~ Catechesis: The People of God Deepening Its Faith ~

Religious education, or catechesis, is an essential part of parish life. In its broadest terms, religious education can be defined as the ministry of the Church which strives to aid its members to reflect on and deepen their faith. At Saint Malachy, our catechetical programs for both children and adults presume and build on regular, active participation in the liturgical life of the parish. Worship, in particular the Sunday Eucharist, has from the beginning been the fundamental context in which the faith of the Church is nurtured, stimulated and deepened.

To be catechized means first and foremost to "hear the Word" in the liturgical assembly and to reflect on that word in ways appropriate to one's age and experience. As a parish we are committed to providing lifelong learning in religious education with programs from preschoolers through adults. Our goal is to provide a unified program which connects life with faith while integrating spiritual, intellectual, personal and social experiences.

With regard to children we view the family as the primary educator and, therefore, parental involvement is integral to all levels of children's religious education and sacramental preparation. We see education as a lifelong vocation and, therefore, strive to provide opportunities for adult learning which are interesting, interactive and respectful of the different pedagogy required when dealing with adults.

In what follows we offer a thumbnail sketch of some of our program areas.

Preschool

Saint Malachy's Kindergarten and preschool Sunday program is held in the parish hall during the 10:00 AM Mass each week that the religious education program is in session. We invite children of the parish ages three through kindergarten to join us for a fun, loving program of songs, prayers, puppet shows and crafts celebrating God's love and our Catholic faith. There is also child care available on a limited basis for two year olds during this time.

Grades 1-8

Meeting on weekday afternoons and evenings our classes follow a standard catechetical series based on the National Catechetical Directory and the Catechetical Guidelines of the Archdiocese of Boston. Class size is approximately ten students and the catechists are drawn from parishioners and parents of Saint Malachy parish. Components of our program include regular participation in the Sunday liturgical life of the parish, service projects and retreat experiences all of which supplement the weekly catechetical sessions. A separate description and schedule is available from the Religious Education Office [781-229-8005]. Linda Chavez and Anna Molettieri direct the religious education program.

High School

During the first two years of high school most of our young people prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. As part of that multi-dimensional program the educational component may be met in a number of ways: a Catholic high school education, home study, a weekday program, participation in the Stained Glass Workshop or a more innovative program we call Liturgy Based Catechesis. After Confirmation we collaborate with the other Burlington parish, St. Margaret's, in offering a once a month gathering for high school juniors and seniors. Meeting on Sunday evening at Saint Margaret's these young people gather for a liturgy at 6:00 PM followed by dinner and a guest speaker discussing some aspect of being a Christian in today's world.

Family Catechesis

Families seeking a more familiar setting for religious education are urged to consider the Family Catechesis program. The families attend Mass weekly and the catechetical materials are liturgy based i.e. follow the contours and message of the liturgical year. Particular attention in the materials is given to the Sunday Lectionary readings which parents and children are urged to explore prior to the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist. In this way both parents and children come to church better prepared to hear the Word of God and to understand more fully the catechetical implications of the scriptures and the liturgy. Roughly four times during the course of the year parents involved in this program get together to share their experiences and learn better ways to share their faith with their children.

Adult Learning

Throughout the year we offer opportunities for adults to gather for classes, discussion groups and seminars the aim of which is to nurture and deepen the faith of the participants. A typical program is the popular and well received Little Rock Scripture Study which focuses on a particular book of the Bible for ten week sessions. Programs introducing adults to the gospel favored in the current liturgical cycle have featured the learned insights of Reverend Stanley Marrow, S.J., Professor of New Testament at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. We have sponsored series on Understanding Catholicism led by Dr. Ernie Collamati, chairperson of the Religion Department at Regis College and a course entitled Being Women and Being Catholic taught by Dr. Patricia DeLeeuw, associate dean of Arts and Sciences at Boston College. Courses in prayer, liturgy, Jewish-Catholic relations and social ethics have also been offered in the past year.