Religious Education Program
Metropolitan Stephen Sulyk visits a Religious Education class.
From the Director of Religious Education
We welcome you and your child to our Religious Education Program — serving the families of our Shrine.
We solicit your support and participation as we continue to bring into focus the primary and major purpose of a Religious Education Program — that is, to teach our children to imitate the role model of Christ by learning and living His Gospel Message. Our aim is to help your child develop a sense of traditional values that would lead to a communion of love with a real, personal, and caring God; together with all the peoples of the world.
In closing, we are very excited and enthused about the upcoming catechetical year. We anxiously look forward to helping your child proceed along his/her journey to discover God. We ask for your support and participation — both in private at home with your child, and here at the Parish classroom.
We also ask for your prayers; that God may bless us, our work, and your children.
— Rev. Nestor Iwasiw
Policies & Requirements
Eligibility
Your family must be registered members of the Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine. If you are not, please call the Shrine Office (202-526-3737) for a Registration form.
Children who are five years old by 31 December of this year are eligible to begin our Religious Education Program in the Kindergarten class.
Catechetical instruction will last for one hour running from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Children are normally grouped by the grade in which they are studying in their secular academic setting. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis for serious reason.
Attendance
Attendance at Sunday Divine Liturgy and our Religious Education is extremely important and vital to the learning process. Religious education without Sunday worship sends the wrong message to a child, and is contrary to our traditional Ukrainian Catholic Eastern Church teaching.
We ask that you make every effort possible to have your child attend Sunday Divine Liturgy and Religious Education classes on a prompt and consistent basis. Excessive lateness and numerous absences disrupt the class and hurt all of the children.
Discipline/Behavior
Our Religious Education Program is intended to provide an environment that is safe, instructive, and nurturing for our children. As such, we will not tolerate disciplinary problems in the classroom which take away from the learning experience of those children who are behaving properly and listening attentively.
Role of Parent
We wish to emphasize that the primary responsibility for Religious Education rests with, you, the parent. Consequently, your active involvement is essential in creating a learning experience that is Christ-centered.
What your child is experiencing and living at home and in school becomes an integral part of him/herself. This is later transmitted to others. What is experienced within a catechetical session here at the Parish needs affirmation in the home.
It is important, therefore, that you understand and realize that the time we have with your child on Sunday does not allow for deep reflection on the many aspects of spiritual life that will be discussed in class. We, in the Religious Education Program, will plant the seed of learning — you, the parent, must nurture it at home in the family. This opportunity for such intimate sharing can become a very special time for you and your child.
Recognizing the extremely vital role that you, as a parent, play in the religious development of your child, we invite you to participate in the Religious Education by attending classes along with your child. This will give you a chance to see first-hand the religious education experience we are offering. It will also provide the opportunity for you to get to know your child’s teacher and hopefully instill a desire to get even more involved in Parish life by participating in other activities.
Sacramental Preparation
To be eligible to receive Solemn Holy Communion, a child must have documentation of having been Baptized; be at least seven years of age; and at a minimum, be completing the Second Grade. This must be accompanied by the successful completion of at least two years’ attendance (excluding Kindergarten) in a Religious Education Program sponsored by our Parish (the “Saturday Ukrainian School” and/or the Sunday English–language Religious Education Program). Successful completion is determined by regularity of attendance; being an “active” participant; and, of course, comprehension of material.
We wish to strongly emphasize at this point that a child’s religious education does not end after reception of Solemn Holy Communion. Religious education is a lifetime commitment and obligation that each one of us has as Christians baptized into the Church, the Body of Christ.
Solemn Holy Communion is held on a Sunday, in late May/early June. First Confession, along with a rehearsal for the ceremony will be held on the Saturday beforehand. You are also strongly urged to attend a meeting of parents to plan this special occasion that will take place approximately two months prior to the celebration.
You must present a copy of your child's Baptismal Certificate prior to/at that meeting. Therefore, if you do not already have a Baptismal Certificate, you are strongly urged to request a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate from the Parish in which he/she was baptized.