Our Parish Religious Education Program is open to childen in Grades 1 to Grade 8. We are now a Regionalized Program (as of September 2021), with lessons conducted in our neighboring Parish at St. Gabriel in Norwood, which is only one mile away. These classes, formally known as CCD, are held Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM . Grade levels 7 & 8 are still currently held in St. George Church on Monday evenings from 6:45 PM to 8:00 PM. This progrom is for children who need to complete sacraments, but who are not enrolled in Catholic School. The Sacrament of Penance/First Holy Communion is celebrated in 2nd grade every May, and the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in 7th and 8th grade, every other year.
Religious Education
The goals of our program are:
1. To teach the basic truths and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.
2. To build a community of faith among faculty, students, and parents that
will strengthen and support the parish community.
3. To develop in all participants, a sense of prayer and worship that will
then lead to Christian service.
4. To encourage total parent involvement and participation in the religious
and spiritual development of their children.
5. To provide parents with the necessary assistance to fulfill their role as
the primary educators of their children.
6. To encourage full participation in the spiritual, liturgical, and communal
life of the Saint George Parish Community.
Families wishing to enroll their children in the Parish Religious Education Program must be registered in Saint George Parish before making an application to PREP.
Children in First and Second Grade are learning about God the Father, Creation, God's Word, God the Son: Jesus Christ, God the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Trinity, Mass and Eucharist, Conscience Formation and they prepare for the Sacrament of First Penance and First Holy Communion, with each of these sacraments being received in the Second Grade. Children in Third through Seventh Grade are learning about the sacraments, Mary, our Blessed Mother, the Commandments, God the Father, Grace, Sin, Conscience, The Beatitudes, Works of Mercy, Virtue, the Bible (Old and New Testaments), the Church (concepts, history, development, liturgy, sacramentals) and prayer, including their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation and so much more.
Our Program's goal is to assist you in teaching the faith to your children. Our PREP catechists attend Archdiocesan-accredited courses and workshops, follow Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum Guidelines, and us approved textbooks for each class level.
Holy Mother Church relies on you, as parents, to nourish within your family a strong sense of Christian living. Attending Sunday and Holy Day Mass as a family, frequently receiving the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, and from time to time experiencing the Lord's love and mercy in the Sacrament of Penance are elements of Christian living, which are most essential for you to model for your child/children. Praying in the morning, at mealtimes, and at the close of day, as well as the sharing of time, talent, and treasure with family, neighbors and the Parish Community, can draw all deeper into the life of Christ through His Church.
The seed of faith is planted in Baptism, nourished by parents and guardians; Godparents and Sponsors; Priests and Catechists by teaching and good example; and is given growth by God through His Grace and Sacraments and in a loving relationship with each of us, His people the Church.
If you are interested in learning more about the PREP, please contact Mrs. Lynda Batten at 610-237-1633 for details. Check out the following link for more details on the sacraments.
