Religious Education Programs for Children

St. Bernadette Parish offers several Religious Education (RE) programs for children of our parish families.  Our programs support the sacramental preparation process for Confirmation and Reconciliation/First Eucharist.

RE Programs

Program information, schedules and registration forms are listed below on this page.

View the 2009-2010 Calendar for RE and Sacramental Preparation programs at St. Bernadette.

Sacramental Preparation for Pope John XXIII students
Pope John XXIII students take their Sacramental Preparation classes through their parish. Catholic elementary students do not need to take additional RE classes. To register, complete the Sacramental Preparation Registration Form for Pope John XXIII students and return the form with payment to the parish office.

Questions?
For more information about RE and Sacramental Preparation classes at St. Bernadette, contact Melissa Graziano, Director of Catechetical Ministry, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children. It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children gather in an “atrium,” a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials that they use.

Children Ages 3-Kindergarten - Level I
Children 3 and 4 years old and those entering Kindergarten by October 1, 2008 are invited to participate in the Level I Atrium for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Our weekly Level One sessions are:

Level I atrium sessions for Preschool/Kindergarten age begin September 28 and continue through May 19, 2010. (Working families receive first priority.) Class size is limited; please consider a first and second choice.

To register, return the completed Level I Registration Form with payment of fees to the Parish Office.

Children Grades 1-3 - Level II
Children in grades 1 through 3 are invited to participate in the Level Two Atrium for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Our weekly Level One sessions are:

• Tuesdays 4:00-5:30 PM
• Wednesdays 4:30-6:00 PM
• Thursdays 4:00-5:30 PM or *6:00-7:30 PM

Level II atrium sessions for grades 1 through 3 begin September 28 and continue through May 19, 2010.Class size is limited and priority is given to children continuing on from the Level One atrium; please consider a first and second choice.  (Working families receive first priority.)

To register, return the completed Level 2 Registration Form with payment of fees to the Parish Office.

Call to Faith

Children Grade 4-5

Faith is both a gift from God and our free response to God. Faith includes not only an intellectual understanding of doctrine but also a conversion of heart, or the adoption of a way of life. Faith is developed and best lived in community. Living as a person of faith means looking at our actions and the world in a different way than do others who are not people of faith. Our Call to Faith Series will be supplemented with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd materials.

Our weekly children’s Call to Faith sessions are on:

• Tuesday 4:00-5:30 PM
• Wednesday 4:30-6:00 PM
• Thursday 4:00-5:30 PM & 6:00-7:30 PM*

This program begins September 28 and continues through May 19, 2010.

To register, return the completed Call to Faith Registration Form with payment of fees to the Parish Office.

Our goal is to help your child to have a balanced experience of the Lectionary, Mass, and the Church.