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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
Dear Parents and Students,
With all the demands on our time and families, we are at a point now where some tough decisions have to be made. The life and values that Jesus Christ lived are the foundation of our faith, life, and learning. They are things that will last for the rest of our lives and be passed on to future generations.
Make a commitment to your faith and to that of your children by regularly attending Sunday Liturgy and religious education classes. As a family, you have the ooportunity to grow in ways that will impact all aspects of life...in spirit, in love, in fun, and in work.
We look forward to seeing all of you!
Please read some thoughts Fr. John has written about the responsibility of parents to provide a firm foundation upon which children can base their lives.
The God With Us Series
Curriculum Overview
The God With Us Series focuses on grades one through eight and children six through thirteen. During this period of growth, children develop rapidly in the way they think about things and consider the world around them: emotionally, socially and spiritually. Thus, consideration is given to what is taught, to whom it is taught and how it is taught.
Each level of the series comes to meet God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit: through Christ, to the Father, in the Spirit. The foundation is established for the life-long nature of religious education and spiritual growth. In presenting the beliefs of the Church, the basic truths are grouped as:
Focus and Content
Preschool - Glory to God
Kindergarten - God is With Us
Grade One - God Is Love
As the child sees self, family, friends and the surrounding world as coming from God, a primary respect for what is sacred and awesome is discovered. The fundamental aims of Grade One focus on coming to meet God. The Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - introduced in all aspects as loving, forgiving and ever-present. The wonder of all God's creations demonstrate in a real way the constant presence of God in the world and gifts that have been given to everyone.
Grade Two - Life
In Grade Two, the child is coming to realize that s/he is joined to Jesus and has been called to be His follower through the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Chrismation and Eucharist. At the same time, an awareness begins that all people thus initiated share a spiritual life. As God has acted in all the saving history of mankind, he acts for the child in the sacramental life of the Church.
The belief in God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - grows as s/he joins with the parish community in prayer and Eucharist, as a source of nourishment and growth. As Christians, sharing in the Body and Blood of our Lord is the greatest experience in sharing. From the concept of sharing flows a beginning understanding of community - at home, in the parish and at school.
Grade Three
The child in Grade Three is ready to establish peer group relationships and participate in group activities. Through a basic understanding of the scraments of initiation, life in the Church is given meaning. The child comes to know that, in addition to all the groups s/he may belong to, there is a real sense of belonging in Jesus' group, the Church.
The students at this level are introduced to the physical environment of the church building and the events that take place there. The idea that Church is so much greater than the obvious components supports discipleship: that to be Church brings responsibility and duty. Together, all people who make up Church:
Grade Four
As the child in Grade Four is driven to explore new things, there is some degree of realization that s/he is growing and wants to gain some independence. The Church, for whom Jesus is the Way, has rules and procedures just as every organization does. Love of God and love of neighbor, as shown in the Gospels, and all the Commandments, guide the Church and all people who believe. The students look at Scripture and the teachings of Jesus as a way of developing respect for others and their rights, goods and person.
Through examination of sin, forgiveness and change are recognized as a way to follow Jesus anew. The child experiences Lent as a time to repent, so Jesus' Resurrection has personal meaning as an example of total faithfulness. As a believer in the Resurrection, the child has the power to follow anew, as all believers have, through Pentecost. This grace exists in the Church today.
Grade Five
The students in Grade Five seek to develop a sense of order in both life and nature. God the Father's plan is presented to them at this stage of development so they can define their place in the Church community. They become involved and grow in the new life of the Resurrection.
As members organized within the Church respond to God's call, the child sees order through choice. The members of the Church respond through the life they choose in various life vocations. The child's vocationat this point is to live and witness God's Word here and now. The organized Church is represented in the church building, where art and architecture are explored as meaningful signs of belief.
Grade Six
Church history is the focus of Grade Six. As the child seeks knowledge and background in different aspects of life, this level gives foundation through the example of the great persons of the Faith and their achievements. These leaders, with Jesus as the ideal leader and teacher of all Christians, are examples to the student as s/he begins to establish his/her own identity.
Because the child remembers persons and events, there is agreat interest in history and how things came to be.Exploration of the Old Testament and its themes - Convenant, Promise, Election and Fulfillment - become reality through the great persons in the history of Salvation. The child becomes aware of Church history just as s/he lives with the present Church. Looking toward the Kingdom of God, there is hope in the future, in life to come.
Grade Seven
The content at this level emphasizes that, despite the many awkward moments and situations, God is faithful and ever present. With a growing sense of moral responsiblity, the student in Grade Seven seeks to establish values and identifies with the cathechist sharing the Word.
Original sin and the need for a healer and Savior are discussed. Sin is seen as personal and sinfulness is viewed as a social concern. Being in the world - with success, failure, pain, poverty, change and uncertainty - is examined. Grace is the help of God to believers.
Grade Eight
Although the student in Grade Eight is uncertain about what lies ahead in life, s/he is eeking to establish a sense of self. There is an ongoing attempt to develop values in relation to an expanding life situation. The content of previous years is reviewed in order to give direction to a Christian lifestyle. This spirituality is grounded in the recognition that the Hand of God is active in the actions of all people.
The eighth grade student begins to reflect as s/he grows in the image and likeness of Christ, as s/he begins to prepare for being together with God in the Kingdom. Life is now lived by the facts that Christians believe; Christians worship; and Christians live in community.
The truths to be believed include God's Love. He created all things for the sake of Christ and restored us to life in Christ Jesus. The various aspects of the mystery are to be explained in such a way that the central fact, Jesus, as He is God's greatest gift to men, holds first place, and that from Him the other truths of Catholic teaching derive their order and hierarchy from the educational point of view. (GCD # 16)
Byzantine Catholic Family Pages
Follow this link
Adult Educational Offerings
Byzantine Liturgy, Traditions and Spirituality: First Tuesday of the month
Scripture Study: Third Tuesday of the month
Check back frequently for updates. Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
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last updated December 15, 2009 Copyright © 1999-2004, St. Thomas the Apostle Church |
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