As August approaches and the heat of the summer is upon us, we look forward to the cooler days of fall and the beginning of another year of religious education classes at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This office strives to offer our families a program which meets the parish’s responsibility to assist you in the formal faith formation of your children. Families are expected to be attending Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on a regular basis and children should be enrolled in religious education classes from grade 1 through grade 10 or until reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
We can not stress enough the importance of celebrating Mass each week with your family. Classes do not take the place of Mass and children enrolled in religious education classes must also have the opportunity to attend Mass each week. Sacraments are normally celebrated in grades 2 and 10 for children who have met the requirements for preparation which include weekly mass attendance and two years of formal instruction.
This year, class time on Sunday morning will remain unchanged, however, students in grades 1- 6 will now meet on Sunday morning from 10 – 11 a.m. Scheduling class at 10 a.m. on Sunday is intended to allow families the opportunity to worship together at the 9 o’clock mass before bringing the children to class. All parents are to attend a parent meeting on September 25 while classes are in session.
Classes for grades 7 and 8 will meet on Monday evenings from 6:45 – 8 p.m., with obligations scheduled throughout the year on other evenings. Parents of incoming 7th and 8th grade students will attend a meeting on Monday, September 19th at 7 p.m. This meeting will be held in the parish center. Parents with children in both sessions need to attend only the Monday evening meeting. Students must complete 7th and 8th grade before they can be eligible for Confirmation preparation.
Parents of all high school students eligible for Confirmation preparation will also attend the September 19th meeting. Registration for Confirmation preparation classes must be returned on September 19th in person by a parent.
Enclosed in this mailing are registration forms and calendars for students in grades 1 – 8 or Confirmation Preparation. If your child is in grade 1 – 8 please complete and return registrations as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made for catechists and classroom space. If provisions need to be made regarding the fee, please submit the forms and call the office so we can find an acceptable solution. Additional forms for grade 1 siblings or new students can be picked up at the office or simply copied and returned. Schedules and forms will also be available for download on the OLMC website. Any questions may be addressed to the office at 253 – 5052 or olmcore@gmail.com
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