The St. Pius X Catholic Community, Religious Education Directors and Catechists would like to welcome you to our faith community. If you have children who are in the public school system but wish to give them a Catholic education as well as prepare them to receive their sacraments, we then encourage you to consider our Religious Education program.
The K-8 Religious Education program catechizes our children by sharing the key elements of our Catholic faith. This is done in classroom settings using contemporary as well as traditional teaching techniques. A student that is catechized in the K-8 Religious Education program throughout their elementary school years will finish 8th grade knowledgeable about the following areas: traditions and history of the Catholic Church; prayer and liturgy; stories from Scripture; Catholic morality; and the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church.
We continually work on enhancing and enriching the journey of faith that our children as well as their families in our Religious Education program experience each year. We offer opportunities for parent formation and personal Spiritual development, as well as retreats, crafts, and music for the children.
Our Religious Education program provides the opportunity for families to grow in their faith in a variety of ways including:
Religious Education classes for public school children (Kindergarten through 8th grade):
- 1st grade is designed to give children general knowledge of faith focusing on these 7 themes: Revelation, Trinity, Jesus, The Church, Morality, Sacraments and the Kingdom of God as well as introduce the liturgy of the Mass.
- 2nd grade is designed to prepare children to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
- 3rd – 6th grade are designed to reinforce the 7 themes previously mentioned as well as introduce bible study.
Sacramental preparation of children is a two-year program. Preparation for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion typically begins in 1st grade and continues in 2nd grade. Preparation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation typically begins in 7th grade and continues in 8th grade.
If your child did not begin preparation in 1st grade for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, your child will placed in a class appropriate for their age for the first year of preparation and then placed in RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) for the second year of preparation.
Click here for Sacrament Requirements
The same logic applies for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Liturgy of the Word for 1st grade through 3rd grade children at 10:00 AM Sunday Mass.
Junior High Youth Ministry and High School Youth Ministry
Children’s Mass once a month in which St. Pius X School and Religious Education students serve as greeters, lectors, ushers, gift bearers, and readers of the prayer of the faithful. Also during these Masses, the homily is tailored for children and families.
Each of these Children’s Masses are led by two different grades of students. Please sign up your children to help in a role of your choice for the appropriate Mass. After you’ve signed them up and as we get closer to the date of the Mass, you will be emailed with more detailed instructions according to the role you’ve chosen for your child. In addition to receiving these instructions, we also ask that you arrive 30 minutes before the Mass so that your child has the opportunity to rehearse.
Becoming a catechist
Do you enjoy working with children? Have you ever been curious about becoming a teacher? Maybe not now, but as you were growing up and for whatever reason you chose a different profession.
Our Religious Education Ministry needs your help! Please share your gifts and talents with our community. Our children are eager to learn about God and it is our responsibility as Baptized disciples to help others strengthen their relationship to God.
Religious Education Advisory Board
This board is in the process of formation. If you have an interest in learning more about how you can become involved, please contact the Directors of Religious Education.
For questions, comments, or concerns please contact us:
Elizabeth Becerra, Religious Education Director K-5th grade
Mark Restaino, Religious Education Director 6th-8th grade and Youth Ministry Director
You may also email our general mailbox: firstname.lastname@example.org