Religious Education Program

Welcome to Sacred Heart’s Religious Education Program. We believe parents are the natural educators of their children. By their vocation, they are the first officially charged with the spiritual care of their child's formation. We therefore believe that our role is to assist parents in this obligation by providing formal religious education for themselves and their children.

All families should be registered parishioners of Sacred Heart, regularly attend Mass and participate in the life of this parish community.

Re-Registration

Every child presently enrolled in our program must be re-registered by a parent each year. Families with a new child entering Kindergarten or 1st grade should complete the “new child” portion of the Re-registration form, and include a copy of his/her Baptismal Certificate.

New Families

A "NEW" registration form must be completed for all children entering our program for the first time. The child's Baptismal Certificate must be submitted at the time of registration. All children in families new to our Program must be registered by a parent in person.

Schedule	Day	Time
Kindergarten	Sunday	10:15 - 11:30 AM
1^st Graders	Saturday	9:30 - 11:00 AM
2^ndGraders	Tuesday	4:30 - 6:00 PM
3^rdGraders	Monday	4:30 - 6:00 PM
4^th Graders	Thursday	4:30 - 6:00 PM
5^th Graders	Wednesday	4:30 - 6:00 PM
6^th Graders	Thursday	7:00 - 8:30 PM
7^th Graders	Wednesday	7:00 - 8:30 PM
8^th Graders	Tuesday	7:00 - 8:30 PM
Children’s Catechumenate	Sunday	10:00 - 11:30 AM
G.I.F.T. Program	Monday	7:00 - 8:30 PM
Church At Home Program	Monday (Bi-Monthly)	7:30 - 8:45 PM
Morning of Friendship & Prayer – Developmentally Disabled Adults	Saturday (Monthly)	10:00 - 11:30 AM

Tuition Fees

The tuition fee of $100, which includes a non-refundable book fee of $35 per child, covers the expenses of running the program. No refunds of the tuition portion of the fee will be made after October 31, 2008.

Grades K – 8 $100 Per Child $280/family (3 or more children) + $35 book fee for each additional child over 3 children before June 30, 2008 for re-registrants.

Re-Registrations received after July 1, 2008: Tuition is $120 for 1 child, $220 for 2 children and $300 per family of 3 or more students + $35 book fee for each additional child over 3 children.

Please make checks payable to: “Sacred Heart Religious Education.” Full payment should be made at the time of registration. Re-registration forms may be dropped off at the Religious Education Office, or returned by mail postmarked no later than June 30, 2008 to avoid the higher tuition fees. Registration forms should not be returned with the children.

Financial Policy

No child will be withheld from our Religious Education program due to the inability to meet the required tuition fee, but we must be notified in writing at the time of registration. Arrangements can then be made for a payment plan. All payments should be completed by December 31, 2008.

Parish Suppoert

As Parish family members, all have a responsibility to contribute to the support of the parish and use the weekly envelopes or the Parish Pay Program. This money is used for the upkeep of the parish and its charitable works. The annual fee for non-parishioners is $200 (in addition to the tuition fee).

Sacrament Programs

First Holy Communion requires 1 full year of previous instruction, a year of immediate preparation and ongoing education after receiving the Sacrament. Confirmation requires 2 full years of previous instruction and the Fall Program. Confirmation is normally received in the fall of the 9^th grade. Candidates in grades 10-12 must have completed the 7^th and 8^th grade curriculum. Children cannot be considered for the Sacraments unless they are attending Mass on a regular basis. All children in the program must attend Sunday Mass.

Children’s Catechumenate Program

The Children’s Catechumenate, generally a 2-year process of faith formation and apprenticeship based on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) as adapted for children of catechetical age, 2^nd Grade and above, who are: (a) not baptized; (b) baptized and catechized in another faith tradition, but who seek full communion in the Catholic Church. Following this process, they enter the regular Religious Education Program.

G.I.F.T. Program (Growing In Faith Together)

Those baptized Catholics entering the 2^nd grade and coming for the first time to formal religious education classes begin a 2-year preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Students who have been baptized, received First Eucharist and who later interrupted their religious education are given the opportunity to fill in the missing pieces in their faith formation so they can rejoin their peers on an equal footing. All students in the G.I.F.T. Program eventually enter/rejoin regular religious education classes.

"CHURCH" At Home Program

Limited to grades 3, 4, 5 & 6 as an alternative to the weekly program, this program meets twice a month. Parents first meet with the director, then in groups with an adult facilitator and children meet for a classroom session with a catechist. A second session is scheduled mid-month, usually including an activity connected to the lessons. During the month, the parents teach the assigned lessons to their own child at home. Parents participating are required to take Catechist Formation Sessions provided by the Archdiocese and submit a record of their attendance.

Mornings of Friendship & Prayer

This is a religion program for developmentally disabled adults. It meets once a month for prayer, Bible story, music and craft.

* Special one on one sessions are scheduled for developmentally disabled children who cannot be mainstreamed.

S.H.A.R.E.

Sacred Heart Association for Religious Education, S.H.A.R.E., is the organ of parental support and involvement in our Religious Education Program. It fosters cooperation between home and the Religious Education Program, and provides for the extra “enrichment” activities so necessary in a once a week program. S.H.A.R.E. sponsors activities such as the Advent celebration, the All Halos Eve party, the St. Nicholas party and Jingo. We encourage all parents to become involved. Membership in S.H.A.R.E. is open to all parents of children enrolled in our program and any other interested parishioner.

Religious Education Office Hours

The Religious Education Office located in the convent building is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to to 3:30 PM (closed Friday).

There is a telephone extension in the school if you need to call during religion class times. The answering machine is on at all other times; please leave a message and we will get back toyou as soon as possible.

Contact

Sr. Rose O’Rourke, O.P., Director:
845- 782-7420
FAX (845) 782-5192

Sacred Heart Religious Education Program
26 Still Road
Monroe NY 10950

Call or email if you have any questions.

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church
Church of the Sacred Heart
26 Still Road
Monroe, NY 10950