Notice to Parish Volunteers

1.  To support parents/guardians as “first teachers in the ways of Faith”. Volunteer Catechists and our entire parish staff offer support and resources.

2.  To be intentionally committed to growing in relationship with Jesus Christ. Meeting Him in His Words of Scripture, preparation to receive His Real Presence in the Eucharist at Mass, and recognizing ways to serve Him in people of our parish, neighborhoods, and the world community is the focus of our discussion and preparation in each catechetical session.

3. That parents/guardians participate in the scheduled assemblies with the children as new Gospel weeklies are introduced.

4.  To experience, in the sessions, practical ways of living our Parish Vision to:
      –  welcome and unify as one family in Christ Jesus;
      –  enable and deepen the spirituality of each individual;
      –  to nurture and share talents for the enrichment of the parish and community;
      –  to strengthen and increase participation through meaningful liturgy.

 5. At HOME each week, use the booklet "Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families" provided to each Family in September. The two pages for each week, September through August, as well as the topics given in the students’ lessons of the Gospel Weeklies and resource booklet, are helps to prepare as a family to participate more fully in the Eucharistic liturgy. God’s Word and gift in Communion are the best way to “Learn Jesus, Love Jesus, and Live Jesus”.

St. Ursula Parish offers a robust, structured faith formation program which enables and encourages students to learn more about their faith and provides them with a variety of opportunities to exercise their faith through service to the Church and community. There are offerings for children as young as 3 years of age through 8th grade.

Age 3 through Kindergarten - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Sundays, September through May. This instruction is Montessori, experience-based method of education. It takes place in a specially prepared environment called The Atrium where children can focus on the treasures of our faith - Scripture and liturgy. Each session includes a presentation (about the Mass, the life of Christ, a sacrament, a parable, etc.), individual work time, and communal prayer.

Grades 1 through 8 - Sunday mornings, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM, September through May. During the year, there are also four Saturday sessions, for special instruction, Reconciliation, and large group sessions in Advent and Lent. The spiral curriculum builds each year to provide a better understanding of our Pillars of Faith (the Creed, Prayer, Sacraments, and Morality). Our teachers partner with parents to offer varied opportunities to live out their faith through service to the Church and community.