Religious Education

Nicole Walsh. Director of Religious Education(DRE)
Barbara Bond Assistant to the DRE

543 Bridge St., Lowell, MA 01850
978-458-1617

Click here to open a copy of the 2011-2012 Religious Education registration form.

Classes for Grades Pre-K through 8 are held in St. Michael School, beginning at the end of September and concluding each year, usually, by the end of April. Pre-K through 6 meet every Saturday morning from 9:00 to 10:30. Grades 7 & 8 meet every other Saturday from 9:00 to 10:30.

Weekly classes for Grades 9 and 10 (Confirmation Preparation Program) begin Sunday, January 23rd, from 6-8pm in the school. Public and Catholic high school students should register NOW. Fee is $70.

Registration is held in June and is announced via mailings to families already enrolled in the program and through bulletin and web site notices. Parents of students enrolling in the program for the first time should contact the Religious Ed Office at 978-458-1617.

Curriculum The Religious Education Office of St. Michael Parish offers a comprehensive religious education for students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade10 who attend public school as well as a Sacramental Program for students attending private Catholic schools. Through the study of the Old and New Testaments and Church History, children are taught to live the message of Jesus through lives of prayer, worship and service.

Grades Pre-K ? 5 - Teaches youngsters about God and the Catholic Faith in a progression of lessons and classes. The Sacraments of First Penance and First Communion are received in Grade 2 and a Family Program is available for students attending private Catholic schools.

Grade 6 - Study of the Old Testament. It is fascinating to follow our faith history back through time from the story of Creation, the Patriarchs, Moses, Exodus, King David and the Prophets up to the time of Jesus? birth.

Grades 7 & 8 - A two-year program for all students in both grades. One year focuses on Church History and the other year studies Jesus ? his teachings, miracles and the times in which He lived.

RCIA Adapted for Children - Children entering the Religious Education Program after Grade 2 who have not yet received the Sacraments of Baptism, Penance and/or First Communion will be evaluated for an accelerated program to prepare them for these Sacraments. RCIA Adapted for Children is available upon request.  Please e-mail religioused@comcast.net with any inquires or call the Religious Education office.

Confirmation Preparation - Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Michael Parish is a two-year program for students, usually in Grades 9 and 10, attending both public and Catholic high schools. We assist the candidates with opportunities of Prayer, Study and Action to make good Christian choices during this critical time in their lives. Classes for both the first and second year of the Confirmation Program are held weekly on Sunday evenings from January through April. The Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred in the Fall of Grade 11. Involvement in Christian Service is encouraged of all candidates. A short interview with the Director at the end of each year assures the candidate her or she is doing what needs to be done for reception of the Sacrament. A Day of Reflection is held focusing on the Sacrament, what it means to them and to the Church.

Special Needs Students - We strive to meet the needs of all children in our parish. If a child has special needs we will meet with the parents/guardians for an individual plan to best accommodate the child.

Registration Fees - The Registration Fee for Grades Pre-K through 10 is $60 per student with a family maximum of $120. There is a $30 fee for Grade 11 Confirmation students. Our fees cover part of the cost of books, mailings, class supplies and expenses for activities. Fees are payable at registration. In certain circumstances scholarships are available. Please contact the Director to make arrangements. The cost to replace a lost book is $10.

Class Schedules ? Calendars are distributed the first week of class for each grade and should be attached to the student?s book. They include a syllabus so that if your child is absent you can work on the missed class at home during the week. Please be attentive to arriving on time. If your child is late, please use the front door as the side door is locked at 9:30 for security reasons.

Attendance - In order to achieve the maximum benefit from Religious Education, it is essential that attending classes is a priority. If you child is absent, please call the office at 978-458-1617 or email religioused@comcast.net to let us know; the answering machine is always on. If you child has a valid reason to leave early, please send a note with our child and come into the building to pick them up at the appropriate time.

We try to plan our calendar and get information to you in a timely enough manner so that you can plan your child?s activities, outings, etc giving priority to Religious Education. It is good that our children are involved in many things and a variety of activities, but we know, as parents, if we include Religious Education as an ongoing, important part of our lives, we will help our children find time for it in theirs.

Bad Weather ? Cancellation of Classes ? In case of inclement weather please call 978-869-9283 to hear if Religious Education classes are cancelled. Please do not call the Rectory. Use your discretion; if you feel the roads are too bad please stay home. The safety of your family always comes first. Work can always be made up at home or made up later.

Opportunities for becoming involved in this Ministry - We welcome those who have been Confirmed and are committed to living their Catholic Faith to share their gifts and talents with our young people. A Catechist is a role model for our youth, aware of the challenges our youth face in living their faith and ready to do their best in guiding them. There are many opportunities to assist from teaching, to clerical assistance, to helping with special programs (like the Christmas Pageant), to joining one of the retreat teams, to assisting a Catechist in the classroom.