Religious Education for Children

Religious Education Facilitator: Brenda Anton

Brenda Anton
Facilitator, Children's Catechesis

(602) 867-9171 ext. 309

Catechesis for Children (Faith & Life)
Children from Pre-K through 8th grade attend weekly classes according to their grade level on Wednesdays or Thursdays at 4:30pm or 6:30pm. Classes are an hour and fifteen minutes in length. For more information about the process, please call the parish office during the week and ask for Michael or Brenda.

Reconciliation for Children
Children in 2nd grade or above who are baptized Catholic and have one year of prior religious instruction qualify to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Children being prepared for the Sacrament are also expected to be enrolled in a weekly religious education class unless currently attending a Catholic grade school.

Reconciliation Classes
Classes are held on select Mondays from 6:30pm to 7:45pm. Please see sacrament registration form for specific dates.

Family Component
The Church is very clear about the importance of family, particularly parents, in the religious formation of children. “Parents are the first and most important educators of their children, and they also possess a fundamental competency in this area: they are educators because they are parents.” From this, it is apparent the church recognizes the family to be a tremendous influence—perhaps the greatest influence—in the life of the child. Therefore, in a significant way, it is up to you as parents, with the assistance of the parish community, to introduce your children to the person of Jesus Christ and to help foster an intimacy with Him as they grow and mature in the Faith. St. Joan of Arc is dedicated to assisting you in fulfilling this most important task.

Therefore, parents of children enrolled in Religious Education are asked to attend a five September classes and then one class a month beyond that with the intention of providing them the tools necessary to fulfill their role as primary educators in the faith. The five initial classes will be held in Weidner Hall on each Wednesday evening in September from 6:00-7:15pm. The Monthly Family Night Classes are listed your registration materials.

Confirmation & First Eucharist for Children
Children in the third grade or above who have already made their First Reconciliation qualify to prepare for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist. Children being prepared for the Sacraments are also expected to be enrolled in a weekly religious education class unless currently attending a Catholic grade school.

Confirmation & First Eucharist Classes
Classes are held on select Mondays from 4:30pm to 5:45pm. Please see sacrament registration form for specific dates.

High School Confirmation & First Eucharist
Classes are held Tuesday from 4:30 TO 5:30 in the Teen Center.

Fees
Fees are as follows: $70.00 for the first child; $100.00 for two children and $125.00 for three. A $50.00 per child fee will be assessed to those Catholic school children registered for sacrament classes only. Fees for weekly classes can be paid in full at the time of registration, or paid by the beginning of classes.

Also, please let us know at the time of registration if paying fees is not possible for your family at this time. We do have a limited number of scholarships available.