Welcome to Our Lady of the Ridge ~ Experience Religion Program!
It has been my privilege to serve as Director of Religious Education for the parish. In serving in this role I have witnessed many grace-filled moments accompanying children and their parents on the journey of faith.
We are blessed at Our Lady of the Ridge Parish with dedicated parishioners who see the future of the Catholic Church in the eyes of today's children. Therefore, they wholeheartedly support the religious formation through the generous use of their time, talent, and treasure.
The purpose of the Experience Religion (ER) parish-based catechetical program is to aid parents in helping them make their children’s faith become living, conscious and active through the light of instruction. The task is threefold:
- We want the children to know the faith as taught by the Roman Catholic Church
- We want the children to accept and cherish their Catholic faith tradition.
- We want the children to live their Catholic identity proudly by displaying it through acts of Christian service.
Our parish embraces the call to discipleship by living the Christian ideal through stewardship. We hand this apostolic tradition to our children by living a stewardship way of life through the willing offering of our time, talent, and treasure to the family of Our Lady of the Ridge.
The Catechetical sessions for Levels 1-8 are held on Sunday mornings from 8am – 9:15 September through April. Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) sessions are held the first Tuesday of each month from 7-8:15pm beginning the first Tuesday of September.
The program curriculum follows the regulations of the USCCB – United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. As Catechists, we strive to achieve the objectives for each child given their capability. The 'Blest Are We' parish text provides lessons that meet the criteria of the USCCB and will be used with Levels 1-8. The scope of the text curriculum can viewed on their website: www.BlestAreWe.com.
Participation at Liturgy of the Mass is the highest form of prayer and worship for Catholics. The reception of the Blessed Sacrament in the Holy Eucharist is the spiritual nourishment that sustains us for the living of life. It is required that all families fulfill the Mass obligation by attending Liturgy every week and use their offertory envelopes. Each family will be monitored in their attendance.If inconsistent Mass attendance is determined, a conference with the Pastor will be expected. Please note that this is explained in the Stewardship Covenant that you sign when registering for this year of Experience Religion.
The Catechists and I look forward to journeying with your family on this walk of faith. Please contact our ER office at 425-0250 or 425-1029 at anytime with any comment or concern.
Peace,
MaryJo Landuyt, DRE |
