Office for Pastoral Services


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I. Curriculum pillar: Profession of the Faith

Content pillar	Skills/Diocesan Content Standards	Suggested Family Involvement
1. Sacred Scripture		General involvement
		Display a Bible in your house, and help your child become familiar with it. Read it at bedtime. http://85.10.210.140/kinderbibel/index.php?bibel_showpictures=1&bibel_language=004& bibel_zoom=35&bibel_chapter=a-1-001&action=view&change_chapter=start Include Bible readings in regular family prayers. Read the Gospel together before you attend Mass. http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml After Mass explore ideas from the homily and readings. Invite your child to act out Scripture stories. Watch age appropriate Biblical movies. http://www.usccb.org/movies/familyvideo/videoall.shtml
		Specific involvement
	Tell that the Bible is made up of two sections: The Old Testament (before Jesus' birth) and the New Testament (after Jesus' birth).	Explore the family Bible. Show the two main sections. Explain that Jesus' coming to earth was so important that all of time is divided by before He came and after He came.
	Recognize that the readings at Mass come from both the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.	Encourage your child to really listen to the readings.
	Recall selected Bible stories from the Old Testament, and forgiveness and miracle stories about Jesus from the New Testament.	Have Bible story telling time as a family; focus on age appropriate stories such as creation from the Old Testament and miracles and forgiveness from the New Testament.
	Know about the Ten Commandments and how we received them, and relate how they help us love God and others.	As a family, talk about ways to love God and others. Explain the Ten Commandments are really God telling us about ourselves and what is good for us. It is most important for us to love God and to honor Him. We also love and honor God by loving others. http://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/ archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html#The%20Ten%20Commandments
	Know that the Gospels are part of the New Testament and are about the life and teachings of Jesus.	Make a family picture Bible, with your child's drawings of stories of Jesus' life from the Gospels.
	Retell the story of Passover and the Last Supper.	Plan a family Seder and draw connections between the Passover Seder meal and the Last Supper.
	Know that the four Gospel writers are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.	Find these books in the Bible. After Mass, ask your child whose Gospel we heard that day.
2. Creed		General involvement
		Listen as your child shares what he/she learned in religion class. Have a Catechism of the Catholic Church in the House. Make sure you are educated about the Faith so you can answer questions for your child. Have your child see you reading the Bible, the Catechism or some other spiritual work. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc/index.htm Display an image of Mary in your home and honor Mary as Mother of Jesus and your Mother.
		Specific involvement
	Tell that we know that God is a Trinity of three Persons: the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.	Encourage your child to start a relationship with each one of the persons of the blessed Trinity: Create a prayer to God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Teach your child the Sign of the Cross, and explain the importance of this small prayer. Teach your child the Glory Be. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/glory2.htm
	Describe the Holy Spirit as our helper sent to us by God to always live in our hearts.	Teach your child to ask the Holy Spirit for the intercession to make right decisions. Create a family poster using symbols of the Holy Spirit: wind, flames, a white dove and rays of light. http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s2c3a8.htm
	Tell that sin is choosing to do wrong, displeases God, and hurts others, and us.	Encourage your child to do good actions which are pleasing to God, offer Him good actions. Do good actions as a family - visit a sick relative, make a relative a nice present, share toys with someone, etc. Role-play situations and stories with characters who make selfish choices and then apologize (i.e. Cinderella and her step-sisters).
	Know that God the Father loves us even when we have sinned.	Help your child to examine his/her conscience each day, while focusing on God's love and forgiveness. You can use the Ten Commandments to do this. http://catholicparents.org/oxcart/examinationchild2.html
	(Explain the difference between Original sin, Mortal serious) sin, and Venial (less serious) sin.	Discuss the story of original sin and the fact that all sins hurt others. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1C.HTM Share the difference between the two types of sin. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6C.HTM
	Identify the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus as the source of the forgiveness of sins and our salvation.	Participate with your child in the celebration of Holy Week and explain to him/her how Jesus died on the cross for our sins but rose to life again on Easter Sunday. http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p122a4p2.htm Share ideas about the meaning of the verb "to sacrifice."
	Understand that we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus when we receive the Holy Eucharist.	Bring your child to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, where Jesus is. Tell your child the stories of Saints who had a devotion to the Eucharist. In an attitude of loving reverence, reflect your own awareness of the Real Presence in the Eucharist. Tell your child about miracles of the Eucharist. http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/a3.html
	Know that at Mass we gather to listen to God's Word, celebrate what Jesus has done for us, and receive his gift of the Eucharist, his Body and Blood.	Model active and spiritual participation in the Mass.
	Understand that Mary is the model for all Christians because she was always close to God and said "yes" to God with faith and trust.	Have an image of Mary in your house; bring flowers with your child to Mary. Put on a small play about the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Display an image of Mary in your home, and honor Mary as a model of perfect discipleship. Read with your child Luke 1: 26- 38 and thank Mary for her generous answer. http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke1.htm
	Know that the Feast of All Saints (November 1) celebrates all people who belong to the Communion of Saints, both in heaven and on earth.	Talk about family members who have died who were role models to you. Have each family member learn about a saint and share it. Ask your child which saint he/she would most like to be like. http://www.catholic.org/saints/

