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Faith Formation -Philosophy and Operating Principles |
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Go To: Faith Formation Programs for Children & Families Page To: Parents and Guardians of Children in Faith Formation Operating Philosophies for Faith Formation Attached is important information regarding your child’s faith development and the operations of our Faith Formation Program at St. Richard Parish. As suggested by the Diocese of Pittsburgh, each parent/guardian of a child in a parish program of religious education is to receive an overview of the program’s operating principles, policies and strategies. As well, each year’s formative goals, as set forth by the Diocese, are to be communicated for each child in the family. Following are our operating philosophies for Faith Formation at St. Richard Parish for your review. As we offer a liturgy centered program, these philosophies form the basis for a holistic formative approach of the child of not only the mind, but also the heart. This is facilitated through prayer, doctrinal study, scripture study, and experiential reflection and life-style integration as young Catholics. In addition, guiding this approach are Catechetical Guidelines/Goals as outlined by the Diocese of Pittsburgh. These guidelines determine the content of curriculum by detailing formative goals, faith vocabulary, and knowledge of prayers appropriate to your child’s age. These outline specifically what your child is learning this year and are attached. This information is also available on our parish website at www.saintrich.org in the Faith Formation link. Further, as your child’s primary teacher of faith, you are provided with the opportunity for written feedback on your child’s faith development as the Faith Formation program at St. Richard provides you with secondary support in your vocation as first catechist. This will be provided upon written request only. Should you like feedback on your child’s development this year, please complete, detach and return the form which follows the Operating Philosophies. One progress report at mid-year will be provided if requested. As always, if you have questions about the following information or Faith Formation in general, please contact Betsy Bedel or me in the Faith Formation Office. Please know how regularly your family is prayed for by our staff; please pray for God’s blessing upon all those who work in the ministry of religious education at our parish, too. Your prayers and support are so much appreciated. God bless you for your commitment to the faith development of your child. “Parents are the first and most important educators This is the underlying premise to all religious education and faith formation of children. As such, ministry to children at St. Richard Parish strives towards a model that embraces and supports family knowing that primary responsibility of the faith formation of children rests with their parents. Recognizing that the spiritual formation process of children begins at birth and that parents/guardians are given the profound privilege and serious obligation of being the child’s first and most important teachers of faith as expressed in the marital and baptismal promises parents make, St. Richard Parish Programs of Faith Formation places high value on the family realizing that it is the primary place where faith is learned, interpreted, and lived. Consequently, it is the aim and goal of every member of the St. Richard Faith Formation Catechetical Team (DRE, CRE, teachers, aides, office help) to respect and support this important responsibility of parents/guardians by providing faithful and educational assistance and direction to continue the practice of the Catholic Christian way of life in the home, i.e. the domestic church, and into the world. As support, St. Richard Parish offers to parents/guardians, a sound catechetical program for their children centered in the Eucharistic Liturgy (mass) and based on:
Building on these elements, all our Faith Formation Programs foster encounters with God for the children to which we minister in order to help them make sense of their own lived human experiences and build a trusting relationship with Christ and his Church. Therefore, programs offered by the St. Richard Office for Catholic Faith Formation:
Founded on Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, this will be accomplished by providing opportunities for children to experience God’s self-revelation to them:
Personal Conduct and Philosophy of Discipline Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. (Mt. 7:12) All else stems from this. Consequently, some behaviors can not be tolerated in the faith formation session and will lead to meeting with the DRE/CRE to determine appropriate plans of action. These include:
Initially, a meeting with the child/catechist to determine the severity/cause of the misbehavior will take place. Each conversation will be documented for the child’s file. For minor incidents, the child will be counseled and be asked to return to the faith formation session/room. With a second occurrence of inappropriate behavior or for more serious situations, the child(ren) and the Director of Religious Education (DRE or CRE) will contact the parent/guardian of the child(ren) to arrange a meeting with them, the teacher, and the DRE/CRE. This group will complete an Individual Faith Formation-Behavior Modification Plan (IFFP) which may include an alternative method of catechesis outside the classroom depending on the seriousness of the situation. In these instances, the child(ren) will be unable to return to their faith formation section until the IFFP-Behavior Modification Plan is completed with the parents.
