Regarding Class Schedules

Program Policies

Sacramental Preparation

Sacramental Prep - Catholic School Students

Special Needs Classes

Home Based Catechesis

Children’s Catechumenate

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)

Adult Confirmation Classes

Adult Faith Formation

Grades 1 - 8 (PDF version)

Grades 9 - 12 (PDF version)

Grades 1 - 8 (PDF version)

Grades 9 - 12 (PDF version)

Grade 2 (First Communion & Penance)

Grade 2 Schedule

Grade 9 - 12 (Confirmation)

Sundays and Tuesdays

Edge Program

Confirmation - Level I

Confirmation - Level II

Confirmation - One Year Schedule -Levels I & II

Scheduled Activities for 2011/12

Family with one student: $100

Family with two or more students: $175

· Please make check payable to" St. Michael Parish"

· Registration fees are automatically waived for the children of our catechists

Forms and checks can be mailed to us at:

St. Michael Parish

20 High Street

Hudson, MA 01748

Parents are reminded that participation in Mass on a weekly basis is crucial to the faith formation of their children. If your child/ren are enrolled in a weekday class it is expected that they will participate in weekend Mass with the parish community as well.

Three sessions of classes are available to families with children in grades 1-5:

• 1) Sunday morning, from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (for those who prefer the 10:30 a.m. Mass)
• 2) Sunday morning, from 10:15 - 11:15 am. (for those who prefer the 9:00 a.m. Mass)
• 3) Tuesday evenings from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Since classroom may be restricted at any of these sessions or if we are unable to find enough catechists for all grades. Availability may be limited to families who register their children early.

We offer a choice of two different programs for our early adolescents in these grades.

• 1) The "Edge," program offers youth ministry based catechesis designed to involve students in lessons, presentations, discussions and activities. Edge "meetings" take place once a month for each grade on alternating Mondays. Meetings are held from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the parish center. A schedule of dates for the 2011/12 school year is available on our website.
• 2) For families who prefer the traditional classroom structure, we offer classes on Sunday mornings, along with grades 1 - 5. The session for these grades on Sunday mornings (either the 9 - 10 or the 10:15 - 11:15) will be determined by the number of students who are registered for each. If one session has five or less students in any of these grades, those students will be combined with the class of the alternate session.

All students are welcome to participate in the Religious Education Program of St. Michael’s parish. Every effort will be made to provide for the catechetical needs of each individual. Registration forms are available in the rear of the church, at the parish Religious Education Office and on this web site.

Children who will be six years of age before September 1st, should be enrolled in grade one classes. Exceptions can be made upon further discussion with the program director. Older students who are new or returning to the program will be placed in classes appropriate to their age or school grade.

• One student in a family: $100
• Two or more students in a family: $175

Sunday classes: In the event of a severe snow or ice storm classes will be canceled to insure the safety of the children and their families. Announcements of cancellation will be listed on television channels: 4, 5 & 7, as well as on radio stations WRKO (680 AM) and WBZ (1030 AM)

Weekday classes, including the Edge program for grades 6 - 8 and the high school Confirmation program are automatically canceled when there is no school that day due to bad weather. If a storm occurs later in the day, while students are at school, cancellations will be listed on television channels: 4, 5 & 7, as well as on radio stations WRKO (680 AM) and WBZ (1030 AM).

Note: Please do not call the Parish Center regarding cancellation of classes. This ties up the phone line and prevents parishioners from contacting the priest in case of emergency.

• · Following the policies of the archdiocese, we try to place an average of 12 students in each class. However, due to our space limitation and the structure of the parish center rooms, class size can range from 6 to 18 students. Most larger classes will have more than one catechist.

• If we are not able to find enough catechists for each class, students who are registered before classes begin will be assigned to classes with catechists. Families registering on the first day of classes or later might have to instruct their children at home until a catechist can be found for that grade level.

Note: Please understand that we are not referring to registration as "paying money." Registration means reviewing the form, making any changes or additions and returning it to the program director. We appreciate when fees can be paid at that time, but also understand that some families might need to wait. No student is ever turned away for lack of fees and all students are given textbooks.

Disrespectful or continuously disruptive behavior should not have to be tolerated. Catechists deserve respect from students and other students deserve the chance to learn without constant interruption.

When discipline problems arise, the student will be given three warnings:

• · The catechist will remind the student that they will be sent to the office if they continue to misbehave.
• · The student will be sent to the office to speak with the program director.
• · The parents will be notified and asked to meet with the director and catechist before the student will be permitted to return to class.

Every effort will be made to work with the parents and students to find solutions to allow the student to remain in the program. However, in extreme cases, parents will be asked to instruct their child at home under the guidance of a parish staff member or to participate in classes along with the child for the remainder of the school year.

Recognizing the many demands placed on parents today, St. Michael’s Parish does not adhere to a policy of "permitted absences" or "required number of classes." Instead, we ask that parent’s make every effort to take seriously their responsibility to provide sound formal religious education for their children through participation in as many classes as possible.

