St. Adalbert Parish provides religious instruction to its day school students (preschool - 8th grade) at the Academy of St. Adalbert and to its public school students (1st - 8th

grade) through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) on Monday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM.  The Religious Education Program at St. Adalbert Parish has as its primary goal the formation of students as people of faith.

The program disseminates religious doctrine in a progressive succession using a variety of methods.  Students use the Faith First Legacy Edition series published by Resources for Christian Living^®.  This religious education program helps students understand both what Catholics believe and how to live out those beliefs.  Faith First has a wonderful website with resources for parents and students.  The web address is http://faithfirst.com/ or click here.  Students also attend and participate in liturgical and paraliturgical worship services, and partake in a variety of service activities.

The Pastor of the parish takes an active role in the religious education of the students.  Students attend and participate in regular weekly liturgies in church, usually on Friday mornings.  The Pastor also provides opportunities for students to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation in September and during Advent and Lent.

The program seeks to reach the student as an individual person and attempts to provide a unique experience of faith community.  In so doing, it seeks to involve the parents as partners in the child's religious education.  Parent programs are organized prior to the children's reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation.  It is important for parents, as the primary educators of their children, to affirm and to practice the teachings of the Catholic faith, thereby modeling Christian living for their children.

Eucharistic Devotions

The entire student body of the Academy of St. Adalbert participates in the Procession and Mass at the opening of the annual Eucharistic Devotions or "Forty Hours" on Friday morning of the week before Thanksgiving.  Academy students and PSR students are expected to participate in the Procession and Mass for the closing of Eucharistic Devotions on Saturday afternoon.

Marian Devotions

Special honor is given to Our Lady through the Crowning of Mary in an evening in May during an all-school May Procession followed by recitation of the rosary.  All students are expected to participate in this traditional and beloved devotion.  All family members are invited and encouraged to attend.

Lenten Devotions

Children should attend the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday.  All students in grades three (3) and four (4) participate in the evening procession and Mass of the Last Supper at St. Adalbert Church.

 

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Christian initiation is celebrated in Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  Through these visible actions, a young person is incorporated into the Church and shares its mission in the world: full initiation into the Church occurs by stages.

Sacramental Catechesis has traditionally been of two kinds: preparation for the initial celebration of the sacraments and continued enrichment by their reception.

Requirements for the reception of First Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation are determined by Canon Law:

• Age of reason (to be able to distinguish right from wrong)
• Proper knowledge of sacraments
• Emotional and spiritual preparation
• Approval by parent, pastor, catechist, Director/Coordinator

The policy of St. Adalbert Parish is that a child who will prepare for the sacraments (First Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation) must have had a minimum of one year of religious education immediately before entering the Sacramental Preparation Program.

FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST EUCHARIST

Preparation

Preparation for these sacraments starts in second grade and begins with the Rite of Enrollment in February.  First Reconciliation is celebrated in March.  First Eucharist is celebrated in early May.  The program consists of classes during the school day in the Academy of St. Adalbert or on Monday evenings in the PSR program.  In addition, there are parent sessions which are designed to provide background and information on both the sacraments and the textbook material.  This will enable parents to help prepare their children at home.  Parents are required to attend these sessions.  All children preparing to celebrate their First Eucharist must first be prepared to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1457).  In January, a letter is mailed to each family announcing the dates of all classes and parent sessions.

Registration

Registration for the Reconciliation and Eucharist programs takes place in the fall.  A separate letter is mailed in January indicating the date and time of the first Parent Session for the Sacramental Program.  Please call the office the last week in January if you do not receive this information.  A separate fee is charged for the Reconciliation/Eucharist Program, which is collected in the spring.

 

CONFIRMATION

Overview

As a Sacrament of Initiation, Confirmation is intimately related to Baptism and the Eucharist.  Christians are reborn in Baptism, strengthened by Confirmation, and sustained by the food of the Eucharist.  In Confirmation, young people are signed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and become more perfect images of their Lord.  This sacrament renews and strengthens their baptismal call to bear witness to Christ before the world and work eagerly for the building up of his body.  The candidate must be baptized.

As the primary educators of their children, parents are to be intimately involved in catechesis for Confirmation.  This will help them renew and strengthen their own faith, besides enabling them to set a better example for their children.

The policy of St. Adalbert Parish is that any student who seeks entrance into the Confirmation Program must:

• be in at least the eighth grade
• have had a minimum of one year of religious education immediately before entering the Sacramental Preparation Program
• have completed all essential religious education curriculum
• be currently enrolled in a Religious Education Program covering elementary or junior high curriculum

Any student in eighth grade or above who did not attend religious education classes before the last year will be required to take make-up classes.

It is our hope that the Confirmation Program will provide the following opportunities for each student:

• to examine his/her own personality
• to develop a spiritual relationship with Christ
• to understand the meaning of commitment and discipleship
• to become an active member of the Christian community
• to develop a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Confirmation
• to participation in Apostolic Work which is encouraged as an integral part of the preparation

Letters are mailed to all eligible students and their parents/guardians giving the dates and times of the first parent meeting and the Rite of Enrollment Mass.  Students who wish to be considered as a candidate for the Sacrament of Confirmation must attend this Mass.  After the Mass, parents need to register for one of several meetings scheduled for the following week.  A separate fee is charged for the Confirmation Preparation Program which is discussed at the first meeting.