Welcome to Saint Thomas More Parish Religious Education Program!
P.R.E.P.
We at Saint Thomas More & Our Lady of Mercy are dedicated to sharing our faith with our parish family. A faith journey is life long and begins with our Baptism. By living the Word and sharing your faith you make it stronger. As Pope Francis eloquently stated, “Life grows when we give it away.” As does faith.
Children need a solid foundation of faith and here at the Parish of Saint Thomas More we help lay that foundation. But we cannot do it alone. While we may be the building blocks the family is the cement that holds it all together.
Growing in faith and forming a lasting relationship with Jesus is the ultimate goal. Being part of a community in Christ is a blessing.
Thank you for joining us in bringing the love of Christ to the children.
God’s Good Blessings,
The Religious Education Staff
Mission Statement
“The Catechetical Ministry (Religious Education) must be understood in relation to Jesus’ threefold mission. It is a form of the ministry of the word, which proclaims and teaches. It leads to and flows from the ministry of worship which sanctifies through prayer and sacrament. It supports the ministry of service, which is linked to efforts to achieve social justice and has traditionally been expresses in spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Its purpose is to make a person’s faith become living, conscious and active through the light of instruction. Catechesis is a lifelong process for the individual and a constant pastoral activity of the Church” -- National Catechetical Directory --The purpose of our Religious Education Program here at St. Thomas More Parish is to enrich and challenge the lives of our young people with the Gospel message by word and example in a loving and caring Christian Community. Our program recognizes that parents are the primary educators of their children and their religious education; therefore, we strive to affirm and supplement, but never replace, religious education in the home. We continually strive to provide our support and guidance to assist each other in our task, as it is our belief that parents and catechists are partners in the formal religious education process for our children.
Our Program
Jesus told his disciples “Let the children come to me.” (Matthew 19:14). Hence the role of the Religious Education Catechists, Assistants, and Staff of Saint Thomas More and Our Lady of Mercy. We all realize that parents are the first and foremost educators of their children in our Catholic Faith. We understand that it is the parents who first teach children about God and His love for them by having them Baptized in the faith and then enrolling them in religious education classes to guide them on their faith journey.The Staff at St. Thomas More and Our Lady of Mercy want to assist parents in this endeavor. Therefore, we have established a formal Religious Education Program for grades one through eight. These classes include preparation to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation. With parents and the grace of God we offer a solid background in the Catholic faith. We are always looking for volunteers to share their faith, time, and talents with God’s children. We offer guidance and training to help you along the way.
Registration Process
You must pre-register at Parishsoft before you can register for classes. Please click one of the links below to begin that process or to watch a short (3 minute) tutorial (do not use a cell phone):
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST HAVE THE "MY EDUCATION TAB" WHEN YOU LOG ON TO PARISHSOFT IN ORDER TO REGISTER. IF YOU DO NOT, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN CORRECT THE ISSUE
2023-2024 Program Details
Supported Home Study Program:
The Home Study program will allow the children to complete their books at home. They will complete a 5-10 question chapter review online and have the results sent to a dedicated email address to track progress.
The Confirmation/8th grade program has been changed. All students who are to receive Confirmation in March must join a ministry for the year. Please click below for a list of ministries and to sign up.
In addition, all students will be required to attend seminars. We will offer one or more seminars each month. Some seminars will be mandatory. Seminars will begin in April.
We are asking that the students have a personal email address (it cannot be their school email since the school servers block our communications.) We will always include the parents in any email transmission that is sent to the students.
Summer 2023 Program:
The program will be for one week from 8:00-2:00.
Students will attend mass every the morning. On Friday everyone will be invited to attend mass (time to be determined).
There are two Sessions: A: June 26-June 30
B: August 21-August 25
All 8th graders will be required to teach during the Summer Program. We will train those students before the Summer. There will be an adult in the room as well to offer guidance.
All 7th graders are asked to bring either a tablet, laptop or smart phone each day.
They will be preparing a research project to be presented to the younger grades at the end of the week.
Books can be picked up from the Religious Education office weekdays between the hours of 8:30am - 3:30pm Monday-Thursday & Friday 8:30-1:30 . Please use the playground entrance.
Program Fees for the Supported Home Study Program 2023-2024 PREP year:
(Fees are subject to change each year)
1 Student: $165.60
2 Students: $258.75
3+ Students: $336.37
Program Fees for the Summer Program 2023-2024 PREP year:
1 Student: $280
2 Students: $450
3+ Students: $600
Please note that there is a $20 gown fee for 8th grade.
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The Mass is a hallmark of our faith. It is a gift from God. At mass we receive Jesus in the Eucharist to fill our hearts and soul with His love and devotion.
ALL CHILDREN are required to submit a bulletin signed by a deacon or priest, at least once a month (mass attendance should be every week). After mass pick up a bulletin and ask either the priest or deacon to sign it. You can bring the signed bulletin to the religious education office or submit it electronically. Be sure that your child's name is on the front of the bulletin. One bulletin per family each month. In addition, families are asked to attend at least 4 church events each year.
As an alternative to the bulletin, the children can submit their intentions during Mass. The intention cards can be picked up at in the rear of the church by the stained glass. They will be invited up during mass to drop their intentions in the basket on the steps of the sanctuary.
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We encourage the use of FORMED.org. It is a premier on-line platform filled with over 4,000 Catholic studies, movies, cartoons, audio dramas, ebooks, and talks--and it's free for every parishioner.
Use these simple steps to subscribe to FORMED:
- Enter our parish zip code
- Enter your name and email address. You're in!
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Communion
First Holy Communion is a sacrament of initiation and serves as a welcome to our faith. Receiving Communion is enrichment for our soul and mind as we partake in the True Body and Blood of Christ. It offers us strength and conviction of faith. The absolute best way to prepare your child(ren) for the reception of the sacrament is to attend mass each week.
This year Communions will be celebrated on April 15 & April 22 at 9:00am & 11:30am.
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CONFIRMATION
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." (Colossians 3:12-13)
Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation. It, along with Baptism and Communion is our welcome into the faith and invites us to form a lasting relationship with God.
As good Catholic Christians we are all called to give of our time and talents to help others. All Confirmation candidates are required to join a ministry for the year.
Confirmation Forms:
Confirmation will be celebrated in March 2024. There will be two ceremonies; 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Students will be assigned a ceremony based on their last name.
"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received."
Peter 1:10