RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM OPTIONSImplementing policy 420Nov., 2014

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM OPTIONS

Policy 420

What Does It Say? There must be 6 or more students in at least 9 grades

Below that: 1) Combine with a neighboring program

• A) Pastor contacts regional Vicar to inform him• B) Pastor contacts neighboring pastor(s) to inform them

(negotiate catechist sharing and cost sharing)• C) Pastor and staff plan to keep children affiliated to

parish 2) Run an alternative model program

• Note: Homeschooling is not considered an alternative program for the parish to employ

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM OPTIONS

Will they

go at all?

If the parents follow the children – what are the consequences to the parish?

Combining:Considerations

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM OPTIONS

How will youdeal with sacraments?

Who is availableto provide activitiesto keep familiesassociated withthe parish?

Combining:Considerations

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM PLANNING

An accurate reading of the revision of Policy 420 would suggest that it is Bishop’s Persico’s desire that parishes combine and share resources when possible.

Discussion – other considerations

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM OPTIONSPlanning Future Directions

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM PLANNING

Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains…

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!!

Begin in hope -Pray constantly-Trust that the Spirit is with you

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM PLANNING

Form a Team(you will need them later)

(pray whenever you meet)

Skip the parish doers: AND The parish nay-sayers

People who know the parish, its history and who will share that information

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM PLANNING

What are the “blocks” out of which you can build

something new?

No judging yet: AND SKIP the past bashing!!

Identify Strengths(you will build on these

later)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM PLANNING

Go Listento theCommunity

Group Your Ideas(you will change these

later)

No judging yet AND Skip the parish nay-sayers

then

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM PLANNING

What experience canwe draw on:

What is the community hoping for?

Remember: frustration is

hope expressed negatively

Re-Gather the Team

from listening(See - you needed them later)

(still praying)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM PLANNING

These are your ingredients

What is the best recipe to match the ingredients you have on hand!!

The Community’sExperiences

The Community’s

Hopes

The Community’s

Resources

Discussion – other considerations

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM OPTIONSAlternative Models Uncovered

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

First – choose the table…

…then the setting

STEP 1 STEP 2

How will you serve your recipe? A Process in Two Steps

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

...or

1. CONSIDER YOUR TABLE OPTIONS

Which table will best serve your recipe?

Simple/Stra

ight

Forw

ard

Enough room

for everyone

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

Family Gatherings with classes at parish

Family Gatherings with home classes

Your own variation on this theme

WHO IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR EDUCATIONAL EFFORT?

or

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

Whole Community Gatherings with age group classes

Whole Community Gatherings with at home sessions

Whole Community Gatherings without age segregation

Your own variation

MORE TABLE CHOICES

WHO IS THE FOCUS O

F YOUR

EDUCATIONAL EFFORT?

NOW IT IS TIME TO PICK THE PLACE SETTING

Is your focus on the families who have school age children?

Are you considering the educational needs of all the people of the parish?

Which FOCUS bests matches the CURRENT needs and resources of your parish?

Make this choice and…

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

.. Textbooks Lectionary Based Fashioning Faith Family Intergenerational Milestones Your own variation on

these options

STEP 2 SETTINGS CHOICES

Essential Question: Does the table setting work well with the table you have chosen?

What style of curriculum will best fit the structure you chose?

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

A pastor who has the time and the interest to be totally involved

A pastor and staff who are willing to be open to making mistakes with the patience to correct them

A staff person with considerable time and good organizational skills

A staff person interested and with the time to learn new approaches and resources

The ability and interest to weather the challenges of change for 3 to 5 years

There must be a recognized team of people who will support the change

WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO SUCCEED?

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

It can rejuvenate the entire parish because discipleship of adults becomes a prime focus (not only children)

Children will learn the faith where they have always learned it best, in households of faith

You can work to keep youth and young adults connected to the faith because faith is not just another class – it is something we all do forever

Vibrant parishes grow

WHAT MIGHT AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM DO FOR YOU?

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

Some resource samples are available on the table for your review

This material will be added to the website with all the appropriate links

Coming in March: A meeting featuring leaders from around the Diocese who are doing alternative models

Remember – pray now – pray often - for wisdom in discernment

DISCUSSION

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SMALL PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

WWW.ERIERCD.ORG/RE_SMALLPROGRAMS.HTML

Can be accessed from the main Religious Education Office webpage:

Look under “Religious Education Leaders”“Small Programs”