II. Curriculum pillar: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery

Content pillar	Skills/Diocesan Content Standards	Suggested Family Involvement
1.Worship &Sacraments		General involvement
		Go with your child to Mass where Jesus shares himself. Be an example during Mass, teach your children to behave because God is present. Show them how to genuflect and explain why we genuflect. Celebrate holy days. http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1371 Do things as a family on Sunday "The Lord's Day" Visit the Blessed Sacrament with your child frequently. Celebrate the day of each family member's Baptism. Create a prayer on Christmas Eve night and put the baby Jesus in the crib. Have your child help you with the preparations of Advent; make a nativity - a crib - with your child and add this to the Christmas decorations. Pray a novena in Advent to prepare for the Birth of Jesus. Teach your child Christmas songs. http://www.catholicculture.org/lit/prayers/view.cfm?id=53 or http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm Before the Christmas and Easter meals, have your child tell the story. http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke2.htm When it is your child’s celebration day, go with your child to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and make it a routine.
		Specific involvement
	Actively participate in the Mass.	Arrive and pray prior to the start of Mass; dress up and make sure your actions are reverent; help your child follow along; sing the hymns, say the responses loudly and like you mean what you are saying; stay to the end (after the choir is done singing); do not start organizing to go until after the Mass is over; pray after Mass; leave quietly; discuss the Mass afterwards. Make Sundays special and treat them as a day of rest.
	Know that during the Last Supper (Holy Thursday) Jesus changed the bread and wine into his Body and Blood.	Read the accounts of the Last Supper and explain what it means. Attend Mass on Holy Thursday and focus on this reality.
	Know that the Last Supper was the first Mass that Jesus celebrated with the Apostles the night before he died.	Organize a representation of the Last Supper. Explain what happened at the Last Supper. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P3Z.HTM
	Understand that the Eucharist, which is the Real Presence of Jesus, nourishes and strengthens us to follow Jesus.	When you go to another child's Baptism, explain the ceremony to your child. Explain that a new child is welcomed into the family of God; explain what it means to be part of the family of God - that we have to treat each other like family and that we want to try to be like Jesus.
	Recognize that the Mass has two main parts: Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist.	Tour the Church with your child. Point out the tabernacle and the sanctuary lamp. Explain the importance of these items.
	Know that through the sacraments, Jesus shares his divine life with us, which is called grace.	Explain that we are strengthened during Mass not only by the Eucharist, but also by the Word of God.
	Recognize that Baptism is the first sacrament.	Teach your child to always ask for grace - for the ability to know, love and serve Jesus.
	Know that when we choose to do wrong and fail to do good, we have sinned against God whom we should love above all things.	Celebrate your child's baptism by showing pictures, and explaining the meaning of the candle, white garment, and anointing. Use baptisms of other children that you attend to explain the sacrament further.
	Know that when we choose to do wrong and fail to do good, we have sinned against God whom we should love above all things.	Share family and childhood stories of forgiveness and reconciliation.
	Know that through the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation, we express sorrow for our sins, receive God’s forgiveness through the priest, and are reconciled with God and the people of the Church.	Discuss with your child the effects of this Sacrament. Go through the steps of Reconciliation with your child. http://www.catholic.org/prayers/confession.php
	Know that everyone must receive the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation before receiving First Communion.	Since Communion is Jesus' Real Presence and the real Body and Blood, we have to make sure we are prepared to receive Him. With the Sacrament of Penance we are reconciled with God and the Church.
	Receive the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.	Go with your child and receive yourself the Sacrament.
	Receive First Communion

