Religious Education

Religious Education

The religion program is the core of the curriculum at St. Jude Catholic School. Daily religion classes are directed toward instilling in students an understanding and appreciation for Catholic belief and practice. All students participate in classes and all religious events at St. Jude.

Each week students attend Mass (generally Friday at 8:30 am.) Students also attend special liturgies and prayer services for holy days of obligation, special feast days and other celebrations. The dates and times for St. Jude Catholic School Masses and prayer services are posted on the monthly calendar. Parents are always welcome to join the students and staff for Mass and prayer.

Prayer is a part of the daily routine at the beginning and end of the day and before and after lunch. A variety of prayer experiences are offered for students during each liturgical season throughout the school year.

CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is presented in addition to our Religion curriculum. Students in Pre-K thru second grade spend time each week working in the Atrium, the sacred space set aside for this catechesis.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd philosophy stresses that even very young children have a religious life. God is present to them in their deepest being and they are capable of developing both a conscious and intimate relationship with God. We provide materials based on age-appropriate Scripture passages and liturgical signs that nurture their relationship with God. The program balances exposure to our liturgy and the richness of our communal sacramental life with reading the Bible.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd lessons offer children a time of prayer and song, a time for the “presentation”, or lesson, and a time for individual work. The child's work is their prayer, and is the most important part of their visit to the Atrium.