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It is the mission of the St. Mark Religious Education program to strive for conversion of heart and head towards Jesus Christ through innovative programming that provides each child a fuller understanding and appreciation of our Catholic Faith. Through prayer, weekly lessons, discussions, music, crafts, service projects and special presentations, each child will gain insight into what it means to be a Catholic Christian in today’s world. Our program provides religious experiences that bind the young to our faith community and feed each child’s curiosity and wonder.
Registration Information 2010 – 2011 Religious Education School Year
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Fall 2009
Elementary Grades (Kindergarten — 5th Grade)
Incorporating the themes of Learn, Love and Live into our weekly classes our elementary religious education program provides our students an age appropriate understanding of our Catholic teachings based on the four pillars of our faith: Profession of Faith, Liturgy and Sacraments, Christian Living and Prayer. During the weekly classes the students will have opportunities to incorporate their learning and understanding through hands-on activities, games, skits and discussions. There is at times homework and testing (3-5th grade). In addition to learning, our program incorporates service both within the classroom and grades throughout the year.
Monday 4:15—5:30 pm (grades 1st thru 5th)
Monday 6:00—7:15 pm (grades 1st thru 5th)
Tuesday 3:15—4:30 pm (grades K thru 5th) **(time changed from previous year)
Tuesday 4:15—5:30 pm (grades K thru 5th)
Tuesday 6:00—7:15 pm (grades 1st thru 5th)
Note: All Monday sessions and Tuesday 3:15 pm sessions are held at St. Mark Family Center, Tuesday 4:15 pm and 6 pm sessions are held at St. Mark School.
First Reconciliation and First Communion
Sacramental Preparation
Parents with children who are preparing for the celebration of a Sacrament are entering a special time in the life of your family. It is a time to reflect on the meaning of the Sacrament in your life and the ways in which your family life reflects it’s importance.
Children in the Diocese of Charlotte are able to celebrate their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion during second grade, provided that it is also their second consecutive year of religious education. Celebration of Reconciliation preceeds the reception of First Communion and preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation shall be distinct from preparation for First Communion.
There is an additional fee of $30.00 per child for children making their Sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion to cover expenses of the additional material. This is payable with class tuition and is due with registration.
All registration forms for First Communion students must have a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate regardless if it was previously provided.
Questions regarding Sacrament Preparation for First Reconciliation and Communion should be directed to Faye Nye faye.nye@stmarknc.org.
Our Parent/Child RCIA class for Children (3rd—7th grade) is for children who have not been enrolled in religious education previously and are either not baptized or have not received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. This is a parent/child interactive class that includes weekly classes and experiences that both educate and inspire the family in their Catholic Faith.
Fall 2009, St. Mark is offering Special Religious Education development for developmentally disabled children (ages 6-10). The SPRED program is an international program started in the Diocese of Chicago over 30 years ago. Through specially developed techniques, SPRED participants develop a sense of the Sacred and a sense of community, which helps them realize they are important members of the Body of Christ.
Participants in SPRED are referred to as Special Friends. Our Special Friends meet as a group twice a month with an adult Catechist Helper, who provides guidance and friendship. There is training for all Catechist Helpers and aids for this program.
We offer parents an opportunity to formally catechize their children through our home-school program. This opportunity requires a unique level of commitment from parents and children, with us providing parents and students interactive and informative home-school material. There is testing within the home-school program, and students will be asked to complete a competency test at the end of the year to assure their understanding of the material. Attending the parent orientation meeting in the fall is vital to parents home-schooling. Children will not be able to register for this program if they have not successfully completed the previous year of religious instruction.
Confirmation preparation at St. Mark consists of both remote preparation (successful completion of 6-8th grade religious education) and immediate preparation in 9th grade. The immediate preparation is offered the fall of 2009 and consists of the 9th grade Confirmandee attending 4 parent/student classes and 4 High School Youth Ministry Life Nights. Through the attendance of both the parent/student classes and Life Nights, the student will gain a fuller understanding of the elements of the Sacrament of Confirmation and just as important, the responsibilities for them as a Confirmed Catholic in today’s world.
A Time to Learn, Celebrate and Serve
The St. Mark Faith Rocks program interweaves three important aspects of spiritual development for our youth: catechetical instruction, service and fellowship. Catechetical instruction is focused on the four pillars of our Catholic Faith: Profession of Faith (Creed), Liturgy and Sacraments, Morality and Prayer. In addition to the weekly classes, students have monthly opportunities for service and fellowship throughout the program year. Classes are offered:
Tuesday 6 - 7:15 pm
Questions regarding Faith Rocks are welcome and should be directed to Katie Herzing katie.herzing@gmail.com.
Faith in Action (Discipleship and Morality)
An integral part of our preparation experience for our students is our 8th grade Life Teen EDGE program. The theme of this year-long program is Faith in Action (Discipleship and Morality). Using the successful Life Teen model, students are removed from behind the desk and brought into a large-group environment for gathering activities, teachings and prayer. In small groups, they break open the teachings and build solid, Christ-centered relationships that allow them to comfortably explore their Catholic Faith and make it relevant to their everyday lives. Social activities, service opportunities, teaching and issue nights are integrated throughout the curriculum calendar. EDGE is offered:
Class Tuition Fee (K-8th grade) — $45.00 per child
Home-School Tuition Fee (3rd—7th grade only) — $45.00 per child
Sacrament Fee (additional fee to class tuition fee)
Reconciliation and Communion — $30.00 per child
(Applicable to all students who are preparing for these Sacraments)
Faith Rocks 6th & 7th Grade Tuition Fee — $45.00 per child
(plus $35.00 meal fee for Sunday pm classes only)
EDGE 8th Grade Program — $80.00 (includes $45.00 program fee and $35.00 meal fee)
It is the mission of the St. Mark Religious Education program to provide each child a better understanding and appreciation of their Faith. It is important that all children attend religious education classes weekly. Each child is allowed up to three excused absences during the school year. Absences exceeding this bench mark will be reviewed accordingly by the director of the program, especially for Sacramental years. Regardless of the type of absence, all missed classwork 1st thru 8th grade must be completed.
| Week of Sept 13th | First Week of Classes (K-8th grade) |
| Week of Nov 1st | Classes Cancelled — CMS TWD |
| Nov 24-29 | No Classes—Thanksgiving (classes resume Monday, Nov 30th) |
| Week of Dec 20th | Classes Cancelled — Christmas |
| Week of Dec 27th | Classes Cancelled — Christmas (classes resume Sunday, Jan 3rd) |
| Week of Jan 17th | Classes Cancelled — CMS TWD |
| Sunday, Feb 7 | No Sunday Class — Superbowl |
| Week of Apr 4th | Classes Cancelled — Easter/CMS Spring Break |
| Week of May 2nd | Last Week of Classes (K-7th grade) |
