Hello Parish Families! Introducing each DRE of our Tri-Parish

Hello Parish Families!

We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and share with you our role in ministering to families at St. Mary, St. Peter, and Resurrection parishes. You, as parents, grandparents, godparents, friends, and neighbors, are so important in leading children into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and becoming lifelong practicing Catholics! Please know that we greatly appreciate your efforts in doing so. We are here to help and support you in teaching the Catholic faith to our children and preparing them to receive God’s grace through the sacraments.

In order to ensure that children are well catechized and have a strong understanding of what the Church teaches, all school age students should be enrolled in a Catholic school, PSR (Parish School of Religion) program, or an approved homeschool curriculum. Homeschool families should contact their parish DRE to meet and discuss options and expectations.

Sacraments are a vital part of our Catholic faith. Therefore, preparing children to receive the sacraments is an important aspect of their faith formation. According to Diocesan policy, preparation for the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation is a 2-year process. Children must be enrolled in and regularly attending a Catholic school or PSR program, or studying according to a pre-approved homeschool program the year prior to and the year in which the sacrament is received. This is in addition to separate parish sacramental classes and retreats through the parish. Normally, First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are received in 2^nd grade and Confirmation is received in 8^th grade.

Traditionally, the Catholic Church baptizes children as infants. However, children who are over the age of seven years of age and not yet baptized will need to participate in the OCIA process for children (Order of Christian Initiation for Children, or OCIC). This is completely separate from (and sometimes in addition to) Catholic school, PSR, or a homeschool program. In this case, the child, when ready, would receive all three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion) at the Easter Vigil Mass.

Thank you for your role in passing on the Catholic faith to our children! Please share this information with friends and family members who might not be registered at one of our parishes. Watch the parish bulletins for more information in the coming weeks, and in the meantime, please contact us (see below) if you have any questions about your child’s faith formation or sacramental preparation. We are also available if you would like to find out how you can take a more active role in this important ministry. We are here for you!

Yours in Christ,

Jenny Ewing, DRE

PSR (St Mary/St Peter)

OCIA/OCIC (Tri-Parish)

ewingstmary@gmail.com