Parents of High School students: Please take the time to review the changes to the High School Religious Education Program listed below.

(Please note September 12th 6:00pm Mandatory meeting in the SJA School Cafeteria for parents and confirmation candidates)


Religious Education Program

The goal of the Religious Education Program at Saint John the Apostle is to minister to all parishioners the love of Jesus Christ through instruction on the teachings of the Catholic Church. Through our program, we invite all parishioners to lifelong spiritual, moral and intellectual conversion to Jesus Christ that is lived out in the Catholic Faith.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS:
For those adults who have a desire to become Catholic or baptized adult Catholics who have not celebrated Eucharist and Confirmation, we invite you to join us for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Please contact John in the Parish Office for more information. (Classes will begin on Wednesday, September 22nd)

Adult Confirmation:
Baptized adult Catholics who have already celebrated their first Eucharist but who have not been confirmed, are invited to contact John in the Parish Office for a special class separate from RCIA to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Classes which will most likely be six weeks in length, will be determined based on need and number.

KINDERGARTEN - EIGHTH GRADE
All Sessions take place in Saint John the Apostle School
Religious Education for Kindergarten through Eigth Grade will start on Sunday, September 19, and Monday, September 20.

High School Youth Formation (9th-12th grade):
All high school students (including seniors) are invited to participate in weekly High School Youth Formation on Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in the School Cafeteria, excluding the monthly Confirmation class (see below for details). High School Formation encompasses Youth Ministry and formal Religious Education.

SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS:
Children of Light Ministry is a ministry to students with special needs (physical, emotional, intellectual) and their famililes. We provide guidance to catechists to best instruct children with special needs, as well as provide support for families who choose to homeschool their children based on these situations. We meet with parents and students to come up with the best preparation for their religious instruction. For more information, please contact Margo Perry at msfixal@cox.net or 468-5234 or John Domingo in the Parish Office.

Youth Sacramental Information:
CHILDREN'S CATECHUMENATE: For those children aged 7 through high school who have not been baptized, there is a special process where, after a two year instruction, they celebrate the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, & Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. Please contact John in the Parish Office for more details.

FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST EUCHARIST
Students who were in formal Religious Education classes last year (2009-2010) can start preparation for First Reconciliation in anticipation of the First Eucharist. Students fourth grade or older are put in a special sacramental class, while students in second or third grade are put in a regular First Eucharist Year 2/Second Grade Class during regular Sunday or Monday sessions.

In addition to regular classes in School and religious education, there are separate parent and student sessions. Parents gather for instruction on preparing their children at home as well as improving their understanding of the Sacrament. These meetings are mandatory, except for those who have participated in our parent preparation program recently. Unlike previous years, students will not be gathering at the same time as the parents. There will be, however, a mandatory day retreat for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist respectively.


HIGH SCHOOL CONFIRMATION
The Diocese of Richmond has changed Confirmation preparation for all parishes inclusive as of the 2010-2011 school year. Instead of a two year program, there will now be an intensive one year program in the tenth grade. All those who were in the Confirmation Year 1 program last school year (2009-2010) will be confirmed this year.
Bishop Sullivan Catholic High 10th and 11th grade students are expected to attend the Confirmation program this year. In order to explain changes instituted by the Diocese and how this impacts our parish program, we will have a mandatory Parent and Confirmation Candidate meeting on Sunday, September 12th, at 6:00 p.m. in the School Cafeteria.