The mission of the Religious Education Program is to facilitate the continuing spiritual growth and faith formation of the children of Presentation Parish so that the kingdom of God may be realized more fully in our world.

The Goals of the Program are:

• To develop an awareness of God’s great love, discern its meaning in one’s life and respond with gratitude through formal and informal prayer.
• To grow in the Christian values of love, peace, justice, friendship and trust as daily means of enriching personal and communal life.
• To nurture the Sacraments of Initiation and of Reconciliation as a means of personal renewal and identity with the Catholic Church community.

Presentation Religious Education Program’s purpose is to teach children about God’s Word, the Catholic Church and their responsibilities as Catholic Christians. In class, the children will hear about the importance of prayer in their lives. The children will learn that one of the privileges of “being Catholic” is worshipping within the community at Mass. Attending Mass regularly is one of the most important factors in religious education. During this sacred celebration, children put into practice what is taught in class and encouraged and lived at home.

Regularly scheduled, weekly religious education classes meet on Sunday mornings from September through May.

Sacrament schedule:

• The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation will be received in 2nd grade..
• The Sacrament of Confirmation will be received in 8th grade.

Baptized children who have not received Holy Eucharist and/or Reconciliation may attend special sacrament classes at their grade level. Details on these sacrament classes will be available later in the year.

Pre catechumenate/Inquiry classes are provided for children ages eight through fourteen years. After a few months of study these children are accepted into the Catechumenate with the adults in the Rite of Christian Initiation for adults (R.C.I.A.). During Lent the children, with the adults go through the “Rites of Sending/Election”. Both groups meet for a special ceremony in the presence of the Bishop. These children and adults are Baptized in the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil, and received into the Church.

Kindergarten and first grade classes begin the remote preparation for the reception of the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation in 2nd grade. Beginning in 4th and continuing through 8th grade, the children study the Catholic faith, learning more about the sacraments already received, and preparing to be confirmed in the Holy Spirit at Confirmation.

Through out the Religious Education school year there are many opportunities for families to grow in their Catholic faith: Rites of Enrollment for the sacraments, Sunday Masses, holy days of obligation, parent meetings, Advent and Lent activities, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning of Our Blessed Mother, and many more.