Religious Education Mission Statement

The Faith Formation Program of Our Lady of Lourdes, Melbourne, Florida is committed to catechizing our children, youth and adults to know, love and serve God and His people. Through Liturgy, Prayer and celebration of Sacraments and with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit our community is called to evangelize and lead God’s people into a moral, active and loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

FAITH FORMATION TEAM

Go into the whole world and proclaim  the gospel to every creature.

(Mark 16:15)

Christ commissioned his apostles to “go into the world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” As a result they “went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.” Christ taught his apostles what He had received from the Father: “What I heard from Him I tell the world.”  The apostles, in turn, were to echo this divine word faithfully and completely.  This “echo” of the word of God is Catechesis.   (National Directory for Catechesis, page 41)

Evangelization and Catechesis are two of the most important ways the church hands down the faith.  Here, at Our Lady of Lourdes, we strive, through the Sunday Liturgy, prayer, children, teen and adult education and celebration of the sacraments, to “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew28:19,20)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS - January, 2012

Happy New Year!   May God bless your family with much love and happiness this year!  And may all of us make a New Years Resolution to strengthen our relationship with Jesus through more prayer and weekly attendance at Mass!!  (And weekly attendance at Religious Ed.!)

May God bless you for your continued commitment to the Faith Formation of your children.  Please encourage and support them in their quest to know their loving and faithful  heavenly Father.

Classes for the students resume on Sunday, January 8.  On Sunday, January 15, all of us (Parents, Students and Catechists) will begin the New Year by meeting in front of Mary where we say the Rosary song, prayer, and announcements!  Parents are then invited for coffee and donuts in the Art Room!

January classes are Sundays, the 8, 15, 22, & 29.

Wednesday classes are January, 11, 18 and 25.

ATTENTION 6^th Grade Parents…

The Diocese of Orlando will host a special high energy and interactive Vocation event called Focus II at Holy Family Parish in Orlando in February.  It is on a weekday, but I will be sending out all the forms needed, if you would like your student to go.  OLL School 6^th grade will be attending and there will be a few seats available on the bus for Religious Education students.

November 2011 Saints Alive.pdf

November Growing In Faith Newsletter.pdf

January 2012 Growing in Faith Newsletter.pdf

RCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the Church’s only formation process for non-baptized people to enter into full communion with the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.  Officially called the Catechumenate, our goal is to provide those seeking to join the Church the opportunity to experience conversion and to develop a deep personal relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and a strong understanding of the Church and its mission to the people of God.

Persons baptized in a non-Catholic Christian tradition (both adults and children) enter the Church through a separate but similar process.  Baptized Catholics who are seeking full initiation (the sacraments of Confirmation, Reconciliation, and Holy Communion) are invited to start their journey through the RCIA.

Please note: the Catechumenate process is specifically designed for the non-baptized person to enter the Catholic Church.  We invite baptized non-Catholics seeking to enter the Church and baptized Catholics seeking full communion in the Church to begin their journey by visiting the RCIA only to provide a place to begin.  Each personal situation is different and each path is unique.

          Schedule

Registration will be open from Oct 1 until December 1, 2011.  The program is designed for 16 women.  The first 16 women will be in the January program.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL CAROLYN at 723-3636 or 591-6111 OR EMAIL Carolyn Ziarno

Taize’

 Taize’ prayer is a meditative prayer service popular around the world.  Started in France, Taize’ prayer combines repetitive chant, candlelight, scripture readings and often incense

to create a contemplative prayer environment.  The service is described by many as cleansing and powerful. Check church bulletin for dates and times. 

Sacred Circles

Sacred Circles is an innovative opportunity for faith-filled women to meet once a month in small groups to foster spiritual growth and build friendships that will last a lifetime. Groups are facilitated by Susan Beauton.

Why Catholic?

 Why Catholic? is offered in both English and Spanish and includes workshops, retreats, and prayerful small group discussions that help parishioners relate Catholic teaching to their everyday lives. The program covers the basic teachings of the Church in terms of what we believe, celebrate, live, and pray. Throughout the entire process the program provides direction to fulfil the mission Christ entrusted to us, evangelization outreach. Check the church bulletin for dates and times.

Vespers

 “Public and common prayer by the people of God is rightly considered to be among the primary duties of the Church.  From the very beginning, those who were baptized “devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the community, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers” (Acts 2:42)….  This kind of common prayer gradually took shape in the form of an ordered round of Hours.  This Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office, enriched by readings, is principally a prayer of praise and petition.  In fact, it is the prayer of the Church with Christ and to Christ”.   (General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, para 1, 2) Evening prayer is called vespers; we have scheduled this common prayer service throughout the calendar year to pray and to praise our Creator.  Vespers is not mass and does not include Holy Communion.  Vespers is prayer, the prayer of the Church. Check the church bulletin for dates and times.

Diocesan Office of Religious Education

In addition to the programs offered here at Our Lady of Lourdes, the Diocese of Orlando offers many classes and programs that are available to everyone.

The Diocesan Catechist Certification Program

(DCCP) is the official faith formation certification program of the Diocese of Orlando. This program offers classes for anyone involved in the ministry of catechesis in any way: Religious Education, Catholic School, youth and young adult ministry, adult faith formation, catechumenate, etc. There are three levels of certification: Basic, Advanced and Master. A catechist moves from one level to another by satisfactorily completing a series of six ten-hour courses (total of 60 hours) sponsored by the diocese. The classes are open to anyone in the parish, but you must register through our Religious Ed. Office. MANY CLASSES ARE HELD IN OUR PARISH AND NEIGHBORING PARISHES. For a list of courses, places and times, please contact Carolyn Ziarno.

Catholic Web Sites

Diocese of Orlando

Vatican Home Page

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Catholic Network for Adult Faith Formation

Catechism of the Catholic Church