Mission Statement

The Mission Statement of Our Lady of Hope Religious Education is to look upon each child as created in the image and likeness of God and as a reflection of His goodness. Realizing that God has created all things for His glory and our benefit, the challenge of being a living witness to the Gospel should be central to the development of each student. Therefore, at Our Lady of Hope, understanding Jesus and His message is essential to knowing Him, loving Him and serving Him always.

The core elements listed below form the foundation and strength of the Our Lady of Hope Religious Education Program. With these we seek to cultivate the hearts, minds and souls of our students to their fullest potential.

• The dignity of the individual, as a unique child of God, is nurtured and developed.
• The doctrine of the Catholic faith is presented in its fullness and entirety as both knowledge to be learned and as life to be lived.
• Sacramental life is central to developing the Catholic faith.
• That the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Real Presence of our Lord in the Eucharist is the center of our faith.
• The frequent reception of the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist is promoted.
• Reverence for God's Word is fostered.
• Mary's example, as the first disciple of Jesus, is our model.
• That the Gospel message and moral life expressed in the Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are professed, cultivated and practiced in everyday life.
• That the virtues are fostered and practiced in every day life.
• Reading and studying the lives of the saints as an example for us is encouraged.
• Prayer is important for growth in spiritual life: the Rosary, personal prayer, the Mass, etc.

Role of Parents

Parents are the primary religious educators of their children. The home is where a child first experiences the Catholic faith. You teach primarily by the example you set. It is extremely crucial for children to experience the love of God in their homes. The Religious Education Program aims to work in partnership with parents in order to assist them in living their vocation as educators of your children. The Religious Education Program should merely complement, not replace, the catechesis, which your children should receive in the home.

The Religious Education Program assists parents in their God-given role as educators of the Faith by:

• Providing weekly religious education classes for children in a classroom setting with three formal evaluations (report cards)
• Providing the opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration by attending Children’s Holy Hour.
• Providing quarterly opportunities to help the poor and needy
• Providing one faith community building activity per semester
• And by providing the truth of the Roman Catholic Faith as handed down by Jesus Christ through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, the Magisterium (teaching authority) of the Church, and the Church Fathers.

All Christian education finds its source within the sacramental life of the Church. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that children are given the opportunity for frequent participation in the Sacrament of penance and weekly Sunday attendance at Holy Mass. Knowledge of the Catholic faith that is not upheld by the practice of the sacramental life is empty knowledge. Please ensure that your children are able to participate in the life of the Church by attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and if possible on Thursday evenings at the Parish Holy Hour.

Finally, please make every effort to have your child arrive on time for class. This is particularly important because classes are held only once a week. Students should arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the start of class.

We remind you that the role of a Religious Education program can only be secondary to you, the parent. We encourage you to do all you can, and we promise to do the best we can to aide and guide the sacramental preparation of your child.

We offer these tips for preparing your child for the Sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion:

• Attend Sunday Mass together, failure to attend Sunday Mass is a grave sin.
• Help your child to fully participate in the Mass. Remember if you don’t sing or recite the responses, neither will your child.
• Pray with your children, you are their first example of the faith.
• Take your child to Church to visit Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament. Explain how Jesus is waiting in the Tabernacle for us to come to Him, how He loves us to come and just be with Him.

Students’ Role

Students are expected to be punctual and prepared for class. Students should arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the start of class. Each week, students should bring their textbooks, writing utensils and completed homework assignments. Students should conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to a classroom environment.