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Our full program of religious instruction for school aged children
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A program approved by the Archdiocese of Montreal
- A program
based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church
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Our
Program
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We
offer a home-based program, where parents as primary educators of
their children journey with them in their weekly lessons, Parents
receive initial orientation and are offered on-going training in
the program throughout the year
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Lessons
start in October and are completed by mid-May. "Children's Gatherings",
where your children will meet for a lesson with other children of
their own Faith First level, take place on Saturday afternoons,
approximately six times in the year.
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Preparation for Sacraments
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Our
program incorporates preparation for the sacraments of First
Penance, First Communion and Confirmation. To be fully educated
in our Catholic faith, children should remain in our program for
the full 6 years. However, the minimum requirement for receipt
of sacraments is 2 years of faith instruction for each sacrament.
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What
your children will learn
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Jesus
taught us what to believe and then showed us how to put those beliefs
into practice. Faith First works the same way.
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- Develop
a deep understanding of our faith as they learn about our beliefs.
- Will grow
in their knowledge and love of God's word as they read scripture
stories
- Will connect
their lessons with the liturgical life of the parish community
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FAQ's
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Q
How much time will the lessons take?
A Approximately one hour per week, either in a single session ,
or divided into smaller time blocks.
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Q
Do I need to be there with my child the whole time?
A In the beginning, you will likely need to sit with your child.
Younger children will continue to need more assistance, but older
children will be able to take on more responsibility once they are
familiar with the way the program works.
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Q
Can I have more than one child at a time doing the program?
A Absolutely! The program is designed using an "At Home Family Guide"
so that a family can do different grade levels at the same time.
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Q
Will next year's material be repetitive?
A No. As you progress through the chapters you will see that while
the children of various ages are studying similar themes, they each
have their own age-appropriate view of the material.
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Q
How can I make this fun for my children?
A Children love to hear stories from others. Share a real-life faith
story from your own or enlist the help of grandparents - even embarrassing
stories can bring much joy and laughter to a session!
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What is our parental role in education?
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The
Church views the role of parents in the religious formation of children
as both a privilege and an obligation. The General Directory for
Catechesis (1998) states that, " The witness of Christian life given
by parents in the family comes to children with tenderness and respect.
Children grow up living in the closeness of love which is the closeness
of God and Jesus, made plain by their parents. The childhood religious
awakening which takes place in the family is simply irreplaceable.
Through the sacrament of matrimony, parents receive the grace and
the ministry of the Christian education of their children. They
are reminded of this responsibility during the Rite of Baptism of
their children.
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This
is an opportunity for your family to discuss the important things
in life. You will share your own faith with your children and you
will learn together. You can use this time to get to know one another
better. In a special way you will be integrating religion and family
life and you will be setting aside the time for something important
that can be of value to all of you. 
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