First Communion is celebrated in the spring of each year. Two years of preparation is necessary to properly prepare children for this sacrament. Therefore, children should be enrolled in the program at the beginning of grade one to receive First Communion at the end of grade two.

A special program is available for children who have not participated in a religious education program for grade one. Children are enrolled in this class with the understanding that parents will cooperate fully in attempting to prepare the children for First Communion in one year. Enrollment into this program will be permitted only at the discretion of the program director in collaboration with the pastor.

Older children (grade three and up) who are in need of First Communion will be placed in their appropriate grade level and will be prepared in special classes during the school year. Every effort will be made to help older children feel comfortable and welcome in preparing for and receiving this most important sacrament.

Parents of all children in any of the above programs are required to attend one meeting prior to First Communion.

First Penance is celebrated in November or December of each year for grade two students. Students of any grade level can make First Penance at any time throughout the school year after being properly prepared by a catechist or parent.

Parents of children preparing for Reconciliation for the first time are required to attend one meeting prior to First Penance.

Confirmation is celebrated in the fall of each year. Since our high school program is ungraded, preparation for Confirmation can take over a period of one to four years, depending on the students willingness and ability to make a serious commitment to the program and to the parish. Candidates work with their Confirmation catechists, sponsors and parents in determining their readiness for this sacrament.

Our Confirmation program welcomes all students in grades 9 - 12. Teens who may have dropped out of the program are encouraged to meet with the program director or one of the parish priests to discuss a schedule that can take as little as one year to complete. Older high school students in particular will be pleased to find that there are other teens of the same age already involved in the program.

18 years olds and up who wish to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation are welcome to join a special program with other adults. To enroll in this class please contact our Pastoral Associate, Carmen Giombetti at 978-562-2552, x324 or the Religious Education Office.

Since their school curriculum includes preparation for both sacraments, Catholic school students are not required to attend parish Religious Education classes in preparation for First Penance or Eucharist. However, they are always most welcome to join our Religious Education classes at any time.

For Catholic school families, our parish program offers parent meetings for each sacrament, a special one-day retreat for all First Communicants in the parish, as well as, liturgy planning for both sacraments and rehearsals for First Communion day.

Catholic school students should be enrolled in the parish program in the fall of grade two. Special registration forms are available in the parish Religious Education Office for children who would like to celebrate First Penance and Eucharist at St. Michael’s.

According to the guidelines of the Boston Archdiocese, students who attend Catholic high school are expected to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation within their parish community*. Therefore, the religious studies curriculum in our Catholic high schools does not include preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Instead, preparation for Confirmation falls under the responsibilities of the pastor and parish religious education program and, most importantly, within the parish community.

Recognizing their religious studies at school, students from St. Michael Parish who attend Catholic high schools need only to complete the second level of our Confirmation program. Teens from other parishes will be welcomed into our Confirmation program with the permission of their our pastor*.

Students in grades 11 and 12 who have not been confirmed are also most welcome in our non-graded program.

Whenever possible, children with special needs will be included in our regular schedule of classes. If your child has a classroom aid at school, please let us know in advance, as we will need to be sure that someone is available to help them in Religious Education classes as well.

We offer a special program for families with special needs children who cannot participate in our regular schedule of classes. Please contact the Religious Education Office to enroll your child in this class.

National Directory for Catechesis

St. Michael’s Parish adheres to a policy that children who are preparing for the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and/or Confirmation should be included in the parish program for grades 1 and 2 and high school. However, parents of children in grades 3 - 8 who would like to catechize their children at home should contact the parish Religious Education office to arrange for an appointment with the director and/or pastor to discuss plans for home-based catechesis.

Parents who are home schooling their children in religious education will need to participate in three meetings, with the parish program director, throughout the school year. The purpose of these meetings is to give support and assistance to parents, as well as, to fulfill archdiocesan requirements in verifying the progress of children in home-based catechesis.

Children who have reached the age of reason (usually age 8) before baptism are welcomed into the children’s catechumenate to prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. The catechumenate process consists of weekly Sunday Mass, followed by one - two hours of catechesis and lasts for one to two years before reception all three sacraments at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. At least one parent should accompany the child/ren through the catechumenate process.

To enroll a child in the catechumenate, please contact the Religious Education office or Sheila Mahoney at 978-562-3148.

St. Michael’s Parish offers "The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults" (R.C.I.A.) This process welcomes teens and adults who wish to receive the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. It involves discussions on the Liturgy of the Word at weekend Masses along with a series of catechetical classes to prepare for reception of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday. Catechumens receive all three Sacraments of Initiation, administered by the pastor at the Easter Vigil Mass.

Classes for adults begin in the fall of each year for anyone over the age of 18. Adults who have received the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist are confirmed in the spring of each year by the bishop. To enroll in this class please contact Sheila Mahoney at 978-562-3148 or the Religious Education Office.

We will be offering a number of opportunities each year for adults to further their understanding of the Catholic faith through adult education courses. Dates and topics will be announced in the parish bulletin in advance.