How do I enroll my child in Religious Education?
Complete and submit the registration form for Religious Ed; you can obtain a form by contacting us by phone at 603 889 0012, or visiting the office at 449 Broad Street in Nashua, NH, or by email at:
rezreligioused@comcast.net.
What is the format?
Our format will look different to returning families. Our Catholic faith tradition has always acknowledged the central role of parents in the formation of their children’s faith. In support of our parish mission, our program will help families to: come to know and love Jesus; celebrate and worship Jesus; live out our discipleship in Jesus; serve and love one another as Jesus has loved us.
To accommodate the changes to sacrament preparation being implemented this year throughout the Diocese of Manchester, we’ve made some adjustments. Our religious education program will simultaneously encompass both formation and sacrament preparation in the following manner:
- FAMILY PROGRAM for Grades K – 5: Families will work together at home, using a grade level text and a Family Guide, completing lessons throughout the year. Families will also attend a gathering once per month, after the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, for about an hour.
- JUNIOR HIGH PROGRAM for Grades 6, 7, 8: Students meet once per month, after the 4:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, until 7:00 p.m. It consists of large group activities and projects, and small group teacher-led discussions, using the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church.
- SACRAMENTAL PREP: Preparation will be on a rotating basis by grade.
First Reconciliation: In addition to the Family Program, 2
nd Grade students will attend a 4-week teacher-led course on Sunday mornings or Monday afternoons to prepare for the sacrament.
First Communion: In accordance with diocesan restructuring, there will be no direct preparation for First Communion this year. Next year, students in the 3
rd Grade who are attending the Family Program will be prepared for both Eucharist and Confirmation.
Confirmation:
In addition to the Family Program, students in 3
rd/4
th/5
th Grade will also attend a separate 4-week teacher-led course. (
anticipated Confirmation in Spring 2019)
In addition to the Junior High Program, 6
th/7
th/8
th graders will also attend a week-long, teacher led summer course.
(anticipated Confirmation in Fall 2019)
We heard that the age for Confirmation is being changed… what is that all about?
The technical term for this is ‘Restored Order’; it refers to the sequence in which the Sacraments of Initiation- Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist- are received.
The following comes from our Diocesan website
www. Catholicnh.org
Why is the Diocese of Manchester changing the age of Confirmation?
By placing Confirmation at this age, the Diocese of Manchester will be following the natural sequence of the sacraments of Christian initiation. In addition, by placing Confirmation prior to the reception of First Eucharist it makes it easier to view the Eucharist as the summit of Christian initiation.
How is the celebration of Confirmation going to change in the Diocese of Manchester?
The standard age of Confirmation is going to be third grade, and Confirmation will be celebrated at the same liturgy as First Communion. As a result, the preparation and reception of the sacraments of initiation throughout the Diocese of Manchester will be Baptism in infancy, Confirmation and Eucharist in third grade. Although not a sacrament of initiation, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation will be received in the second grade.
How will children be able to make an adult commitment to the Church if they are confirmed prior to First Eucharist?
This question reflects a common misconception that the Sacrament of Confirmation signifies maturity and adult commitment to the Church. The maturity that is required for receiving any of the sacraments of Christian initiation is only what is age-appropriate. The Church looks for interior dispositions of readiness, such as understanding and freedom, that are realistic at any given age, nothing more.
To received that gift that is the Sacrament of Confirmation, nothing more is required by way of age-appropriate maturity, than as with the Eucharist. An authentic, mature commitment to Christ and the Church is expressed in lifelong participation in the Eucharist and apostolic life of the Church.
My child attends Catholic School… can they participate?
Please enroll your child by completing the registration form; we will contact you with dates and times for sacrament preparation. You are also welcome to attend the Family and Junior High programs at any time.
What happens after Confirmation?
Confirmation has been misunderstood and often viewed as graduation from faith formation. Growth in the understanding and living out of our faith is the result of a lifelong effort. Parents have the first responsibility of being an example of Jesus Christ to each other and living the Gospel each day. Children will stay in faith formation if they see their parents striving to grow in holiness through family prayer, scripture reading, Sunday Mass, regular Confession, and living a life of service and charity.
For us, this means we will continue to offer a Family Program, and Junior High Program to share a sense of experiencing how we live and grow in our faith. We’ll offer opportunities to continue to develop and strengthen our relationship with Jesus, opportunities to gather and worship Jesus in our midst, and opportunities to live our faith through service to God and neighbor.