Elementary Religious Education at St. Mary by the Lake Parish is designed for all children attending a public school in grades K5 – 6.
Through all course offerings, our main goal is to help children know and love God, to know about God and the teachings of the Church so they may grow in their relationship with God and in their Catholic faith, and be motivated to serve God and the Church.
In person classes are held at both St. Mary by the Lake and St. Matthew Parishes and taught by volunteer catechists who receive training to enable them to share our Catholic faith in an effective way. Our Online-Homeschooling option covers the same material utilizing hands on activities and online educational portals.
Both in-person and online 1st through 6th grade classes, will utilize the Discover: Finding Faith in Life, a Bible based curriculum. Filled with exciting, energetic learning that will get your kids out of their seats as they excitedly dive into the Bible and the teachings of the Church!
Each child (both in person and online) receives their own Discover! Kit, containing everything they need for their exciting faith journey. Children will dive into Bible stories in their own Catholic Children's Bible to encounter Jesus through the stories and people of scripture. Then, they get out of their seats for a built-in energetic learning activity that helps build a meaningful lesson. Next, they connect the Bible story and hand-on activity with Catholic doctrine through age-appropriate prayers, puzzles, and challenges in their Activity Book. When they are done with the day's discoveries, everything gets packed up in their own backpack until it's time for the next adventure!
Grades 1-8 Monday Night Classes - 6:30-7:30pm - most Mondays @ St. Matthew
Monday night formation classes follow what might be considered a traditional model. The children meet in a class with other children their age, along with their catechist. Classes meet from 6:30-7:30pm using a grade leveled curriculum.
or
Grades K5-6 Wednesday Night Classes - 6:00-7:15 pm - most Wednesdays @ St. Mary by the Lake
Wednesday night formation classes follow what might be considered a traditional model. The children meet in a class with other children their age, along with their catechist. Classes meet from 6:00-7:15 pm using a grade leveled curriculum.
or
Families of Faith Program - 8:30-11:00 am twice a month @ St. Matthew
A great alternative to our Monday night classes; this program is designed for the entire family to attend. We begin at 8:30 in the cafeteria with a lite breakfast and family discussion of the Mass readings. Around 9am children ages 4 - grade 8 are dismissed to meet with their peers and a catechists while the parents remain in the cafeteria for an adult learning session. At 10:00 we go upstairs to celebrate Mass. This program meets the first and third Sundays of the month from October through April.
2021-22 FAITH FORMATION REGISTRATION MATERIALS (click the link below):
2022-2023 Faith Formation Program Catalog
2023-2024 Faith Formation Registration Form for St. Mary by the Lake
2023-2024 Faith Formation Registration Form for St. Matthew