Philosophy
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish believes that the Religious Education Ministry is sharing in Jesus’ own mission of evangelization; a mission of proclaiming the Reign of God. It is an activity which enables faith to become alive, conscious and active through the light of instruction – especially sharing God’s Word in Scripture and sharing the traditions of the Catholic Church. Faith formation is a life-long process for each individual, as well as, the work of the whole Catholic Christian community.
The Church teaches that the primary responsibility for the spiritual growth and development of the children rests first and foremost with the parents. Parents may share this responsibility with others, but they do not relinquish it.
The Church assists the parents in passing on their faith through the religious education ministry. Catechists echo the Catholic faith in a way that those being catechized (children, youth, and adults) can understand. They help children/youth build and strengthen their relationship with Jesus and the Church. Catechists do this by proclaiming the Word, building a sense of community, leading to prayer and worship, encouraging loving service to others, and through the example of their own lives.
Our catechists are volunteers. They are people who have answered the call to minister to our children/youth and who have prepared themselves in different ways to serve as catechists. Above all, they are people for whom faith is important enough to share.
In conclusion, the religious education seeks to open the children/youth to the discovery of the love, goodness and beauty of God as reflected in their world, and help them to experience this world within the Catholic Christian community. It seeks to help them grow further in their faith, their understanding of our Catholic tradition, our unity in Christ and the many gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The Church teaches that the primary responsibility for the spiritual growth and development of the children rests first and foremost with the parents. Parents may share this responsibility with others, but they do not relinquish it.
The Church assists the parents in passing on their faith through the religious education ministry. Catechists echo the Catholic faith in a way that those being catechized (children, youth, and adults) can understand. They help children/youth build and strengthen their relationship with Jesus and the Church. Catechists do this by proclaiming the Word, building a sense of community, leading to prayer and worship, encouraging loving service to others, and through the example of their own lives.
Our catechists are volunteers. They are people who have answered the call to minister to our children/youth and who have prepared themselves in different ways to serve as catechists. Above all, they are people for whom faith is important enough to share.
In conclusion, the religious education seeks to open the children/youth to the discovery of the love, goodness and beauty of God as reflected in their world, and help them to experience this world within the Catholic Christian community. It seeks to help them grow further in their faith, their understanding of our Catholic tradition, our unity in Christ and the many gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Goals
The goals of the Religious Education Ministry at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish are:
- Ongoing conversion to Jesus Christ and the Gospel
- To give basic catechetical instructions, Catholic teachings of the Church, forms of prayer and awareness to the devotion to the Blessed Mother such as prayer the rosary and others.
- Full participation in the life of the Catholic Church
- To foster community among the children, their families, and the parish community.
