August 15, 2019
 
Dear Religious Ed Parents of children in grades K-6,
 
I hope everyone had a peaceful and restful summer and is ready to begin a new year of growing and learning. We have been preparing and praying for our wonderful children and their families all summer and eagerly await their return.
 
At your child’s baptism the priest offered this prayer for you as fathers and mothers: “God is the giver of all life, human and divine.  May He bless the parents and guardians of these children.  They will be the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith.  May they also be the best teachers bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Thank you parents for doing your part, we are happy to be here to help you in this awesome responsibility.
 
Our program this year will begin on September 8, 2019. Parents and children will meet in the school hall by 9 AM.  We will Pray together as a Religious Ed Family and have the presentation of our Catechists after which children will go with their catechists to get to know them and receive their bags and their books. Parents will remain in the school hall for a brief introductory meeting with me to review the goals for this year and share any concerns or suggestions that will foster the religious growth of our children and families and how parents can take a more active part in their child’s formation. After this parents will go to the classrooms to get their children and meet the catechists.   By 10:05am we will all move to the Church to celebrate and participate in holy Mass followed by a Continental breakfast.
The following Sunday, September 15^th is Catechetical Sunday when our catechists will be commissioned at the 10:15 Mass. We do hope you will join us and support their great efforts and dedication to your children. (If you or anyone you know may feel called to help in this important mission to spread the faith, please give me a call.)
                                                                                                                                         
We strongly encourage you to accompany your child in celebrating the Eucharist as a family every Sunday, thanking God for all the blessings He gives us daily, and asking Him to continue to bless us and those we love.
 
Enclosed you will find the yearly calendar. It should be kept readily available so you can check for classes and other special events. Please, make sure that your child is present on all the Sundays they have class. ALL children will attend every class highlighted on your calendar or arrange to pick up leaflet to do at home (Homeschooling opportunity). It is also important that the child be on time. The drop off will be off the parking lot between the school and church building at 8:45am so classes can begin punctually at 9am. Please see that your child/ren are on time.
 Check the Sunday bulletin each week for any updates. Feel free to contact either us at stjamesreled@optonline.net or by phone at the office at (973)-790-4860 about any concerns or questions. Feel free to leave a message. We are happy to assist you.
 
We look forward to your genuine cooperation in communicating Catholic Christian values to your children.  We need to pray, share and plan together.  In this  way, we can draw fully from Sacred Scripture and Church teachings, and work to support each other to instill them  in our children, who need these values so much in today’s world and in order to find true peace & happiness.
May God bless us in this work of Catholic Christian Formation which we carry on in His name.
 
Sincerely with prayer,
Sr. Margaret-Rose, fma
Director of Religious Education
cc: Fr. Marc Mancini, Pastor
 

• If you know any of your friends who have not yet registered for religious instruction, please encourage them to do so as soon as possible. Parents who have not yet scheduled a meeting with Sr. Margaret Rose will please do so as soon as possible. Please call the office for an appointment.

St. James of the Marches Parish

 

 
 








1.  Mission Statement
The Religious Education Program of St. James Parish exists to assist parents in fulfilling the vital ministry of catechesis, TEACHING THE TRUTHS OF THE FAITH AND FAITH FORMATION OF THE CHILD/CHILDREN. 
The catechists of our program share their faith with their students.  They pray with them and for them.  They strive to present carefully planned lessons in order to enable the students to grow in their relationship with God and in their knowledge of the Catholic faith.
Our efforts are a means of assisting parents, the first catechists of their children.  We promise our best efforts and our fervent prayers for those entrusted to our care.
 
