Religious Education

The Family Religious Education Program within the John Newman Mission Community is fully aligned with the Diocese of Buffalo. Due to the reduction in young people in our community, the program has been suspended indefinitely.

History ...

Our Family Religious Education Program nurtures the following qualities in our students as they mature to Catholic adulthood:

• • A strong sense of personal faith and prayer

  • Religious knowledge

  • An understanding of Catholic morality

  • Community membership

  • Commitment to the Eucharist as central to life as a Catholic

  • Service and ministry to others

  • Living out one's Faith in the world

Preparation for Sacraments is provided for the youth that may include Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Receiving of each of the Sacraments is registered for all students through St. Mary’s Parish. This year, due to enrollment, there may be no Reconciliation or Confirmation class. However, the option remains open if students do enroll.

Adult Education develops and supplements the faith of the parents and any adults of the John Newman Mission community by discussing our Catholic faith, deepening our sense of personal and community spirituality, studying sacred scripture, studying other faiths to better understand our Catholic faith, and growing in our service to others.

The Program is open to families from our Newman community and those who choose to enroll from other parishes. Preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation is normally approved by the pastor of the family's home parish.

Goals of Family Religious Education

Co-Chairs: Mary Lamancuso and Jack Leo

• • We will enroll students for the coming year.

  • We will align our curriculum with that of the Diocese of Buffalo.

  • We will have 12 sessions between October and April.

  • Sessions will be held in the Religious Ed wing of the Unitarian Universalist Church.

  • All teachers and substitutes have been or will be trained in Virtus training “Protecting our Children.”

  • We will prepare students for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, depending on enrollment

  • Father Paul Steller has endorsed the program and is acting as our Director of Religious Education.

  • Adult Ed sessions will be held during every evening (along with the Religious Education classroom program).

  • All expenses for the program will be fully funded by the families participating.

  • Teachers include:

    • Luanne Leo and Jack Leo (Confirmation/High School) .. OPEN this year for a number of eligible candidates.

  • Note ... Confirmation is a separate class with Jack and Luanne Leo as facilitators. The next class receive the sacrament of Confirmation has yet to be determined. Preparation will begin when we have four or more candidates of 9th grade or above. Candidates must have been enrolled in our religious ed program or attend Catholic high school.

Classes

• • Enrollment has been suspended.

Adult Education Program -- 2020 and beyond -- to be developed when we can meet again.

Guest speakers for these past years are listed. They include Father Paul Steller, Father Jim Croglio, Sister Johnice, Fr. Fred Betti SJ and more.

Topics selected by the parents include growing in our Catholic faith and our spirituality, parenting concerns, understanding other faiths and topics related to the liturgical seasons.

http://www.officeoflifelongfaithformation.org/CurriculumGuides/SexualAbuseAwarenessMandates.aspx

Home Resources for Advent -- Click Here

Home Resources for Lent (for adults, families and children) -- Click Here

Saints -- More Resources for Use at Home

US Catholic Magazine Article

Franciscan Magazine Article From the Franciscan Website, hundreds of articles are posted on the Saints

This Rock Magazine Article

Fr. James Martin - YouTube Videos

Fr. Robert Barron, YouTube Video, St. Terese

Note -- from either YouTube link, you can find several videos about various Saints

More for the Family - Sunday Gospel Readings and Lessons, plus seasonal resources ... CLICK HERE

... then click on the Parents tab for your weekly lesson from the Sunday Gospels: Gospels at Home (English)