Experience Religion Home Page
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 for ten years. 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
9am – 11am beginning the Sunday after Labor Day and ending the Sunday before EASTER. Little Lambs kindergarten meets the second and fourth Sundays during the same time frame. Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) sessions are held the first Tuesday of each month from 7-8:45pm beginning the first Tuesday of September.
The program curriculum follows the regulations of the USCCB – United States Catholic Conference of Bishops which can be viewed at http://schools.archchicago.org/curriculum/religion/religion.htm. Click on the age level of your child; the objectives of each level are outlined. 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 and kindergarten. 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 from September through April. 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 your 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 |
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The textbook of Stewardship is Scripture.
The school of Stewardship is The Liturgy of the Mass.
What "grade" are you getting? |
At the Beach
One child flings herself into the roaring wave. Another child edges in one cautious inch at at time. Both get to the deep water in their own happy time, at their own right pace. |
If your child has not made their sacraments in the chronological sequence, we can prepare them through the RCIC program. Sessions meet first Tuesdays of each month 7pm—8:45pm. Parent must accompany child. Please call to register for
sessions. |