Mission Statement | Class Schedule | Registration Guidelines | Policies & Procedures Curriculum | Sacraments | Volunteer Programs | Prayers | 2017-2018 CCE Information | Mission Statement CCE/Faith Formation seeks to help the entire St. Helen Community grow in the knowledge, unity, love and peace of God as proclaimed to us by the gospel of Jesus Christ and to live as His disciples in our world today. Faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church, we invite adults, young adults, youth and children to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the catholic faith community. We try to accomplish this through: Promoting Sunday Mass attendance, deepening prayer life and active participation in liturgical and other ministries. Encouraging life-long faith formation - "womb to tomb". Enabling a continued growth of knowledge and understanding of the basic Catholic practices Offering opportunities for Christian service. Promoting active participation in the Christian community. Promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life Return to top GET READY FOR VBS! 2017 VBS Information 2017 VBS Registration Form 2017 VBS Medical Release Form Return to top CCE 2017-2018 Registration 2017-2018 CCE Registration Information (English) 2017-2018 CCE Registration Form (English) 2017-2018 CCE Registration Information (Spanish) 2017-2018 CCE Registration Form (Spanish) Payment Plan Form Registration dates will be noted each year in the weekly bulletin. The registration fee is $125 per family for registered parishioners and $200 per family for non-parishioners. This fee helps pay for books, class supplies, Catechists training, etc. No child will be refused, if parents genuinely cannot pay the fee, please call the CCE Director. Students must be at least three years of age before September 1st, to register in the Pre-K classes. Generally, students will be enrolled in the same grade they are in at school. If your child will be receiving a sacrament (i.e. Penance, First Communion) this year, a copy of his/her baptismal certificate will be required. To register your child, please download, fill out, and return the CCE Registration form. Return to top Class Schedules Preschool (3 & 4 yr olds) Sunday 8:45 AM - 10:15 AM Kindergarten through 5th Grades Monday 5:00PM - 6:00 PM or 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Tuesday 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Wednesday 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Special Needs Wednesday 6:15 PM - 7:00 PM .

Policies & Procedures

Arrival & Pickup
For the safety of our youth, please do not drop off your children more than 10 minutes prior to class, and never leave them unsupervised, if your child needs to leave early, or will be picked up by someone other than the child's parent(s), please send a note to CCE office and your child's catechist.

Pre-K Childeren (Sundays)
Students are to be brought to their classrooms and picked up promptly after class. Students will not be allowed to leave the classroom until a parent has arrived.

Kindergarten - 5th Grade (Monday - Wednesday)
Students are to be dropped off at the Middle School building - they will gather as a group in the Middle School Building hall, then go with their Catechist as a class, to their classroom.

Dismissal
Students in all grade levels will be dismissed from their classroom. Students will only be allowed to leave with an adult, be it their parent or guardian.

Parents must park in the parking spaces available. Please do not park in front of the Middle School building or the Catholic School building.

We ask that you be good stewards of time; if you are running late please call the CCE office so appropriate arrangements can be made for your child until you arrive. If picking up your child late becomes a problem, a small fee will be due upon pick up.

When leaving early, parents must sign-out student at the CCE office front desk. All visitors must sign in at the office before going into the child's classroom.

Cancellation/Change in Original Schedule
The CCE programs will follow the same guidelines as the Pearland Independent School District. If roads become flooded or icy due to inclement weather, please check with the CCE office for cancellations. Any changes in the original schedule will be brought to your attention by a note sent home from class and will usually be noted in the church's weekly bulletin.

Curriculum

Pre-K/Elementary|Curriculum & Required Prayers|Preschool Catechesis & Curriculum
"I Am Special", Our Sunday Visitor(Pre-K3 and Pre-K4)
This preschool religious education program is designed to support parents in educating their children about the Catholic faith by helping children develop positive attitudes about themselves, their family, friends, and Christian actions towards others and discovering God's wonderful world. The children's appreciation and celebration of God's love and goodness is developed through the media of stories, songs, sensorial activities, scripture and prayer.

