Welcome to St. Bonaventure Religious Education Program
Why should you send your child to St. Bonaventure Religious Education? Simply, Religious Education gives your child the spiritual tools to be able to better cope with the issues affecting them in our community and beyond. In no other time in our history, have our children needed the loving word of Jesus to help guide them to make healthy and critical decisions for themselves and the ones they love. The world’s problems have arrived on our doorstep and our children need Jesus now more than ever. Together, with you the parents, we will give these children the support they need to flourish in a world where it is increasingly more difficult to do so.
Grade Level Information:
Pre-K /Kindergarten
We offer Sunday classes to PreK (ages 4+) and Kindergarten students. This is offered at no cost, but registration is required. These classes teach the Word of Jesus to our smallest parishioners who want to be in class just like their older siblings! An early start to their spiritual journey gives them core values and habits to begin to build a solid foundation.
1st Grade
Children preparing for the sacrament of the Eucharist must attend instruction in grade 1, they do not need to participate in the Pre-K/Kindergarten program. However, if they have not attended the school year program for grade 1, they may attend the Summer Program for grade 1 and be prepared to enter grade 2 in the fall with their peers. Please contact Sheilah Burleigh Segatore, CRE at stboncre@verizon.net for more information.
2nd Grade
Preparation for the Eucharist - Dynamic Catholic's Blessed series for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will be used for both in class and homeschool options. The children in grade 2, and all other students of other grades, preparing to receive their First Communion will celebrate God's forgiveness and healing love for them in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in December. Children will also participate in a retreat "Walk with Jesus" the Saturday before Easter. First Communions are held the first three weekends in May. Exact dates are currently available on our Religious Education calendar.
3rd - 8th Grades
Using www.catholicbrain.com for both in class and homeschool options, students grades 3- 6 learn to uphold their faith and go out into the world as Catholics with core Catholic beliefs, practices, and principles so all students, including diverse learners, can truly embody their faith. Grades 7 and 8 expand the focus on spirituality and engage in prayer, reflection, activities, discussion, and meditations. Grade 7 & 8 will also use Bishop Barron's Word on Fire in classroom sessions.
High School
We offer a two year Confirmation program for High School students (usually 9th & 10th grades but may also be up to 12th grade) that will prepare them for the future they will face. They will be taught how to move forward to adulthood with the confidence that God loves them and will help them with the choices they make, good or bad. We use Dynamic Catholic’s Decision Point and Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire: Catholicism 101 as a start for discussion and activities throughout the year. Both years, students will be expected to complete community service using Corporal & Spiritual Work of Mercy as a starting point. Quality of service choice over quantity of hours will be stressed.
Program Options:
Summer Program
A two week immersive morning program where students will be instructed in both indoor and outdoor classrooms. Extra-curricular experiences (Scholastic Book Fair, art, music, How To Be an Altar Server, How To Be a Youth Lector, Mass/potluck breakfast Friday) and trips to the Rosary Walk, and Stations of the Cross will round out the mornings.
School Year Program
Runs September to April and is offered to children in Grades Pre-K - High School. Classes are 1.5 hours approximately 2x's/month, during the academic school year. Students are divided into small groups by grade and meet in the parish center.
Home School Program
Currently, only grades K-8 with the exception of sacramental studies (First Communion and Confirmation) are completed at home. With the easing of current state guidelines, we are anticipating less restrictive pandemic policies to be in place for Fall ’21. This will allow a return to sacramental studies being completed in the parish classrooms. We will continue to limit the number of students per class to 10. If there are any changes to this policy, we will certainly alert everyone in a timely manner.