & will meet every Sunday evening at the St. Pius Parish Hall from 5:00pm to 6:30pm. 

If you would like to contact Emma to inquire about registering for the St. Pius X Elementary Religious Education Program, please use the following email: emma.goff@essexcatholic.org.

At HFSL, grds 1-7 will meet in the HFSL Parish Hall every Sunday morning (except for holidays) from 9:15-10:30AM. Classes for grds 1-7 begin Sunday, September 8th.

*Parents /guardians of all 1st -7th graders are asked to stay for the first part of this class to attend a brief safety & orientation meeting.

Critical Information for Grades 1-9:

• Our life as a Church is centered around community and, most importantly, our Sunday worship of the Liturgy. We assume that all parents /guardians have decided to raise their children in the Roman Catholic Church. Based on this assumption, it is extremely important that you "role model" for them the value of regular Mass attendance.

• As a result of the newly released Diocesan Decree to begin confirming 6^th grade aged candidates in 2021, going forward, all candidates will be expected to have completed all previous grade level catechism classes beforehand. Therefore, please make every effort to enroll your children in catechism now!

• In keeping with Diocesan Safe Environment requirements (created by the US Conference of Bishops), all students must be escorted to their class by their parent /guardian and signed in before class begins and picked up at its conclusion.
• Sacramental preparation for Eucharist (& Reconciliation) encompasses grades 1-2.
• Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation spans Grades 8-9 & presumes successful completion of the Catechism spanning grades 1-7.
• Second & Eighth & Ninth grade students are required to submit a copy of their Baptismal Certificate to complete the registration process -this requirement applies to all children (even children that have been baptized here).
• Tuition is the same for all grades --$45 per child.  However, we have added an additional $30.00 Retreat Fee for incoming 8 - 9th graders to help cover retreat expenses.  Scholarships are always available.

Mail forms to:
St. Lawrence Rectory
Attention: John McMahon
158 West St.
Essex Junction, VT 05452 
(make checks to: Holy Family & St. Lawrence).

Please register as soon as possible in order to help make the first classes run smoothly!

Overview: As always, our programs are based upon the fact that you -the parent or guardian of your child- are your child's primary teacher of religious and spiritual values. Religious education classes are meant to supplement the instruction that you provide at home (ex's: going to Mass, daily prayer, Bible stories, etc.). The classes are structured around (6) themes relating to our Catholic Faith: Prayer, Scripture, Liturgy, Service, Church teachings, and Community. Some examples of how these guidelines are developed during class time include: beginning and ending all classes with prayer, exposing the children to different types /forms of prayer, reading and discussing each week's Sunday Gospel reading, having each grade participate in our children's (grades 1-5) and youth Liturgies (grades 6-9) throughout the year, involvement in service projects, etc.

Elementary & Middle School Program: Elementary students may take their religious education text books (the We Believe series) home after each session. Finally, Elementary families are asked to attend (4) special "family classes" with their child over the course of the year -these classes are bolded in yellow on the RE Calendar (coming soon).

Classes for these children will start by meeting upstairs in the hall for the first fifteen minutes of their session (for "Community time") before heading to their respective class room for a sixty minute catechism lesson. Parents will be asked to discharge their child to his /her grade level catechist before leaving the premises (please do not just drop them off outside or at the front door of the Center). You may pick up your child at the door of your child's respective class room at the end of class (children will not be released until a parent or designated safe adult checks in with a member of the grade level teaching staff).

Elementary & Middle School Parent Meeting: On the first day of class (Sept. 9) at 9:15 AM, once all of the children are signed in, I will host a brief, but mandatory, safety & orientation meeting in the Church for all parents & guardians. Please make every effort to attend this meeting.

Children's & Youth Masses:These liturgies will begin in October (11AM Mass @ HF Church). The calendar for these liturgies will be included in the second installment of registration materials. Please make every effort to come to your child's grade level Mass.

Safety

I want to stress how important the safety of your child is to me personally as well as to our teaching staff. Our parish's Safe Environment Program for Children & Youth -now in its 14th year of enforcement- strives to create a culture of safety that emphasizes proper screening, education, & vigilance. Here are the essentials:

• All church staff & volunteers that work with children/ youth are screened through a criminal background check process
• All staff & volunteers read & adhere to the Minister's Code of Behavioral Conduct
• An on-line, safety training, entitled "VIRTUS" for all catechists & interested parents on how to protect children /youth from pedophiles.
• A mailing to families explaining the basic safety guidelines for children/ youth (attached with this email).
• A yearly, age-appropriate class called Circle of Grace for the kids covering safety issues to be held during religious education class times for all grades.
• A billboard maintained at the Parish Center posting articles on a variety of safety topics (this will be a continuing education resource).

I encourage you to help make all of our parish activities as safe as possible by getting involved. Please escort your student to /from her /his classroom & sign out at the end of class. Also, spend some time reviewing the information within this email and then to sit down and discuss it with your child. Our goal is to equip both you and your child with the knowledge to make your home & our parish grounds as safe & nurturing for young people as possible. Finally, I have included a copy of our Code of Conduct for Children & Youth and ask that you read it & discuss it with your child as well. Make sure he /she understands what is expected in terms of behavior during class time. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please pray for a successful year of faith formation for our children, youth, & adults! I look forward to seeing you all on the 8th ^& 29th.

Thank you and may God be with you,
John McMahon