The high school PSR class is being revised to become a group for young adults in both high school and college. The group will have gatherings twice a month, and will meet in the library annex (the room west of the library). Each gathering will be a stand-alone event, with no home work and no need to have been at the previous meeting. We will start fresh each time! We would love to have any young people, in high school or college, to join us as often as they can - and bring a friend! Each gathering will include videos & discussion on a topic of faith as well as fun games and food. Stay tuned for our schedule of gatherings and see Paul Duquaine or Laura Whitehead with any questions.
St. Stephen's Parish School of Religion provides religious education for children from first grade through high school. All parishioners are encouraged to enroll their children in the PSR Program. Classes meet on Sunday mornings after Mass from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Registration for classes opens at the close of the previous school year. Registration forms are available at the back of the church.
Introductory Thoughts
"Effective catechesis involves a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ and a growing knowledge of His church's teachings. The goal is a vital relationship with Jesus Christ and His Mystical Body, the Church, so that the child in turn may bear effective witness to Christ in this life and share eternal happiness in heaven in the next. The achievement of this goal, which only occurs in cooperation with God's grace, may be furthered by sound catechisms, good priests and teachers, and dynamic parish programs. However, the most important component is the instruction and example given at home, the domestic Church, upon which everything else builds." (Effective Catechesis, CUF)
Man was created "to know, love, and serve God, to offer all of creation in this world in thanksgiving back to him and to be raised up to life with him in heaven…" (Compendium to Catechism of the Catholic Church, USCCB,67, p. 24).
Mission Statement
St. Stephen Parish School of Religion program, through a cooperative effort of pastor, parents, catechists, and students, with the support of the trustees, pastoral council, and all parishioners, undertakes the great privilege and serious responsibility to provide the children of the parish with the opportunity to grow in the knowledge of our most wonderful Holy Catholic Faith. Through many avenues, including study, discussion, prayer, and activities, both in class and at home, the PSR program, always faithful to the teaching authority of the Church (the Magisterium), strives to hand on the deposit of faith entrusted to the Church by our Lord Jesus Christ so that the students may more effectively know, love and serve God in this world and attain eternal happiness in heaven.
The deposit of faith is the combination of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as taught through the Magisterium (the teaching office of the Church).
For the elementary grade levels St. Stephen Parish School of Religion uses the We Believe series published by Sadlier Religion. This series spans grades 1 through 8. It is approved by Bishop Braxton. Also, approved is the Sadlier series for Confirmation, Inspired By the Spirit. Please refer to www.sadilerreligion.com for complete information on all texts.
The Didache Series published by the Midwest Theological Forum is used for the high school levels.
PSR class is approximately 1 hour per week. One hour a week is not enough time to learn about Jesus Christ and His Church. During class, material will be communicated to the students which should be reviewed and reinforced in the Christian home in an atmosphere of family love. The following items are essential in making the most out of the weekly hour of class time:
-attending class regularly
-behaving in class
-participating in class
-completing assigned work both in class and at home
-paying attention in class
-committing basic elements of faith and traditional prayers to memory (This practice is prescribed both in the documents of Vatican II and in the USCCB Catechetical Directory.)
Parents will be asked to help in the following ways:
-becoming involved in what your child is learning and reinforcing the material covered in class
-contacting your child's catechist when your child is absent, asking for the work in order to have your child caught up when he/she returns to class
-coming to class with your child if he/she becomes a disruptive force in the classroom or taking your child out of class if you are not willing to attend with your child
-communicating concerns and questions to your child's catechist
Catechists, in addition to preparing materials for class, will be responsible for the following:
-communicating with the parents twice a year on the dates indicated on the calendar through the use of a "Student Update" sheet
-notifying parents of any behavioral problems which arise in the classroom
-keeping a record of points for student work and attendance in order to determine awards which will be presented at the close of the school year (See Awards Program handout).