Children’s Religious Education

Religious education for children in grades K - 6 will begin Sunday, September 24th 2006, from 9:30am to 10:20am in the Siena Center. (The Siena Center is 1 block north of the church and school.) Religious education will be available approximately three Sundays per month throughout the school year. Because our Sunday morning class includes a broad age range, we will be utilizing Godly Play materials/format. Godly Play is an imaginative approach to faith formation. Using this approach we will explore parables, sacred stories, the sacraments, prayer, and liturgy in order to deepen our understanding and love of God. In the fall we will begin our journey together by studying/exploring pivotal stories from the Hebrew Scripture. We will be augmenting the Sunday morning program with home materials that are grade level specific. There is no cost for the program, but registration is required.

Registration forms are available at the west entry of the church. You may also request a form by e-mailing Jeanne Hall at jeannehall@stcatherineparish.net. Please bring a completed registration form to the first class that your child attends.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)

CLOW will return to the Sunday 10:30am liturgy beginning on October 15th. CLOW will be scheduled one Sunday per month throughout the school year. This program is most appropriate for children ages 4-11.

Opportunities for Youth/Children to Lector, Greet, and Usher

Children and youth are invited to participate as lectors, greeters, and/or ushers at the 5pm mass on Saturday evenings when the Children’s Choir leads us in song. This will occur one time per month during the school year. In order to lector, youth and children will need to attend training/practice sessions prior to their participation. Details on the training/practice sessions will be forthcoming in the Sunday bulletin. Children who greet or usher will be provided with a brief orientation just prior to mass. This is a wonderful opportunity for our children and youth to help lead us in liturgy! All interested in participating, please contact Jeanne Hall at 206-524-8800 or by e-mail at jeannehall@stcatherineparish.net.

Sacramental Preparation

First Reconciliation: This program prepares second-grade children or older (already baptized Catholic) for their First Reconciliation. If you intend to have your child participate, please attend the required parent meeting on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006, from 7:00 to 8:30pm in the Siena Center. Preparation classes for the children will begin on Sunday October 29th from 9:15am to 10:20am in the Siena Center.

First Eucharist: This program prepares second-grade or older (already baptized Catholic) for their First Eucharist. If you intend to have your child participate, please plan to attend the required parent meeting on Wednesday, February 7th, 2007, from 7:00 to 8:30pm in the School Basement. Preparation classes for the children will begin on March 11th, 2007 from 9:15am to 10:20am in the Siena Center.

Confirmation: This program prepares youth (who have already been baptized and received First Eucharist and First Reconciliation) in grades 10-12 to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Details on meeting times will be available in the Sunday bulletin in November.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC)

This program is for children age 7 or older who are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation in the Church. We will meet on Thursday evenings, beginning October 5th, 2006, 7- 8:30pm, 3 times/month to explore the Roman Catholic Faith. Our sessions will follow the schedule of the RCIA class. We will use art, drama, and storytelling to help us creatively explore our faith stories and traditions. If you are interested in having your children participate in this program, please contact Victoria Ries or Jeanne Hall at 206-524-8800.

Service Learning Projects

Children in grades 7 and 8 are invited to participate in service learning projects. We hope to empower each participant to live the Gospel call to “Love one another” (John 13:34). Service Learning Opportunities (3-5 hours long) will be offered at least once in the fall, winter and spring and may include volunteering with Chore Service, assisting at a soup kitchen for homeless individuals, working at food banks, or working on an environmental project. Details will be forthcoming in Sunday bulletins.

Children entering grade 8 in the fall of 2007 are invited to participate in the Migrant Youth Project, a 5-6 day intense volunteer experience in mid-late June, coordinated through St. Charles Parish in Burlington, WA. This program is a wonderful opportunity to grow in faith and love while serving the migrant community. Participants will have opportunities to reflect on scripture, listen to a discussion on immigrant rights/human rights, pray, attend a Spanish mass at the migrant camp, host a fiesta for children in a migrant camp, assist with the clothing and food bank, and even play and relax a bit.

Vacation Bible School

Children 4-12 are invited to participate in Vacation Bible School, a fun-filled opportunity to explore scripture through storytelling, drama, art, outdoor games, songs, and skits! Vacation Bible School is held one week each summer, Mon-Fri from 9am-noon. In 2006 we had 70 children participate and 15 middle school and high school students volunteer! It was a wonderful faith enhancing experience. We host this event with Blessed Sacrament.

Youth Group

Attendance at our youth group events last year was erratic. If there is interest and commitment expressed, we will work towards developing a youth program. Please contact Victoria Ries if you are a student in high school who is interested in helping to create and participate in a St. Catherine youth group, or if you are an adult interested in developing and supporting an ongoing program for our high school students. Victoria can be reached at 206-524-8800.

Any adult or teen interested in volunteering to help with Sunday Faith Formation, CLOW, Sacramental Preparation, Service Learning Projects, or Vacation Bible School, please contact Jeanne Hall at (206) 524-8800 or at jeannehall@stcatherineparish.net. We need many volunteers to enable us to provide quality programs for faith formation!