What

Religious Education is led by The Director of Formation and Engagement (Ryan Adamson) and a team of VIRTUS certified volunteers that foster a relationship with Jesus Christ through teaching the traditions of the Catholic Church, in a grade separated environment.

Who

Religious Education is for youth, kindergarten through 6th grade.
Youth in our 2nd grade class, will be prepared for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. 
7th graders that would have registered for Religious Education on Wednesday evenings are now to register for ADORE instead.

When

Religious Education meets on scheduled Wednesday evenings, 6:30pm-7:30pm.
See the calendar below.

Where

Kindergarten and 1st graders will meet in the Parish Center to participate in Catechesis of The Good Shepherd. 

2nd through 6th graders will meet in the Donnelly Neighborhood Center and enter through the school classrooms in this building. Families/Students will enter through the school office doors.

See the locations tab below for exact Google Maps pins. 

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation will be received on Wednesday, December 11th, 6:30pm-7:30pm at the Parish Penance Service. Students will receive first with our Pastor. Families should attend and take advantage of the opportunity of the sacrament for themselves.

The Sacrament of First Holy Communion will be received on Sunday, March 1st, at the 11am Mass.



The Sacrament of First Reconciliation will be received on Wednesday, December 11th, 6:30pm-7:30pm at the Parish Penance Service. Students will receive first with our Pastor. Families should attend and take advantage of the opportunity of the sacrament for themselves.

The Sacrament of First Holy Communion will be received on Sunday, March 1st, at the 11am Mass.

Location: The Parish Center

When looking at the church building at the intersection of Castlewood and Bellevue, the Parish Center is to the left past the older school building. There is a sign near the street showing the name of the building. The Parish center was once a convent for sisters, then a preschool, now our parish offices, and the location for our Catechesis of The Good Shepherd room for our Religious Education Kindergarteners and First graders. An exact Google Maps pin for the building is provided below.

Location: The Donnelly Neighborhood Center

The Donnelly Neighborhood Center is located right next to Close Park along Bellevue Road, and just north of our church. The Center is home to our School, Gym, Kitchen, and Kelly Room. Our Religious Education 2nd through 6th graders will meet in the school classrooms in this building. Families/Students will enter through the school office doors. An exact Google Maps pin for the building is provided below.

Religious Education fees help the Parish operate the Religious Education program and pays for your student’s experience. Please see below what is owed based on how many students are registered. 

1 Student = $50 (Total)
2 Students = $90 (Total)
3 Students or More = $100 (Total)

Electronic payments are preferred and can be made through a link that is present below. Make sure to select “One-time” and then “Religious Education” from the drop down menu.

Check payments are to be presented to the Director of Formation and Engagement (Ryan Adamson) or the parish office and written out to “Most Blessed Sacrament Parish” and “Religious Education” in the memo. 

Cash payments are to be presented to the Director of Formation and Engagement (Ryan Adamson) or the parish office. 

Our Religious Education program thrives with the support of volunteers from our parish. If you or someone you know is interested in helping pass on our faith and traditions to young people by donating your time and presence, please reach out soon. All volunteers must be 18 years or older, and pass a background check and complete the online VIRTUS training. Contact The Director of Formation and Engagement (Ryan Adamson) to inquire further.

Communication

Communications related to Religious Education will primarily be sent out to the emails addresses provided in the registration form, from The Director of Formation and Engagement (Ryan Adamson).

Families may also receive emails via our parish wide Constant Contact tool, and text messages.

Safe Environments

Leadership and Volunteers
All volunteers must be 18 years or older, and pass a background check and complete the online VIRTUS training “Protecting God’s Children”. Contact The Director of Formation and Engagement (Ryan Adamson) to inquire further. 

Empowering God’s Children Lessons
As a Catholic Church of the Diocese of Toledo, each year we are mandated to share information and content provided to us from VIRTUS Online with the children registered for our Youth Faith Formation programs. Most Blessed Sacrament Parish is in the process of creating a dedicated page on the parish website detailing what that information shared with the registered children will include. Parents are given the choice to have their children “opt out” of the lessons by submitting a request to do so.

Empowering God’s Children lessons will be clearly labeled on the Youth Faith Formation program calendars found on their respective web pages; and will not be shown the first night of the respective programs.

“The job of ensuring children’s safety is a challenging undertaking. The prevention of child sexual abuse requires more than adult awareness, education, and training about the nature and scope of the problem. We must also give our children the tools they need to overcome the advances of someone who intends to do them harm. The Teaching Safety program guide is a tool designed to assist parents and teachers in this important task. The Teaching Safety program is a vehicle through which parents, teachers, catechists, and youth ministers give children and young people the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them.” – VIRTUS Online

Complete information will be announced in advance of the date this material will be shown.

Inclement Weather

Winter Weather
If Most Blessed Sacrament School closes for any reason, then Religious Education classes will be canceled for that evening. The exception to this would be our parish penance services, one of which will also be out First Reconciliation night for our 2nd graders. 

If a level two or three is active after the school day ends, and/or is heavily predicted to occur during the Religious Education then classes will be canceled for that evening. 

Other Conditions (i.e. rain, flooding, wind, downed trees, etc.)
Registered families will be updated via email as to the availability of having Religious Education classes.

Behavioral Expectations

Youth Faith Formation is the umbrella name that Religious Education, Confirmation, Youth Group, and OCIC fall underneath. All Youth Faith Formation events/classes are an opportunity for children/teens to exercise respect and virtue. If a child/teen is struggling to behave respectfully towards leadership, volunteers, peers, and the facilities, we utilize the 1 – 2 – 3 approach to handle discipline issues with our participants. First, the Youth Faith Formation Volunteer(s) will try to redirect the student’s behavior in a positive direction. Second, the student will be given a verbal warning. Third, the student will be sent to the Director of Formation and Engagement (Ryan Adamson) and the parent will be notified. If further discipline is needed, a plan will be decided on between the Director and parents. Note that Youth Faith Formation Volunteer(s) are encouraged to discuss any situation with the parish staff and the parents. Everyone is expected to work together for what is best for all involved. We strive for positive behavioral reinforcement and choices.

Drop Off & Pick Up

Parents must walk their child to their classroom and sign their child in and out. Religious Education Volunteers cannot release children without an adult picking them up personally. If someone is picking up a child that would not be typical to the Religious Education Volunteers, parents are to inform the Religious Education program prior to class.

All students should arrive on time.
Younger students should arrive a few minutes early to use the restroom prior to class.

Please be on time for pick up at the end of class.



___________

Ryan Adamson 
Director of Formation and Engagement 
radamson@mbsptoledo.org
(419) 472-2288 ext. 2204