Welcome to

Growing In Faith Together

The GIFT of Religious Education

Foundations in the Faith

Faith Formation for Children in grades 1-6.  Notre Dame children use the Call to Faith religion series published by Our Sunday Visitor.  Call to Faith is a developmental and age-appropriate curriculum of faith formation.  The mysteries of our faith are systematically presented in seven doctrinal themes of the Church:

Revelation

Trinity

Jesus Christ

The Church

Morality

Sacraments

The Kingdom of God

The GIFT program invites children to grow in their knowledge of the faith by offering a comprehensive presentation of the Catholic faith – drawn from scripture and tradition -and a diversity of prayer and faith activities - that encourage children to share their faith, connect their faith, and live their faith.

The GIFT program for grades 1-6 meets on Sunday mornings from 10:45 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. OR on Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 p.m. until 5:45 p.m.  Registrations are taken on a ‘first come’ basis.  If a session is full, the child will be placed in a session on the alternate day.  Early registration is encouraged.  A home-study program is available for children who are unable to join us on campus.  All families, who are registered parishioners, are welcome in the GIFT program!

Family Faith Formation
Faith-at-Home materials are provided so families can reflect on the unit themes together.  The prayers and seasonal activities encourage faith-sharing and faith-learning in the home, and help children make important connections between the church (faith received) and the home (faith lived).  In addition, GIFT events (family gatherings) are held throughout the catechetical year on campus for family spiritual enrichment.

The GIFT program also provides an online resource for families.  There are Learner Sites for adults, and children in every grade level, which include lesson activities, games, family articles, a bible search, and scripture readings.  Left click on the link below:

Call To Faith eConnect | Home 

Faith Alive 78
Faith Alive is a parish program of Faith Formation for Youth in grades 7-8.  Notre Dame youth meet on Sunday afternoons from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. (twice a month).  Our young Disciples and Believers are engaged in small faith groups & a variety of large group faith activities, special events, service, and social gatherings.  They also participate in a Teen Mass on the 2^nd Sunday of each month.

Sacramental Preparation
At Notre Dame, children prepare for First Reconciliation & First Eucharist in grades one and two, and receive these sacraments in grade 2.  There is also a preparation process available for older children who missed these sacraments in grade 2.

 (You may call the Director of Children’s Faith Formation for more information.)

We are “one body in Christ”, therefore, the children in both the parochial school and the public schools come together for these sacramental celebrations.  First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are “family” celebrations at Notre Dame!

ND families celebrate First Reconciliation prior to preparing for and receiving First Eucharist. 

Signs of Readiness for First Reconciliation:

• The child is able to take responsibility for wrongdoing.
• The child can ask for forgiveness without being told.
• The child can express sorrow in their own words.
• The child has a sincere desire to do better.

Signs of Readiness for First Eucharist:

• The child regularly attends Sunday Mass with his/her parents.
•  Prayer is a part of the child’s daily life.
• The child shows a sense of reverence for God.
• The child has a relationship with Jesus.
• The child knows the difference between ordinary bread and the Body & Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist.
• The child has successfully completed the preparation program.

We are here to serve you and your family! Thank you for choosing Notre Dame for your child’s Religious Education!

If you would like to enroll your child(ren) in the GIFT program, then please fill out and Submit the registration form.