III. Curriculum pillar: Life in Christ

Content pillar	Skills/Diocesan Content Standards	Suggested Family Involvement
1. Community & Service		General involvement
		Invite your child to give one gift to the poor at Christmas. As a family, participate in the life of your parish - i.e. serve as a lector, catechetical volunteer, etc. As a family, care for creation: plant flowers or recycle. Encourage your child to be generous to the poor and needy. Share the Good News in ordinary ways: encourage your child to be kind, patient, compassionate, generous and honest at home, at school, and in the neighborhood. Give example to your child sharing your time, treasure and talents with the Church.
		Specific involvement
	Teach that Mary became the Mother of God through the Annunciation.	Read the Gospel story of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) during family prayer. http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke1.htm
	Realize that once they have received First Communion, they participate more fully as members of the Christian community.	Ask your child to describe things he/she can do to stay close to Jesus and to decide on a specific thing he/she will do the next day. Gospel stories proclaim the Good News. Make a chart and show the ways you can proclaim the Good News at home, school, work, in your neighborhood, etc.
	Be familiar with Gospel stories where Jesus and his followers demonstrate love and service to others.	Take out the Bible and have each person tell about one story that is special to him/her and why. Act out Gospel stories which reflect Jesus' love and deep concern for the sick and the poor.
	Read Gospel stories showing love for others in action.	Share a personal story about a time when you made a sacrifice out of love. Create a Miracle Book with your child's drawings of Jesus healing and forgiving all people.
	Plan and participate in a service activity.	Have a tag sale to benefit the poor.
	Discuss ways people in our parish provide a life of service to others.	Share the parish bulletin with your child. Show him/her the many parish activities which serve others.
2. Christian Morality		General involvement
		Make a commitment with your child about one virtue that you are going to work on during the week. Or about a bad habit that you are struggling to overcome. As a family, watch a movie. After the movie, share ideas about the positives actions and the negative actions of the characters. Which character exemplifies the qualities of Jesus such us love, gentleness and compassion? Try to find that character, and use him/her as an example of good moral decision-making skills. http://www.usccb.org/movies/familyvideo/videoall.shtml Tell your child about the life of Jesus and how He taught us how to live. Talk about the qualities of Mary. Talk about the Sacrament of Reconciliation and how that can help you to lead a good and moral life. http://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/ archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html#The%20Sacraments%20of%20Healing Encourage your child to examine his/her conscience frequently (daily or every week). http://catholicparents.org/oxcart/examinationchild2.html Review the Ten Commandments. Why did God give us these rules of life? What would happen if everyone followed them? http://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/ archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html#The%20Ten%20Commandments
		Specific involvement
	Understand that the Ten Commandments reveal what is right.	Create a family prayer to ask for God's help to make good choices.
	Know that the great commandment of Jesus: “Love God with all your heart, mind, and all your soul, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” summarizes the Ten Commandments.	Make a list of the kind of choices people your age must make. Compare your list as a family and talk about which ones are easy and which ones are hard. Look at your list and talk about guidance God has given you about what kind of choices you should make.
	Examine their consciences in the light of the Ten Commandments.	Write a prayer asking for God's help in making good choices. Share the many ways one can show sorrow for selfish choices. Based on your ideas, create a family forgiveness poster. Ask your child to draw a heart and put words and actions on it that show how you can show you are sorry when you make a wrong choice.
	Know that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross re-presented in the Mass is the source of the forgiveness of our sins.	Help your child create a thank you card for Jesus, thanking him for all his gifts and sacrifices.
	Know that sin is choosing to do wrong, that it displeases God, and hurts us as well as others.	Explain the difference between sins and accidents and how sins have an impact on everyone. Discuss the difference between sin and temptation. Talk to your child about how his/her sinful action displeases God, and hurts themselves and others. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6A.HTM
	Know that when we sin and we are sorry for what we have done, we can always be forgiven. With the help of God’s grace and the sacrament of Reconciliation, we can begin again to follow Jesus and do what is right.	When it is your child’s celebration day, go with your child to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and make it a routine. Write a "forgiveness letter" to someone who needs your forgiveness.