Elementary Catechesis and Curriculum
"Faith First, Legacy Edition" (Grades Kindergarten thru 5th) incorporates the spiral approach to its presentation of the Catholic faith. For Catholics the foundational "issues, principles, and values" that we want to hand on are doctrines, teachings, and practices that are our Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the observance of our liturgical year. For online support for catechists and parents go to: www.FaithFirst.com

Family Home Study
"Faith First, Legacy Edition At Home" is a visionary approach to family-guided formation at home. We will offer an "AT HOME" Family Home Study program as part of our CCE. We know that job pressures and the hectic schedules of children stress families in ways less known a generation ago. In response to that need, we will offer the opportunity to families to participate in the Family Home Study program for grades Kindergarten through Jr. High.

Parents will need to commit to the following:

• 27 weeks of sessions at home
• Allow 1 to 1 1/2 hours for each lesson.
• Must participate in 4 large group family sessions at the parish.
• Model example and commitment to the family activity.
• Same registration fees will apply to this program.

Special Needs Religious Education
The Church carries on the ministry of Jesus in its care for our disabled brothers and sisters. Religious education for those with special needs foster meaningful and appropriate learning experiences to children with disabilities.

Are you called to be a catechist for children with special needs? For more information on training opportunities please contact: Julie Martinez at .

Vacation Bible School (VBS)
Vacation Bible School is held during the month of June for one week. This is a week filled with fun, food, music and learning about God's Word. VBS is for children preschool through 4th grade. Students in middle school along with junior and senior high students are encouraged to be helpers in the program.

Children's Liturgy of the Word
Children's Liturgy of the Word takes place during Sunday 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM Mass (English) and 1:00 PM Mass (Spanish), during the fall, winter and spring months. Children's Liturgy of the Word offers an experience for the children to hear the Scripture in words they understand and share their understanding of God's Word. After the Introductory Rites, the presider invites the children from kindergarten to 5th grade to join in processing behind the leader as they go to the worship space set aside for them. They return to their family during the offertory.

Sacraments

Sacrament of First Eucharist (Communion)
Christ gives us His Body and Blood as our food and drink to share His eternal life. A year of CCE preparation during the second grade is required for those receiving First Communion. Initiated in the Christian mystery by Baptism, Christians are fully joined to the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. Eucharist or communion is the center and the heart of Christian life.

Sacrament preparation is separate and distinct from CCE classes. Separate sessions will be held for the preparation of the sacrament of Reconciliation and for the sacrament of Eucharist. There will be a $25.00 sacramental fee to help with the cost of materials and certificate.

Preparation requirements include:

1. Child and parent must attend mass regularly
2. The child must attend CCE classes regularly
3. Students will be allowed only three absences
4. Child must attend Sacramental Retreat
5. Parents must attend six Parent Adult Formation sessions
6. Children should be in the second grade or older
7. Baptismal certificates must be turned in by November 1st
8. Parents are responsible for teaching children the required traditional prayers and basic beliefs of the Catholic faith. They must know the Act of Contrition before First Reconciliation
9. A Penance Service will be announced at a later time

Children Catechumenate
The Catechumenate is a two year process for children who have attained the use of reason and are of Catechetical age. This process is for children who were not baptized as infants and have not received First Holy Communion in the second grade. Please call the CCE office for additional information.

Volunteer Programs

Volunteer Opportunities Many volunteers are needed in order for the religious education programs to be possible. Half tuition fee is waived for childeren of Catechists who participate in the certification process.

Are you called to be a catechist?

For more information on volunteer training opportunities please contact: .

Archdiocesan Mandate: "Virtus, Safe Environment Protecting God's Children for Adults" Workshop
This prerequisite is a directive that insures compliance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 'Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.' ALL individuals who work with the youth and children of our parish are required to participate in the Virtus program and include priests, deacons, employees, and volunteers. .

All persons who, in any way, are involved with the children and youth in the parish MUST attend such a training session and be willing to allow background checks.

Information from the background check is kept in strictest confidence at the Diocese. To register for a session or to search for a session go to www.virtusonline.org or click on the Virtus image on the right.

Prayers

Prayers To Know

Prayers
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Angel of God
Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Glory to the Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because of your just punishment. But most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.
Amen.

The Ten Commandments

1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

1. Blest are those lowly who seek God; the reign of God is theirs.
2. Blest are the sorrowing; they shall be consoled.
3. Blest are the lowly; they shall inherit the land.
4. Blest are they who hunger and thirst for what is right; they shall have their fill.
5. Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs.
6. Blest are those who serve God with all their heart; for they shall see God.
7. Blest are the peacemakers for doing the right things; the reign of God is theirs.