PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Please find below descriptions of our programs.   Our program benchmarks guide specific lesson and class development.


ELEMENTARY PROGRAM

Our classes in grades 1-5 are one hour sessions taught by volunteer catechists in the St. John Parish Center building.  Lessons are built to familiarize students with faith concepts applicable to that grade level.  Our First Reconciliation and First Communion Sacrament Preparation takes place in our sacrament 1 and sacrament 2 programs and must be done via our uniquely designed in-person program.  There is a Mass Attendance requirement associated with this program.  Please click here for more information.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM

Our classes for grades 6-7 are taught by volunteer catechists on the St. John and St. Paul campus including, but not limited to the outdoor spaces and Parish Hall buildings.  The curriculum is built to serve as a foundation to Confirmation preparation in grade 8.  We utilize games and interactive activities to keep the students engaged and participating in our faith formation for these grades.

SACRAMENT SUMMER BLAST

The Sacrament Summer Blast program is for students entering Grade 2 in the fall.  Classes are held in June, immediately after the last day of school. The curriculum involves a variety of faith-based lessons taught in a fun, interactive environment, including:

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION

Confirmation preparation has traditionally taken place in grades 9 & 10, but since the Archdiocese has recently lowered the age for the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation to grade 8, in our 2024-2025 academic year we will be preparing all of our students in grade 8, 9 and 10 for the sacrament.  Additionally, we welcome any high school students to start at a time that is most convenient for them.  Our Confirmation 2 students in their final year of our two-year  Confirmation Preparation Program will finish the Dynamic Catholic Decision Point curriculum and our grade 8 and 9 students will participate in the new curriculum created for their one-year Confirmation preparation program.  All students will attend Mass, participate in a retreat and complete Community Service requirements along with engaging in a Pizza & Prayer component of the program.  


AT-HOME LEARNING OPTIONS

As always, parents are the primary educators of their children, and our Religious Education Programs serve to support and enhance their important mission.  Families are welcome to facilitate Religious Education for their students who are not in our sacrament preparation programs at home.  We are happy to provide three (3) different At-Home alternatives to help make learning convenient, effective and fun.

HOME SCHOOL LESSONS

Our lessons for grades 3-7 are accessible online and can be facilitated at home at the family's convenience.

PROJECT NAZARETH

This program was developed by the Archdiocese of Boston to foster a family-driven multidimensional Religious Education experience.  It is an initiative that will deliver weekly resources to families with children in pre-school through 5th grade. These resources will give parents suggestions for how to Pray, Listen, Act and Ponder with a given topic throughout the course of each week. Guided by Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, different series within Project Nazareth will explore the fundamental Gospel message, the Sunday Mass readings and other special topics such as the Year of the Eucharist.  This is not just another lesson to be completed by children at home, but a way to weave their faith formation into the fabric of family life. You can see a sample of the program's resources here.

CLUSTER PROGRAM

This program is a multigenerational multifamily model where families self-select other families to join with and facilitate monthly lessons.  The curriculum is accessible online and includes lessons, activities and projects that are built for specifically for this model integrating participants of all ages.