Catechesis
As Franciscans in the Third Order Tradition, instructing others about the Catholic faith is very much rooted in our tradition. That is why all of the religious education classes at St. Mary of Redford are taught by the friars. Catechesis is not meant merely to be preparation to receive the Sacraments— learning about the Catholic faith is a lifelong process. We have three separate religious education tracks: children, teen, and adult catechesis. Our goal is to impart the truth and the beauty of Catholic faith to all ages.
Children
Ages 6-12
Meets in the fellowship room from 9:30am-10:30am the second and fourth Sunday of the month beginning September 13th, 2020.
The goal of children's catechesis is to help our children come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and to learn the basic truths about their Catholic faith. Topics covered include personal relationship with God and prayer; the order of the Mass; Sacraments; and how to read and understand the Bible. We expect all our children to memorize basic prayers, especially those that are necessary for praying the Rosary, such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, the Fatima Prayer, and Apostles' Creed.
Teen
Ages 13-18
Meets in the rectory parlor from 9:30am-10:30am the second and fourth Sunday of the month beginning September 13th, 2020.
Teen catechesis is meant to build on the knowledge gained from the children's catechesis program. We want to help our teens develop the personal relationship with Christ and the intellectual understanding of the faith necessary to persevere in the practice of the Catholic faith as a youth and into adulthood. Topics covered include personal relationship with God and prayer; the order of the Mass and its history; Sacraments; Catholic biblical interpretation; discerning vocations to priesthood, marriage, or religious life; the basics of Catholic moral theology; as well as how to read and understand the Bible. Small group discussions are generally a part of each class period. In addition to the prayers covered in children's catechesis, teens will also memorize prayers such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Angelus.
Adult
Ages 18+
Meets in the rectory parlor from 9:30am-10:30am the second Sunday of the month.
We encounter so many faith-filled adults who say they wish they had the opportunity to receive more intellectual formation about the Catholic faith. Through our adult catechesis program, we hope to provide a casual environment that gives the adults in our parish to refresh and deepen their knowledge of Catholicism. Topics covered include personal relationship with God, the order of the Mass and its history (both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form), the Second Vatican Council, the penitential rule of the Church, and Catholic biblical interpretation. There is always time provided for a question and answer period. The friars are also happy to teach on topics that are requested by those participating in the class.