2.  Religious Ed Staff
Fr. Marc Mancini, Pastor
Parish House Phone #:  (973)790-0288
Sr. Margaret Rose Buonaiuto, FMA, Director of Religious Ed.
Gail Monochello, Administrative Asst.
R. E. Office Phone #: (973)790-4860
Email:  stjamesreled@optonline.net

3.  Catechists
We are grateful to those who serve as catechists in our program.  They vary widely in age and experience.  They receive training from the Diocese to help assure the safety of our children.  We are also grateful to those who serve as substitutes and as classroom aides.  We thank all of our volunteers who share their faith, their time and their talent. We welcome your participation and helping out in a variety of ways.
(Please let us know if you would like to help)
 
4. Schedule
Classes are held every Sunday (from September to May, unless specified on the calendar, in compliance with the Diocese of Paterson, which requires at least 25 sessions), promptly beginning at 9am.  Children should be dropped off at the school between 8:45am and 8:55am.  (the doors will be closed by 9:15am).  At 10:05am, children will be led to church, where they will sit with their parents for the 10:15am Mass as a family.
 
5.  Attendance
Regular and consistent attendance at class is very important.  We are concerned about your child's safety and welfare:  if your son or daughter is absent, please call the Religious Education Office the day he or she is scheduled to attend class and leave a message.  If a child is absent, Parents will be responsible to pick up their leaflet and teach the lesson to their child. If the lesson is picked up & taught it will be considered a Home/School lesson & Not an absence. Lesson Plans may be found at pflaumweeklies.com/catechists-teachers/ as well as many other resources for parents. Family Gatherings are scheduled twice a year & count for attendance.
 
6.  Emergency Closing
If Religious Education classes are cancelled for any reason, like bad weather, an emergency alert will be sent to you via phone and/or text message.
 
7.  Mass Attendance
It is an obligation to attend Mass every Saturday evening or Sunday.  The catechists in our program present the teachings of the Catholic Church.  This includes the belief that it is a serious sin to deliberately omit Mass on Sunday.  It is important for the children to see their family putting into practice what they are learning in class.  Further, Mass is the greatest prayer we can pray, for it is Christ's own prayer and the offering of Himself to the Father as He did on the Cross for us.
 
8.  Prayer
Prayer is an essential part of all of our classes. Catechists teach
traditional prayers as well as special prayer celebrations and spontaneous prayers.  We encourage, at each grade level, that certain prayers be learned by heart.  Praying the words of the traditional prayers daily is a good way to achieve this goal and builds up a basic habit of prayer in our lives.
 
9.  Preparation
Students are expected to come to class prepared.  Each child needs their own Religion book and any homework assignments.
 
10.  Student Evaluation
Progress Reports will be sent home 2x a year to make the parents aware of the child's progress along with any needed suggestions for improvement.  Should it become necessary, the needed adjustments can be discussed with the director.  For the child's benefit, we will do our best to meet any child's special needs once we are made aware of them.
 
11.  Communication and Parental Involvement
Good communication between parents and our office is a valuable tool.  We encourage genuine communication that facilitates understanding and patience and results in growth.  We ask that parents check the child's bag each class to review leaflet and see if a memo was sent home.
We feel that parents should show an interest in the religious education of their children.  Encourage them to review the material presented the previous week.  Check to see if homework was assigned and assignments are complete.  We also ask that the children keep their Religion Book in their ReligiousEd bag.  Keeping all materials together avoids classroom disruption.
Please visit pflaumweeklies.com for lesson plans and much more Parent information and resources to assist in guiding your child.
 
12.  Behavior in Class
One important aspect of Religious Education is to encourage students to act more like Jesus.  We hope that simple behavior reminders are sufficient.  If a student is disruptive, measures will be discussed with parents and implemented so other students will not be prevented from learning.  We ask your cooperation.
 
13.  Procedures for Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival:  Children may be dropped off in the parking lot and enter by the side door from 8:45 to 9am.  Classes begin punctually at 9am.  Please be on time so class time is not disrupted.
Dismissal:  All Children will be led to Church at 10:05am to meet and sit with their parents for Mass.
If, on a rare occasion, a child is not picked up by 10:15 in Church, he or she will sit with the catechists or director during Mass and brought to the Religious Education Office after Mass to wait for parents.  If it is necessary for a parent to pick up a child early, a written note must be provided to the teacher.  For obvious safety reasons, no child will be allowed to leave the building early unless a parent comes to request that the child be excused.
 
14.  Safety
Please be extra careful and courteous dropping off your child/children or leaving your parking spaces, for the safety of all, especially our precious children.