Welcome to the Saint Lucy's Religious Education Program.
Before enrolling your Child in our program, please take your time to read the following
(for better display of the text, please use a computer):
This Family Centered Catechesis Program of Saint Lucy's Church is designed to engage the whole family in religious education and spiritual formation. By involving the entire family in catechesis, there is an opportunity for faith to be a continuing journey to deepen one's relationship with God and our community, at all stages in life.
The Catechesis team of volunteers sees its primary role as active participation in the universal mission of the Roman Catholic Church, taking seriously the Gospel and centralizing the “Kingdom of God” in all our relationships.
We are committed to awakening in our students and their families an appreciation of the faith dimension of their lives, an understanding of the Faith Community both locally and globally, and a realization that service to the world community is an important part of the Gospel message.
1. Enrollment
The Saint Lucy's Catechesis Program is offered to all the families that are registered as Parishioners.
( If you are not registered, you can always do it during the summer before the last week of August)
This Fall, 2023, Religious Education at St. Lucy’s Church will be hybrid.
Parents and children are encouraged to attend any of our Masses ( Saturday 6:00 pm, Sunday 9:00 am (Spanish) & 11:00 am) . We will continue to evaluate the needs and possibilities for 100% in-person Religious Education with the mandates from the Archdiocese and the State Government. Please read below for the format and expectations for our hybrid Religious Education Program:
Format for Virtual Religious Education
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Classes will meet according with the curriculum on the calendar using Zoom
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Class sizes will be determined by enrollment and catechists availability.
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Meeting times will be determined by the consensus of the parents with the catechist.
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Attendance will be taken for each Zoom class and for every mass.
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Program will begin the First week of September, mass attendance will be taken as well.
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Every month, a short reflection/activity will be posted on the Religious Education webpage for students/families to complete and submit to their catechists.
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Families must attend our masses. (In Saint Lucy) and they must be registered parishioners.
Expectations for Virtual Religious Education
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If students cannot make a zoom meeting, a parent or guardian should inform their catechists. Attendance is taken for each class.
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During Zoom Classes:
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The student’s video must be ON at all times.
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The student must be dressed in a presentable manner.
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The student name must be always displayed on the screen
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The student will not engage in other chats or instant messaging.
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An adult (whether a parent/guardian or some other adult) will be in the same room as the student.
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Parents/Students are responsible for completing short reflections/assignments outside of the zoom classes. These reflections/assignments are required for the completion of the Religious Ed Program.
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Families are encouraged to attend any of the masses in person in accordance with current health and social distancing concerns.
Class Attendance
Children must be on time in it's room, not in a car and no distractions. Regular attendance is essential for meaningful learning. All absences must be reported to Omar before class time on the day of absence. For missed assignments, please contact your child's catechist to review material covered in your child's absence. It is imperative that all students keep up with class work. Please be aware that a child cannot miss more than three sessions. Illness will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Absences in excess of three may require your child to repeat the Program. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian and students to obtain any necessary make-up work that has been missed due to an absence.
Tardiness in excess of 10 minutes beyond the start of classes will be recorded as an absence.
In person Mass Attendance
Students who are enrolled in our program must attend the masses suggested. Parents are required to attend mass also.
Liturgy feeds the faith and enables students to better understand what they are learning. Sunday Mass readings will be discussed in class and Gospel messages reinforced. Mass Attendance is especially important in preparation for receiving the sacraments. Avoidance of this responsibility seriously undercuts the training of religious education.
Mass attendance is recorded each week and checked regularly. Signed envelopes should be placed in the regular collection baskets at the weekly Offertory. You will have to provide: Catechist's name and child's name. This is something all registered parishioners do in every parish.
Every Sunday before mass starts a catechists will be signing booklets (that will be given once registration is handed over). Be in Church before Mass begins.
Registrations will be handed out in person after every mass during the Months of July andAugust
Communication
Parent/guardian meetings may be scheduled as needed to keep the parents informed about changes in policies. Families involved in sacramental preparation will be notified of meetings held by the CCD staff.
