The Saint Cecilia Parish Board of Education is the policy-making body
responsible for all aspects of formal Catholic education in the
parish. The Board consists of seven elected members and the
pastor. The Saint Cecilia School Principal and the Director of
Religious Education serve as administrative officers. Election of
new members takes place annually in May. All parish members are
encouraged to attend the monthly meetings. The Board is
subject to the policies and regulations of the Archdiocesan Board of
Education and the State Department of Education. A
collection of short descriptions of
some significant policies of the Archdiocesan Board of Education
and a link to the complete
Archdiocesan
Board of Education Policy Manual are available on this website.
The Saint Cecilia Board of Education is responsible for early childhood
formation, catechetical programs for children, Saint Cecilia School,
adolescents, young adults, adults, special needs, family, elderly, and
the marginalized. The Director of Religious Education is
responsible for catechesis for children in preschool through eighth
grade and for adults. Catechesis of high school age children is
the responsibility of the Youth Minister. Follow the links below
for more information.
Saint Cecilia Parish religious formation activities are designed to
carry out the four-fold mission of the Church by guiding and assisting
individuals to
- Respond to God's call to conversion.
- Form Christian community.
- Grow in knowledge, thereby becoming enlightened and enlived by
faith.
- Shape society in the spirit of Gospel freedom, justice, and love.
Board of Education Meeting Minutes
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the minutes. If you
don't have Acrobat Reader, click
here
to begin a free download of the software.
Religious Education/ Catechetical Programs
for Children
The Director of Religious
Education,
John Hayes
(232-3514), is responsible for catechesis for children in preschool
through
eighth grade. Prayer and music are integral parts of these programs.
The catechists are trained volunteers.
To carry out the four-fold mission of the Church (word, worship,
community, and
service), the catechetical programs strive to meet the following
objectives:
- To develop in the students a sense of wonder and awe for God's
creation, a familiarity with prayer and worship, and a spirit of ever
deepening friendship with Jesus.
- To provide students with
essential knowledge of the content of their faith so that they may
understand what it means to be Catholic.
- To enable the students to
deepen their experience, to better understand, and to participate more
fully in the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, and
Confirmation.
- To assist students in the
formation of conscience and to establish Christian values that will
foster Christian living.
- To foster a love for the
Word of God and further the use of Scripture for prayer and direction
in living.
- To introduce to students
the concept of community and the Christian dimension of spreading the
love of Jesus.
- To enable students to
experience Christian service and involvement through projects directed
toward participation in the parish/world community.
Parents are the
primary educators
of their children. The home is the center of Christian living.
Parents are welcome to join the Religious Education Team in
prayer,
planning, evaluating, and providing catechesis. Recognizing that
efforts
will be successful only when parents and catechists are intimately
involved in
sharing their faith, parents are expected to participate actively in
the weekly
catechesis of their children. They are also required to attend parent
meetings directly related to their children's sacramental preparation.
Alternative Religious
Education Program
For parents that desire a more direct involvement
in the religious formation of their children, a parent-taught program
is
available as an alternative to weekly religion classes. This program
uses
approved catechetical materials and requires submission of annual
progress
reports for each child enrolled. Attendance at Generations of Faith
gatherings
is a part of this program.
Generations of Faith
Generations of Faith is a
total parish catechetical program. Family
attendance at Generations of Faith Gatherings
is expected for those enrolled in the Catechetical Programs for
children. The events are also open to all members of the parish.
The goals
are of the Generations of Faith gatherings are:
"... to
encourage a living,
explicit and fruitful profession of faith" (GDC #66).
"... to
put people not only in touch, but also in communion and intimacy,
with Jesus Christ" (GDC #80).
The purpose of this approach is to
develop the parish into a lifelong learning community in which every
member of
the community is empowered to become both teacher and learner.
Early Childhood Religious Education Programs
The
early childhood program
is a readiness program for children ages three and four. Through
stories,
prayers, games, and songs, the children are encouraged to discover and
explore
the wonders of God in the world around them and in the special gift of
Jesus. Sessions are held from
10:30 to
11:30 a.m
on the first and third Sundays of the month, October through May.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation
Bible School
is held in early June for one week, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Monday through Friday, for children ages four to ten.
Children's Liturgy of the Word
The
team members of
children's liturgy accompany the youth of the parish to the chapel and
present
the readings from the children's lectionary during the 9:30 and 11:15
a.m.
Sunday Masses.
Middle School Youth Group
The
Middle School Youth
Group provides social and community building activities that relate
Christian
values to everyday life for sixth through eighth graders.
Meetings are
held from
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.on
the second Wednesday of the month, September to May. Additional
events are announced as they are
planned. Click here
to view the Middle School Youth Group web page.
Adult Religious Formation
Various programs, some
listed
below, are available for adults of all ages to grow in their
faith. These
include classes in Bible
studies, Church teachings, and other topics of interest.
Seminars,
workshops, and days of reflection are offered periodically.
Please call
the Religious Education Office, 232-3514, for schedule information.
The
Generations
of Faith and Catechist Formation programs also enable adults to
share their
faith with the young people of Saint Cecilia Catholic Community.
Bible Study
Three Bible Study programs are available:
- Monday, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in Ames, is a guided study of context,
language, and forms of the Bible for the ultimate purpose of
understanding and spiritual growth.
- Tuesday, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., in Ames, is a guided Bible study,
using the Navarre study guide with questions, to guide in understanding
and applying the study to life experience.
- Wednesday, 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. in Jewell, is a study of the
Scripture for the coming Sunday.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
This program is offered annually for persons who are interested in
becoming Catholic Christians. The RCIA journey of faith is a
four-step process that provides adults the opportunity to encounter the
Christian faith as it is understood and lived in the Roman Catholic
Church. RCIA helps the candidates develop the spiritual,
intellectual, and social aspects of each candidate's life of faith in
God. The process leads to the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, if the
person is not already baptized, Confirmation, and Eucharist) for those
candidates who freely choose to become members of the Catholic
Church. RCIA also provides support for newly initiated members.
Please call the Religious Education Office, 232-3514, for
additional information.
Small Christian Communities
Small Christian Communities offer the opportunity for groups of eight
to twelve people to come together to enrich their lives
spiritually. These gatherings include prayer, scripture reading,
personal sharing, community building, on-going learning, and outreach
or service. Groups may come together on a seasonal basis or meet
regularly, either monthly or bi-monthly.
