Religious Education
EASTERN CHRISTIAN FORMATION PROGRAMS
Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church
2235 Galahad Road; San Diego, California 92123-3931
Office: 858-277-2511; Website: holyangelssandiego.com (click “calendar” to confirm schedule)
2011 - 2012 Overview and Schedule
As we Christians sojourn on our earthly pilgrimage, let us ascribe to a formation process by which we conform more and more to the likeness of God. Our faith teaches us that Awhat we pray is what we believe.@ Therefore, the primary “classroom” for Christian formation is the church, and, with the Eucharist as our most necessary nourishment, the primary guides in formation are the prayers and hymns of our tradition, especially those that are written in Sacred Scripture and proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word. We nevertheless benefit from a less formal environment for the reading, studying, questioning, and discussing of our Byzantine Catholic spirituality and teachings. Religious Education or Eastern Christian Formation (E.C.F.) at our parish is for all ages and seeks to provide for these needs in the following four programs:
1) Adult Enrichment consists of “book club”-type gatherings. A different book will be read during three of the fasting seasons of the Byzantine church year. Review and discussion sessions are held on Tuesday evenings during these fasts, from 7 to 9 PM in the E.C.F. Center, beginning with prayer in the church. The books and topics for discussion may be found on the next page of this flyer.
2) Adult Catechism is a seven-month program for those discerning God’s call to fullness of Christian life and membership in the Catholic Church through Baptism, Chrismation, and Divine Eucharist. Prospective converts to Catholicism are also instructed in this Adult Catechism program. This program includes all of the Adult Enrichment gatherings in addition to special classes scheduled according to need, particularly on Tuesday evenings in the fall and winter. Inquirers about the basics of the Catholic Faith are also encouraged and most welcome to attend. Adult Catechism culminates in the Christian Initiation Rites at Pascha.
3) Young Adults (18 to 35 years of age) are invited to gather on various occasions (at least once a month) for prayer, discussion sessions, socials, pilgrimages, and outreach activities.
4) Youth Classes are for our youngsters age 4 through High School Seniors. Classroom Days are scheduled regularly along with occasional Group Days for combined classes. All sessions take place on select Sunday mornings, beginning at approximately 10:45 AM and lasting until 11:30 AM. Separate gatherings for our ByzanTEENs (7th to 12th grade) are scheduled in addition to their Sunday classes.
ADULT CATECHISM
Classes for Adults (and teens) preparing for
Baptism, Confession, Conversion, and/or First Divine Eucharist
Tuesday evenings as needed in the fall and winter months, from 7 to 9 PM:
13 September Living Liturgically and the Most Holy Trinity
27 September Catholic Moral Tradition and Examining the Conscience
4 October The Communion of Saints
ADULT ENRICHMENT
Opportunities for Adult Spiritual Growth through Prayer, Reading, and Discussion
Tuesday evenings in fasting seasons, from 7 to 9 PM:
Series I Inexhaustible Delights from God with Us
15 November The Great Mystery (pages 1–21)
22 November Mysteries of Initiation (pages 23–76)
29 November Mysteries of Healing (pages 77–100)
13 December Marriage and Holy Orders (pages 101–128)
20 December Dying to the World (pages 129–152)
Series II A Commentary on the Divine Liturgy by Nicholas Cabasilas
21 February Introduction (pages 1–22)
28 February Prothesis (pages 25–42)
6 March Liturgy of the Word (pages 43–64)
13 March Liturgy of the Faithful – Part One (pages 65–82)
20 March Liturgy of the Faithful – Part Two (pages 83–95)
27 March Conclusion (pages 96–120)
Series III Finding a Hidden Church by the Reverend Christopher Zugger
5 June A Church in Transcarpathia (pages 1–86)
12 June A Church Supressed (pages 87–143)
19 June A Church Underground (pages 145–212)
26 June A Church Alive (pages 213–358)
Special Class Catechist Formation with Information for all Parents
7 August Safe Environment Training
YOUTH CLASSES
Religious Education for youth 4 years of age through High School Seniors
Selected Sunday mornings from 10:45 to 11:30 AM:
Classroom Days (Group Days)
25 September
2 October
9 October
16 October (Pageant prep.)
23 October
30 October
13 November (Pageant prep.)
20 November
27 November (Pageant prep.)
11 December
18 December
15 January
22 January
29 January
5 February
12 February
26 February
4 March (Greeting Cards)
11 March
18 March
22 April
29 April
6 May
13 May
20 May (Last day of classes – “final exam” competition)
PROGRAM NOTES
Regarding PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Parents are called by God to take seriously and support the religious Christian formation of their children!
Parents are responsible for seeing that their children arrive to class promptly and regularly. Attendance records are kept and awards given for excellence.
Classes are of little value if parents are not participating with their children at Liturgy on Sundays and Holydays throughout the year, whether there is class or not.
Remember that the Family is a “Domestic Church” – by communicating values, attitudes, and proper prioritization, the parents nurture faith in their children.
By requesting a copy from Father, parents may have the Eparchy’s official “Safe Environment Program” document with the Policy and Procedures concerning sexual abuse of minors by clergy or church personnel. They may also request a copy of their child’s class safe environment lesson plan.
If parents are not able to enroll a child in the parish E.C.F. program, they should explain their situation to Father. Due to Church safe environment requirements, Father may need to complete some paperwork for the Bishop regarding the child not able to participate in the parish program.
Regarding Text Books:
Our E.C.F. program is tuition free. It is supported by the tithes of the faithful. We ask, however, that text books be purchased for each student from our Book and Icon Shop. There is a $35 family maximum payment for youth book expenses. All books should be available by 18 September 2011, Catechetical Sunday.
Students are to care for their books and have them for each class.
As our youth classes are combined grades, a student may be using a text book that is one grade before or after his or her current grade.
Regarding ByzanTEENs:
Students enrolled in the ByzanTEEN E.C.F. classes will be invited to special outings and projects according to interest and cooperation.
Do you have questions about our program?
Kindly direct questions regarding our parish E.C.F. program to Father.