Attendance In addition, consistent regular attendance at Sunday mass, religious education sessions, and faith formation events helps a child to adequately prepare mentally and spiritually to receive a sacrament. This holds true not only in the “normal” year a child is to receive the gift of a sacrament, but also in the years preceding and following a sacramental year. By active participation in the life of the church by consistent regular attendance at Sunday mass, religious education classes and faith formation events and by volunteering, families, and in particular parents, witness and give strength to each other while also becoming outward signs of faith to their children and to the Catholic community of St. Richard. Clearly, as parents/guardians fulfill their primary obligation as educators of faith of their child(ren), the entire community benefits which, in turn, is then better able to provide superior care, concern, and faith development of our youngest members. It is only natural, then, why this important responsibility of parents/guardians is nourished, embraced, and treasured by the St. Richard community. Realizing that an occasional absence may occur from a religious education class or faith formation event, parents/guardians are provided with a Lesson Schedule at the beginning of the year which displays the chapters taught each week. It is important that parents/guardians ensure these exercises and activities are completed in faith and returned to the teacher for guidance and feedback within one week of the absence. In the event of the need for an occasional early dismissal, no child may be removed from a religious education session by anyone except parish personnel because of safety and security. Early dismissal must be coordinated through the Early Dismissal Form and submitted to the child’s catechist at the beginning of the session. Children enrolled in the on-site program who require early dismissal will only be dismissed from the Faith Formation library. Children are expected to have arrived and be seated by published start times of our faith formation sessions. Parents are to insure that children have eaten and have used the restroom before the beginning of the session. Tardiness disrupts the flow of the catechetical session for the catechist and class. Often times when a child arrives late, it is during prayer and scripture study which is distracting from this intimate time of the session. Food and drink, including chewing gum, are strongly discouraged during Faith Formation sessions, and should only be brought when requested by the catechist. In the event of the cancellation of a session, if the Pine-Richland School District is cancelled or excused early, faith formation sessions are cancelled. Cancellations are communicated and announced on area television and radio stations. As well, updates are recorded on the Faith Formation Hotline (724-444-6752). Please always use best judgment when deciding if children should attend faith formation events when the weather may be inclement. Resources Our curriculum is built on the experience of the Sunday liturgy each week. Supporting this experience of the mass, only published resources approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Diocese of Pittsburgh are used as texts in our Faith Formation and sacramental preparation programs. Regarding sacramental preparation, parents play the primary role and are provided with materials to teach their children. Catechesis in the classroom builds upon and supplements this teaching. In these sacramental years, parents are provided with teaching guides/lesson plans and handbooks and attend Evenings of Reflection to pray together and receive education as they prepare to teach their children. Further, specialized catechetical plans may be prepared for children/families needing additional support or who may have learning needs which require individual programming. To better assist with the faith development of children, special needs are confidential and shared only with the child’s catechist and aide when appropriate. Additionally, a variety of formative opportunities are made available to parents of children in our programs. As well, the Faith Formation library houses an abundance of resources available to parents and staff. Parents also have access to the parish website (www.saintrich.org) and to a comprehensive website supporting our curriculum (www.harcourtreligion.com). While there is no testing in our faith formation programs, should a parent/guardian desire feedback on the faith development/formation of their child, a Faith Formation Progress Report may be prepared once a year upon written request from the parent/guardian. Going Forward Proudly and with great joy, the faith formation of children and families at St. Richard Parish is a cooperative effort of parents/guardians and the Church. Recognizing the important responsibility that parents have as the first and most important teachers of faith of their children, a variety of programming options are available to families of the parish offering flexibility in religious education and sacramental preparation. Centered in the Eucharistic Liturgy and founded on Sacred Scripture and Tradition, the Office for Catholic Faith Formation has at its heart the foremost premise of building a person’s Catholic identity as a responsible member of Christ’s Church so that all may enjoy the glories of the life promised to us by our Savior Jesus Christ. DownLoad the Faith Formation Progress Request Form
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Faith Formation is looking for volunteers as catechists at our on-site sessions or for our home-site program. We are also looking for volunteers to help with clerical functions during regular business hours or during on-site sessions. If you are able to volunteer with us, please complete a volunteer form by downloading it from this website or call the Faith Formation Office at 724-444-1971, ext. 19. Volunteer forms may be returned via the collection basket, mail, or by dropping it off at the parish or Faith Formation Office - FAITH FORMATION. DOWNLOADS - New Child Faith Formation Registration Form Faith Formation Volunteer Form Faith Formation Early Dismissal Form Faith Formation Progress Request Form Goals and Guides of Faith Formation per Grade Level
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