All important notices pertinent to our program are communicated through the Saint Lucy’s parish bulletin, our website, as well as with flyers sent home with the students. Please, ask your child if he/she received any information weekly to avoid confusion and misunderstandings.
If your telephone, emergency or cell phone number changes during the school year, please notify your catechist who will let the administrator know of the change.
In case of an emergency closing, catechists will be notified and they, assisted by Class Parents, will make every effort to call and/or email each student. It also will be posted in our website.
Student Code of Behavior (zoom and in person)
Students are asked to be presentable when they come to class and dress according to the place they are coming to. They should be mindful that classes often go into the church so modest and appropriate dress is expected.
Students are not allowed to bring in any items, books, iPods, headphones, portable games or schoolwork that does not pertain to the religious education program. Any and all items will be confiscated and a meeting with the student’s parents/guardian will be arranged with the administration to discuss proper recourse. Cell phones are allowed for emergency use only but they have to be turned off during class. Text-messaging is prohibited. Repeated offenses may result in a student’s expulsion. If you need to call your child for an emergency please call the rectory.
Care and respect is required for use of Saint Lucy’s Church classrooms. Catechists will remind the children that the rooms are shared with other students. Desks and their contents must not be disturbed or defaced, and the classrooms must be left neat and orderly.
We need to live and embody the Christian values that we learn. Therefore, all students are expected to be courteous to catechists, staff and other students. Any conduct unbefitting a young Catholic Christian will be reported to parents.
We expect our children to contribute to an atmosphere of Christian concern for others. If a problem arises, a form entitled “Points for Parental Concern” will be given to the parent. A parent’s signature is required. After signing, it is expected there will be a follow up with either a phone call or a conference with the parents. It is best to correct a problem immediately to ensure a pleasant religion class where learning, love of God, respect for self, and respect for others exist.
Parents/guardians should review the following with students:
1. Students must conform to the attendance policy as stated in the handbook (it will be given in our first meeting).
2. Students are expected to show respect for all persons in words and actions.
3. Students must comply with the classroom rules set by their catechists.
4. Students must not cause physical harm to themselves or to another.
5. Students must not destroy, deface or remove any property from the classroom, desks or the building.
6. Students are responsible for completing all homework assignments to the best of their ability and according to the time schedule provided.
7. Students must respect the seating chart that the catechist sets up.
8. Students are expected to come to class on time, prepared with textbooks, Catholic Bible, notebooks (only one for religious ed), pen and or pencil.
9. Students are expected to comply with all rules and regulations listed in the handbook.
Deliberate disregard of the policy may lead to:
1. Reprimand by catechist
2. Parent notification
3. Parent conference
4. Dismissal from the program
Program Protection Policies
Child Abuse Policy
If a catechist or administrator suspects a child has been abused, New Jersey Statutes require that the Division of Youth & Family Services be notified immediately.
Visitors
For the safety and welfare of our students, while classes are in session and immediately before/after class, no unauthorized people may be in the catechesis building. Under no circumstances may any unauthorized person go to a classroom or be in the class area when classes are in session.
10. Catechists Information
Our catechists are committed to their faith and have a strong desire to share it with our students. The team of catechist are volunteers from our parish.
We are proud to mention that the Catechists in Saint Lucy are bilingual, and they have different levels of formation:
Monthly Gatherings of Formation 2011-2022
The biggest congress of Catechesis in the world in Los Angeles California.
Seasonal Workshops Volunteers
We are always in need of help from special people who are willing to share their time and talents. If you would like to volunteer to assist us with the Religious Education Program, please email the Administrator, Omar at stlucysnwk@saintlucy.net or call 973-803-4200
11.- Dress Code for Class and Mass
Class: comfortable and clean
Sunday Best.(If this is not enough information, we will give more information during the first meeting)
12. Contact
For Catechesis purposes (CCD, Religious Ed) only:
E-mail: stlucysnwk@saintlucy.net
Phone number: 973 803 42000
Please, do not email or call different addresses or phone numbers
Thank you for your interest in being part of Saint Lucy's Church.
Omar Navarro
Secretary of Pastoral Work
