Office for Religious Education

Summer Hours for
Office of Religious Education

Closed Monday and Friday

Open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

9:00 am -12:00 pm

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First Communion DVD's For Sale in the RE Office $10.00 each

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St. William of York Catholic Church

Catechist and Catechist Assistant

Vacation Bible School July 14th-18th

Volunteers Needed contact Gillian Ramsel at 720-8954 or email at

Vacation Bible School

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Director of Religious Education - Mr. James Benisek

Director of Religious Education

Confirmation Coordinator - Mrs. Monika Felock

Administration - Mrs. Eileen Williamson

reoffice@stwilliamofyork.org

(540) 659-5705

Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

St. William of York Religious Education Program

Office of Religious Education

3130 Jefferson Davis Highway

Stafford, Virginia 22554

540-659-5705

MEMO TO: Parents who are registering children for the Religious Education program of the Parish 2008-2009

FROM: Religious Education Office

DATE: May 7, 2008

Dear Parents,

May the Lord give you His peace!

Welcome to St. William of York Religious Education Program. We are glad to be of assistance to you as you share our Catholic faith with your child(ren).

Sacramental Preparation

Note: New Students of the Religious Education Program must send in copies of all sacramental certificates and state the last completed grade attended in the former religious education program or parochial school.

Included also is the Family Form for 2008-2009. We ask that each family fill out both sides of this form each year so that the information is current. We do consult these files very often. Be assured that this information is kept confidential and locked in the files.

All Religious Education classes will be held on Sundays.

Classes will be held Sunday morning for grades K-6 th, and on Sunday evenings for all Confirmation Preparation classes and Special Sacrament classes for high school students who need to receive First Penance and/or First Communion (7 th-12 th grades). Special Sacraments classes for students grades 3 rd-6 th who need to be prepared for First Penance and/or First Eucharist will be offered Sunday morning in the second session.

The schedule will be as follows:

Reminders:

The classes Sunday morning have been scheduled in such a way as to allow the children to attend Mass with their families. The children’s participation in Religious Education classes does not fulfill their Sunday Mass obligation. It is suggested that those in the first session could attend Mass at 10:30, while the second session could attend the 12:15 Mass.

• Please do not equate Mass attendance with class attendance. Learning about Jesus and being with Jesus in the Eucharistic Celebration is NOT the same. The Church reminds us that the Mass is “the source and summit” of all the Catholic Christian life. Let us communicate this to our children by our actions.

• Please be prompt in dropping off before classes and picking up children at the end of the session. Keep us informed each time you are going to be late or if someone else is picking up your child(ren).

• Parents must come into the building to pick up their children. This is important for the safety and security of all the children and it enables the parents and catechists to know one another.

All school age children should be registered in the Religious Education program and attend classes as scheduled unless other arrangements have been made with the parents and DRE for their instruction and faith formation.

The students’ regular attendance is indispensable. Please do not take your child out for sports or other things that are not emergencies. When you do, it teaches that these things are more important than their religious formation. Try to schedule events around Religious Education classes and Mass on Sundays and holy days. Going to Confession regularly is also crucial to their faith formation.

When picking up your child(ren) early for emergencies, please stop in the R.E. Office to sign out.

If a student has missed one or more grades of Religious Education she/he will be placed in a class that will help them acquire the knowledge of their faith that they have missed. This may mean that they will be placed a grade behind their public school grade. The curriculum in each grade is important to create a foundation upon which to build their faith. Also, if they do not attend all grades, the reception of Confirmation may be delayed.

Kindergarten attendance is not mandatory. Students must be five years of age. Parents have the option to have them attend classes regularly or home study their kindergarten child. Either way the child should be registered so that books and folders may be obtained with a calendar and curriculum guide. Tuition for kindergarten is $60.00.

Home study is an option for other students for serious reasons such as health needs. If you believe your child has such needs please present them to the DRE and everything possible will be done to assist in each situation.

Students in grades 6 and 7 will be given a Basic Faith Test at the end of the year, which will help determine their readiness for Confirmation Preparation. The test consists of: the Apostles Creed, the seven sacraments, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, the theological and moral virtues, the seven capital sins, the Ten Commandments, the Two Great Commandments, the Mass and the liturgical year. They will also be tested for knowledge of basic catholic prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be, and Act of Contrition.

The tuition for all grades (except kindergarten) is $70.00 per child. This fee helps to defray the cost of the student-parent folders, textbooks, utilities, and other expenses incurred by the Religious Education program.

The sacramental fee is: First Penance $22.50

First Eucharist $22.50

(7th) Confirmation I $17.50

(8th) Confirmation II $17.50

If any family is experiencing financial difficulties and is unable to pay the tuition promptly or in full, please contact the DRE. Tuition may be paid in installments if necessary. No child will ever be refused faith formation because of financial problems. Any information will be kept strictly confidential.

Please obtain the following supplies for each of your children in the Religious Education program:

• A book bag in which R.E. books and supplies are regularly kept
• Grades K-4: several sharpened pencils, crayons and a glue stick
• Grades 5-6: several pens, colored pencils, crayons or markers
• Sunday evening classes (gr.7-11): notebook and several pens

The main textbooks presently used in our program are Sadlier We Believe, and Loyola Press Christ Our Life (gr.7-8). The We Believe text has many opportunities for parents to work with their child and suggestions for family involvement as well as a child-friendly website. Please take advantage of these, as you are able. Each child is given a Student-Parent folder in which can befound a calendar and curriculum guide in case the child misses class. Please refer to this calendar throughout the year.

A note about emergency closings: We follow the Stafford County Public Schools calendar. Please listen to the local radio stations WBQB 101.5 or WFLS 93.3 for closings due to inclement weather.

Please remember that our catechists are giving of their time and talent to help strengthen the faith of your child(ren). Not all of them are professional teachers but they strive to give of themselves to carry on the mission of Christ in our parish.

If you have a concern or question regarding R.E. class you may speak with the catechist or call the Religious Education Office.

We are always looking for help in our Religious Education program. If you would like to share in Christ’s mission to preach the Gospel to our young people as a catechist, classroom assistant, hall monitor or the like, contact the Religious Education Office.

Thank you for your attention and support in these matters. Please feel free to stop in the Office or call with any questions or concerns.

God bless you,

The Religious Education Staff