Religious Education for Children

"Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child's earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another to grow in faith by the witness of a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel.  Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God. 

The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents." 

                                                                             (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2226)
 

What can parents do to share their faith with their child in the early years?

When a child is baptized, the parents commit to raising him or her in the practice of the faith, and to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor.   As your child's first catechist, some ways you can begin to share your faith with them from an early age include:

• Attend Mass.
• Talk to your child about God, the creator.  
• Describe Jesus, His son and our Savior, and the Holy Spirit, our loving guide.
• Pray as a family and pray for your family and for others.  
• Encourage your child to talk to God.
• Read stories from the bible to them.
• Teach love of God and love for others. 
• Talk about situations your child might encounter and what a loving response might be.
• Let them hear you pray the Our Father and Hail Mary and encourage them to join in when they are able.
• Bless your meals and encourage their participation in offering thanks.
• For birthdays and Christmas, consider getting your child a child's rosary with larger wooden beads, children's books with bible stories, or other faith based books or toys.
  
  
• We offer Religious Education for children from PreK through 8th grade:

• Religious Education (RE) for students in grades PreK through 8 - is designed to assist families of children in their religious education.  Students meet weekly September through May.

• Sacramental Preparation for Children - is the process of welcoming all young people to prepare for and celebrate the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

• Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Adapted for Children (RCIA for Children) - is for children seven years of age or older who have not yet been baptized; or have been baptized in another Christian tradition.  Children attend monthly RCIA family sessions with a parent and are also invited to attend their grade level religious education classes.

• Vacation Bible School - is a week-long summer camp for children, usually held the third week of July.  Scripture, prayer, music, crafts, and play are all important components of St. Ferdinand's Vacation Bible School.

Our mission is to help you as parents and guardians to nurture and deepen your child's Catholic faith.  This is accomplished with the help of volunteer Catechists who give of their time and talents.  Parents form an important part of our program in assisting catechists, helping to watch children as classes let out, and helping in special projects.  

It is our hope that the take-home segments of these programs also assist you, as your child’s first catechist, to realize a fuller understanding of the words and ideas which guide the Catholic understanding of God.  We hope that they inspire a growing sense of closeness to Him and to living fully the liturgical life of our Eucharistic community. 

For more information contact our DRE Coordinator or call 830-833-0444

“Let the children come to me and do not prevent them;
 for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

 Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God
 like a child will not enter it.” - Luke 18:16-17