Religious Education

Church of the Good Shepherd
Religious Education

This page, like each of us, is under construction

Catechetical Mission Statement

Recognizing that parents are the primary teachers in the ways of faith, we (catechists) strive to foster and enable the growth of our children and youth in the Catholic faith as well as encourage whole community catechesis.

May 2007

Calendars		Forms

K-1 and 3-5 Calendar		Registration Form - New students
Second Grade - First Eucharist Calendar
6-8 Calendar (Evenings)		Registration Form - Returning students
9th Grade
First Year Confirmation Calendar
Second Year Confirmation Calendar <revised Dec 1>

Calendars are subject to change until cast in stone by the staff, catechists and students, and even after. Let the webmaster know if changes are necessary!!

The Good Shepherd Players present The Saints of Christmas The Saint Nicholas Play The Tiny Foot
A collage of saints - not necesarily the ones in the play	The dowry for the three virgins (Gentile da Fabriano, c. 1425, Pinacoteca Vaticana, Rome).	Image Copyright ©2007 Martine La Roche. permission to use image is pending http://www.martinelaroche.co.uk/

Casts	Rehearsal Schedule
Costumes
Showtime is December 21, 2008, at 7 p.m.
Early presentation of The St. Nicholas Play behind the Old World Tea Company on December 13 at 1 p.m. 327 Main Street
The Tiny Foot is a morality tale, set in the medical environment of decades recently past, but as currrent as today's headlines and social/political debates. The subject matter is mature, even if the treatment is discrete and in keeping with the teachings of the Church. Parents with concerns may review the script for this production and decide if they wish their children to view that particular portion of our presentation.
'Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.' Catechism of the Catholic Church § 2258	Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person -- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. Catechism of the Catholic Church § 2270 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you Jeremiah 1:5 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being. Catechism of the Catholic Church § 2274

Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us

Issued by NCCB/USCC (now USCCB), November 17, 1999
Copyright © 1999, United States Catholic Conference, Inc. All rights reserved.

"Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" (Lk 24:32)

§ 1 §    We are filled with great joy and expectation as the third millennium of Christian history dawns. Before us, in the wonder of God's gracious plan, stretch new opportunities to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to all the world. We are eager to witness and share the word of life about the reign of God faithfully, so that each new generation can hear this word in its own accents and discover Christ as its Savior.

§ 2 §    Every disciple of the Lord Jesus shares in this mission. To do their part, adult Catholics must be mature in faith and well equipped to share the Gospel, promoting it in every family circle, in every church gathering, in every place of work, and in every public forum. They must be women and men of prayer whose faith is alive and vital, grounded in a deep commitment to the person and message of Jesus.

§ 3 §    The Church's pastoral ministry exists to sustain the work of the Gospel. One way it does this is by nourishing and strengthening lay men and women in their calling and identity as people of faith, as contributors to the life and work of the Church, and as disciples whose mission is to the world. To grow in discipleship throughout life, all believers need and are called to build vibrant parish and diocesan communities of faith and service.

§ 4 §    Such communities cannot exist without a strong, complete, and systematic catechesis for all its members. By "complete and systematic" we mean a catechesis that nurtures a profound, lifelong conversion of the whole person and sets forth a comprehensive, contemporary synthesis of the faith, as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This catechesis will help adults to experience the transforming power of grace and to grasp the integrity and beauty of the truths of faith in their harmonious unity and interconnection—a true symphony of faith.

§ 5 §    Adult faith formation, by which people consciously grow in the life of Christ through experience, reflection, prayer, and study, must be "the central task in [this] catechetical enterprise," becoming "the axis around which revolves the catechesis of childhood and adolescence as well as that of old age." This can be done specifically through developing in adults a better understanding of and participation in the full sacramental life of the Church.

§ 6 §    To make this vision a reality, we, as the Catholic bishops of the United States, call the Church in our country to a renewed commitment to adult faith formation, positioning it at the heart of our catechetical vision and practice.

Links

Vatican - General Directory of Catechesis

Catechism

Documents from the Second Vatican Council

Diocese of Richmond - Office of Christian Formation (youth, adult, resources, Pathways)

USCCB - National Directory (summary and order form only at this link)

Catechism

New American Bible

Subject listing of statements and speeches

Church of the Good Shepherd - 300 Smithfield Boulevard - Smithfield, Virginia 23430 (USA)