RELIGION PROGRAM INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
Dear Ruffing Families:
Hello again and welcome to our 2023-2024 Ruffing Catholic Religion Education Program information. Our goal always has been to assist you, the parents, and your children with their Christian Formation. Our program will officially start the week of September 11, 2023.
To review, our program will provide a once weekly class outside of their main classroom, during the school hours, for the elementary and middle school students. Our desire is for the students to continue to develop a relationship with Jesus and His message through their family life and classroom study.
FIRST COMMUNION, RECONCILIATION AND CONFIRMATION:
Those families who wish to have their children receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist for the first time need to contact their home parish before the sacramental year. The same is true for the sacrament of Confirmation. Many of the parishes begin their preparations at the beginning of the school year, so it is important to contact them soon as possible. Although we prepare the second year students for Reconciliation and Eucharist, there maybe special meetings and events, i.e. “Jesus Day” or “Confirmation Retreats,” that your parish would like for them to attend. We do not have a special preparation for Confirmation because there are currently different requirements from parish to parish. Many are starting their preparations in the seventh grade now. It is not too early for parents of seventh graders to contact their parish for this vital info.
To register your child(ren), please complete the religion form below. The fee for the Religion program is $70.00. This is due before the first class and can be paid via SMART Tuition or by check.
Although all children of all faiths are welcome to participate in our program, it is important that you know that this is not a comparative religion program. Our Catechists teach the principles of the catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catechists of the Good Shepherd, developed by Sophia Cavalletti and her Montessori collaborator, Gianna Gobbi, in Rome, is the method used for our students in First, Second and Third grades. Grades Fourth through Seventh will again be using the Gospel Weeklies, connecting the Liturgical calendar with the weekly gospel readings. The Eighth grade will continue with the Blest Our We series that will study the history of the church. We will have some capacity to pivot to virtual learning if need be. Look for e-mails regarding this issue. To close, we are grateful to our Catechists who spend many hours preparing lessons and materials for their classes. They are dedicated witnesses to their faith and love the Jesus message. Our hope is that your children will catch their enthusiasm for the gift of our God.
