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To: NYer

Those sound like great books! Who’s the publisher?

That does seem like a lot of material for a parish second grade program, though. Is it possible that the book was intended for school use, with daily classes?


10 posted on 08/31/2007 10:15:19 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Gravity! It's not just a good idea, it's the law!)
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To: Tax-chick; sandyeggo; Salvation; Frank Sheed; Convert from ECUSA
That does seem like a lot of material for a parish second grade program, though. Is it possible that the book was intended for school use, with daily classes?

No. There is only one Maronite Catholic Church in the US that runs a school and it is attended by only a handful of youngsters. The materials were developed for Sunday CCD classes.

What is truly needed here are adult religious education classes. So many parents are truly ignorant of the Catholic faith! And that frightens - no - 'alarms' me. So much so, that I have now made that my next goal. During the winter months, our pastor offers what is referred to as a 'gospel soiree' where he dissects Scripture in a relaxed setting, and gives us the keys to understanding it. My RC friends always attend but not the parishioners. One parent recently inquired about doing 'Bible Study' before Sunday Mass. This is quite impractical in our Church setting but it gave me some insight into the need and desire to understand more. This same parishioner is always impressed by how much 'knowledge' I seem to possess. I have explained over and over again that it comes from the accrued knowledge from being in this forum and a sincere desire to learn more. She is a young and impetuous mother of 3 small children, whose cares are forcused more on wordly knowledge than on spiritural. However, I am seriously looking into something for the parents themselves - more on a catechetical basis.

Here is a link to the publications from St. Maron Publications. You will have to scroll down a bit to see the curriculuum for the children. Take for example, these:

Throughout the fourth grade, students study about Christian morality. Specifically, they will study about right and wrong and the gift of conscience.

In the fourth unit, students focus on the challenge of family love, as found in the fourth, sixth, and ninth commandments. They will learn that the fifth commandment calls us to treat all people with respect. They will also study the seventh and tenth commandments in terms of the call to be stewards of earthly goods. Finally, students will explore what the eighth commandment means, using modern day examples.

or

Holy Scripture is the focus of the sixth grade. The text begins by giving the students an overview of the Bible as the inspired Word of God.

or the 2nd unit in the HS series

In order to prepare for the Theology section, the section on Religion asks the students to consider the broader issues of a definition of religion, the value of religious symbols, the distinction between the secular and the sacred, and the role of religion in America. In an attempt to diminish any interest in religious cults, the final lesson describes cults in general, and using three of these, contrasts their beliefs with Catholicism.

For my HS students, who have not been educated in any of these texts, we will be focusing our attention on the 8th grade book which delves into the heresies and schisms that have plagued the Catholic Church from the very 1st century. We will take a break mid year to prepare 2 of these 4 students for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Normally this Sacrament is administered in the Maronite Church at the time of Baptism. For whatever reason, these 2 were only Baptized. Ironically, it is these 2 young adults who are the most active in the parish. Having a father who contemplated the priesthood and an uncle who is now a Chorbishop, helps .. a lot! They have family support for their religious education.

Please remember me, Father Elie and these 17 youngsters in your prayers! It is an enormous task to elevate their faith and provide meaningful experiences to them when their families are so ignorant and truly believe that their children do not need any religious education. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to persuade them otherwise ;-)

11 posted on 08/31/2007 4:46:59 PM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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