Religious Education

Welcome to the Religious Education Program of Mary, Mother of Divine Grace Parish in Westchester, IL! Our IN-PERSON Faith Formation year (2022 – 2023) has come to a successful end! We thank God for his blessings and are very grateful to our Catechists/teachers, Classroom Aides, RE Staff, parents and all of our volunteers for working together to make it a great year! We are looking forward to a New Year of Religious Education with faith and hope. Please check out the following information about the new year and register your child(ren) before August 15, 2023. Below is some important information about our RE Program:

1. The new RE Year will begin on Monday, September 18, 2023 from 6:15PM – 7:30PM at the Divine Infant (Old) School Building – Address: 1640 Newcastle Ave. Westchester, IL 60154.

2. Registration Forms for NEW and RETURNING students are available for downloading at the bottom of this page.

Completed Registration Forms should be mailed or dropped off at the Divine Providence Rectory Monday – Friday between 8:30am – 4:00pm (or leave in the mail slot in the door at 2500 Mayfair Ave, Westchester, IL 60154. There is a deposit of $50 per family due at the time of registration, which will be part of the total tuition amount. The FULL AMOUNT of the TUITION is due at the time of Registration. Any financial constraint should be discussed with Sr. Christine, Director of Religious Education (at the time of Registration) to come up with a possible arrangement. Our hope is for any child to receive the faith formation they deserve regardless of the family’s financial situation. WALK-IN Registrations at the Religious Education Office at Divine Infant are welcome. Please call Sr. Christine at (708)865-8086 or (317)313-8266 to schedule an appointment.

3. Tuition for 2023 – 2024 (also see payment information at the back of the Registration Forms):
$250 for 1 child
$350 for 2 children
$450 for 3 children+

4. Sacramental Fees for 2023-2024 (also see the payment information at the back of the Registration Forms):
$100 for Holy Eucharist (First Communion)
$125 for Confirmation

6.Payment Method: Checks, Money Orders, Cash and Credit Card payments are all accepted. Please make checks payable to Mary, Mother of Divine Grace Parish (Religious Education).

7. Credit/Debit Card Payment Option: If you wish to use a Credit Card, there is an additional Credit Card Fee of 4%. To pay by credit/debit click on the following link: https://www.wesharegiving.org/App/Form/70a29401-a609-4112-bc8c-33573e909348

8. Call Ms. Lisa Keeney, Director of Operations at (708)562-3364 ext. 15, if you have any questions.

I invite you to partner with us, as we strive to enhance the Faith Formation of our students, helping them to become what God intended them to be in life.

Sister Christine Nantaba, IHMR Director of Religious Education
Mary, Mother of Divine Grace Parish
 

Some General Information About Our Program

What does the current RE Curriculum look like?
The goal of our Religious Education Program is to share our faith with our young people; helping them to encounter Jesus Christ, and to develop a good and lasting relationship with him. We focus on Evangelization, where Administrators, Catechists and Parents work together to help our students grow in faith through scripture, prayer, service, observance of our Catholic church beliefs and traditions; and by emulating the lives of the saints.

What materials will the students need?
Grades 1 – 6 will use the “Christ In Us” Religion Textbook (from the Sadlier Publishing Company), Grade 7 will use “Living Our Faith,” while Grade 8 will use “Confirmed In Spirit,” a Confirmation preparation textbook from Loyola Press. First Communicants will use the Sacramental Prep. Resource called “Together in Jesus” for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion from the Pflaum Publishing Company. All Textbooks and any other supplies will be provided on the first day of Class.

Sacramental Preparation
We prepare our students to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, the Holy Eucharist (First Holy Communion) and Confirmation. Ordinarily, the general preparation for First Holy Communion takes place in Second Grade, and that of Confirmation in 8th Grade. However, we take students who need to receive these three sacraments at any Grade Level they may be, and offer them the necessary preparation.

Catechist/Teacher Responsibilities 
The Administration has created a 2023 – 2024 schedule of RE Classes which is posted towards the bottom of this page. Catechists will teach Religion Lessons  once a week to their respective Grade Levels. Catechists will prepare Lesson Plans and post Homework Assignments at www.christinus.com for Grades 1 – 6 and at www.sadlier.com for grades 7 & 8. Catechists will assess students’ progress through On-line assignments and tests, as well as through Verbal Tests and Family Activities.

Student Responsibilities
Students are expected to attend IN-PERSON Religion Classes every Monday, except on holidays, as indicated on the RE Calendar. Failure to attend any class without prior notice will count as an absence. Students must check their online Accounts at www.sadlier.com each week for Homework Assignments, Lesson and Unit Assessment Tests, and some other class activities and announcements concerning the RE Program. They should go to www.sadlier.com and sign onto their individual student accounts to access this information. Students should have all of their supplies ready before the beginning of each class; for example, the Religion Textbooks for their Grade Level, pens, pencils, crayons and any other additional resource that the teacher would have provided to the students/families beforehand. Students should take initiative for their faith formation by attending all scheduled RE classes, participating in class discussions and by completing their Homework assignments and Family Activities.

Parent Responsibilities
To drop their children off for the RE Classes on time and to pick them up accordingly. To make sure your students have their Religion Supplies every time they come to class; for example – the Religion Textbook, pencils, pen etc… To encourage their children to complete all Homework assignments, and to help with completion of the Family Activities. Avoid scheduling anything for your child during the time they are to be attending RE Classes, unless it is absolutely necessary. Notify the Administrator of Religious Education about your child’s absence. Keep a list of logins and passwords for each child. Keep your parent login information handy, just in case. Most important of all, to help our students practice their faith at home by saying their prayers, going to church to attend Mass, passing on your faith beliefs and traditions, and by exemplifying the Christian way of living in your homes. We are very grateful to our Catechists, Aides and Office Staff for their dedicated service to our Program. We welcome back our Returning Families and warmly welcome our New Families to the Program. We pray that God continues to bless us with a good, safe and faith-filled year!

Sister Christine Nantaba, IHMR Director of Religious Education
Mary, Mother of Divine Grace Parish
Westchester, IL
cnantaba@archchicago.org
708.865.8086