IV. Curriculum pillar: Christian Prayer

Content pillar	Skills/Diocesan Content Standards	Suggested Family Involvement
1. Prayer & Spirituality		General involvement
		Make the Sign of Cross every day: in the morning, before meals and at night. Pray with your child always before meals. . http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=209 Pray with your child the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be when you enter a new Church or before travel. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/index.htm Teach child to always pray to his/her Guardian Angel. Pray to the Guardian Angel together. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/angel2.htm At bedtime make a prayer: giving thanks to God for His love and gifts, asking forgiveness for the bad things we have done and asking for blessings on our friends, family, and needs in the world. Tell your child some stories about saints. Celebrate your child's Saint's feast day. http://www.catholic.org/saints/ Buy your child religious objects as statues, medals. Be sure to explain their purpose and faith value. Pray the Rosary as a family. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/rosary/how_to.htm
		Specific involvement
	Recite an Act of Contrition.	Encourage the habit of a bedtime Act of Contrition. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/contrit.htm Ask your child what the prayer means - go line by line explaining its meaning.
	Participate in the rosary.	Review with your child the way to say the Rosary. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/rosary/how_to.htm Make a rosary poster, which reflects what prayers to say when.
	Describe how prayer is important to their relationship with God.	Keep a family prayer journal in a special place. In it, encourage your child to write his/her own prayers.
	Compose a personal prayer.	Ask your child to look around his/her home, school, church, and neighborhood and write down all the things he/she wants to thank God for. Make a banner out of your ideas.
	Know that the Lord's Prayer was given to us by Jesus.	Read and discuss Matthew 6:9-15 with your child. http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew6.htm
	Know that God hears their prayers.	Share a time when God answered a prayer of yours.
	Express their love for Jesus and Jesus' love for them through the reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.	Model this for your child. Bring them with you when you receive the sacraments.
	Participate in a guided examination of conscience.	Review your day and the choices that you have made throughout your day. Model this process. Use the Ten Commandments as a guide. http://catholicparents.org/oxcart/examinationchild2.html
	Know that we can ask Mary and the saints to pray for us, especially in times of need or temptation.	Find the saint of the day and make up a prayer together to the saint. Tell stories about the apparitions of Mary, especially Our Lady of Guadalupe. http://sancta.org/intro.html Teach the Memorare (Remember O Most Gracious Virgin Mary) to your child. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/Memorare.htm
	Describe that we gather as a Catholic family at Mass to celebrate the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.	Create a Tridiuum timeline.
	Indicate that the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation is a way to say we are sorry for our sins and to receive God's forgiveness.	Make a family reconciliation poster which reflects the steps of reconciliation. Hang the poster in a special place as a reminder. http://www.catholic.org/prayers/confession.php
	Know that the Mass is our greatest prayer.	Never hesitate to explain to your child that there is nothing greater than the Eucharist.
	Understand that Jesus is our model of love and goodness.	Invited your child to try always to be like Jesus.
	Respect others and ourselves as a gift from God.	Remind your children how important it is to respect the dignity of all as modeled by Jesus. Model this in your own interaction with others.
	Name and thank God for the gifts that he has given them.	Ask each member of your family to make a thank you card which tells God how much you love Him and are grateful for all you have. Hang your card in a special place.