St. Mark's Religious Education
Welcome to St. Mark’s Religious Education…we have made a few changes. Please direct any questions or comments you have to our CRE Sandy Everett at 860-236-3545.
St. Mark’s church has adopted a combined traditional classroom instruction approach to Religious Education infused with parish wide/family activities several times throughout the year. Grade specific classes are in session from 9:00-10:15 approximately every other Sunday from late September through early May. This time frame allows our families to attend the 10:30 Mass together on Sundays. The children are also often active participants at Mass through special blessings and Sacramentals throughout the year. We hope you will join us as we grow in the faith together.
Grades Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
Grades K through 8 explore the WE BELIEVE curriculum by Sadlier Religion. The WE BELIEVE curriculum equips and encourages the students to learn and defend their faith. Each year focuses on a specific aspect of our faith and is enhanced with a spiral curriculum to reinforce the key concepts of our faith. Our classes are taught by volunteer Catechists and we encourage our youth to assist in our classes. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Sandy Everett.
Grade specific topics are as follows:
Kinder: God Creates Our World
1st Grade: God Loves Us
2nd Grade: Jesus Shares His Love with Us
3rd Grade: Sacramental Year—First Reconciliation and First Communion
4th Grade: God’s Laws Guide Us
5th Grade: We Meet Jesus in the Sacraments
6th Grade: We are God’s People
7th Grade: New Testament
8th Grade: Church History
In addition to these classes, all children, parents and other members of our parish are invited to attend Faith Formation Activities centered around Advent, Lent, Easter, etc.
Click here for the Registration form!
Confirmation Preparatory Classes
Our teens meet once a month for traditional classes on Sunday nights at the parish center. They are led by an experienced Catechist using the DECISION POINT curriculum by Dynamitic Catholic. In addition to the classes our teens practice the works of mercy through service to our parish and community. Our students will also learn about Saints which have special meaning to themselves.
The Confirmation classes are taught for two years beginning in 9th grade. They meet on Sundays from 6:30-8:00 in the parish center. The teens are Confirmed at the beginning of 11th grade.
Here are the forms that Confirmation Students need as they prepare for Confirmation:
Sample Confirmation Community Service Essay
Request for Confirmation Letter
First Reconciliation and First Communion:
First Reconciliation and First Communion classes will be offered for students who are entering third grade.
Click here for the 2019-2020 Religious Education Calendar.
RCIA/Children's Catechumenate
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and Children's Catechumenate is the process for initiation into the Catholic Church for those people who have not been baptized, have been baptized in a different Christian tradition, or who have baptized Catholic and have not received the sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation.
If a person would like to complete the initiation process, he or she is welcome to join us for the journey. Please contact our Department of Religious Education at 860-236-3545 about the Period of Inquiry.
During 10:30 am Mass, our youngest children are called to participate in age appropriate reflection on the week's readings. The priest will invite the children to go with one of our experienced teachers while the rest of the parish community listens to the readings and homily. The children return and process in during the offertory. Parents are always welcome to accompany their children downstairs.
Adult Enrichment
CBS Making Sense of the Bible Schedule
Understanding that faith formation never really ends, St. Mark’s will be offering several adult enrichment activities. Possible classes will include an introduction to Scripture with a Catholic focus, parenting teens with a faith focus, and traditional Bible studies centered in the Catholic faith. Watch the website and bulletin for more details!