Office of: Lifelong Faith Formation (RE)

School of Religious Education
7450 W. 83rd. Street
Bridgeview, Illinois
PHONE: 708.458.6150
FAX: 708.458.2698
EMAIL: RE@saint-fabian.org

April 20, 2023

Dear Parent(s),

Welcome to our NEW Saint Fabian’s Religious Education Program. We are excited to share with you all the great enhancements coming in the 2023-2024 RE program, including no increase in our tuition rates. Included in this packet are registration forms for our program. Children attending our program must be from registered parish families.

What’s new and exciting we are changing RE course studies to the Loyola Press education program called “Finding God”. Loyola Press serves the Catholic community by offering resources that support faith formation for children and the people who guide them. Providing programs in digital and print versions, in English and bilingual, we are committed to partnering with and supporting all those in ministry with friendly, flexible, and comprehensive tools for learning. We listen, we respond, we innovate. We walk with you and share your goal of ensuring that our children have a deep relationship with God, understanding their Catholic identity and fully embracing what prayer, mercy, and compassion truly mean.

So that we are providing the best catholic education that your child needs and deserves we will be moving to one session starting in the 2023-2024 school year. Children will attend class each Saturday from 8:45 am until 10:45 am. This is in alignment with the required hours for each student to attend religious education.

We are also excited to announce our “Junior High” RE program for 6, 7, and 8 grades. These classes will take place each Wednesday from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm.

Finally, we are looking for dedicated Catechetics, classroom coordinators, volunteers to join our team.  Training is provided in all areas of the RE program.

This is an exciting time to be part of this great program and team at Saint Fabian…come and join us!

God’s abundant blessings.

Paula Kroll, CRE
Pastoral Assistant
Director,Lifelong Faith Formation
847.769.8630
paulak@saint-fabian.org

Joanna Toczek, Coordinator Lifelong Faith Formation

Goal
The goal of all catecheses/religious education is to “make a person’s faith become living, conscious, and active through the light of instruction.” (National Catechetical Directory, #32, U.S.C.C.) The religious education program of St. Fabian Parish strives to assist parents in guiding their children toward a mature faith and in preparing their children to receive the sacraments.

Policies
Parent Involvement:
“Parents are the first and foremost catechists of their children. They catechize informally but powerfully by example and instruction.” (N.C.D., #212)
St. Fabian shall recognize the rights and responsibilities of parents as the primary religious educators of their children. Therefore, we ask the Catholic parent(s) of each child to enter into a covenant agreement with the parish which spells out the rights and duties of both parties. This covenant is signed before a family enrolls their child in the parish religious education program.
As the “first catechists” of their children, parents, themselves, must stay current in the faith. Therefore, St. Fabian will offer on a regular basis, talks, presentations, workshops, etc. to help parents update and deepen their faith. We encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities.