St. Raphael Class Information

Welcome to St. Raphael's Religious Education

Our relationship with Jesus is a lifelong journey.

The Religious Education program is intended to help parents lead their children to Christ.

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All Links are at the bottom of the page.

2023/2024 Classes Begin Sunday, September 17th, (PreK-4th gr. & Wednesday, September 20th, (5th-11th gr).

Registration Cost: $30 per student, with a maximum of $80 per family for regular classes.

If your child is seeking Confirmation this year(usually in their junior year of high school) or receiving 1st Reconciliation and 1st Communion, please include an extra $20 per child for additional materials.

Elementary

Sunday School is offered to children 3 ½ years old to 4th grade. We meet on Sundays from 9:15 to 10:15 am and classes run from September 17th, 2023 to April 21st, 2024.

First Reconciliation and First Communion are offered to children in their 2nd grade year or older. Along with attending Sunday school, students and parents are also required to attend two extra sacramental preparation classes during the year.

Please see calendar for extra class dates. The First Reconciliation date: January 6th, 2024. First Communion date is May 5th, 2024 at 10:30 AM Mass with May Crowning.

Middle School

The middle school religious education program is available to students in 5th through 8th grades. We meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 7:30 pm and classes run from September 20th, 2023 to April 24th, 2024.

The mission of the middle school program is to engage the youth in learning their Catholic faith while having fun! We start the evening off with a fun and energetic group game, then gather together to have a large group lesson. When the lesson is finished, the students break up into small groups to have a more in-depth discussion about the lesson.

High School

During high school we have a more intense program of faith formation to prepare students for the reception of Confirmation in the spring of their junior year. We follow the model of Jesus who taught His disciples for three years before sending them out on their own.

Students enter our program in 9th grade as novices, seeking to learn about our faith on a more adult level. They continue in 10th grade as aspirants, aspiring to a greater maturity in faith and finish as confirmands, those ready to confirm their faith in Jesus Christ and His Church on earth. Students must participate in classes for the full three years. We accept students coming in from other parishes and will work with those who need to catch up. Students are expected to attend Mass weekly and regularly receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We also have a series of requirements designed to help your children grow not just in head knowledge, but in their relationship with Jesus and our extended Catholic family.

Each candidate must exhibit readiness and proper disposition in order to be recommended for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Primary indicators of this will be Mass participation, class participation, and an individual interview with our pastor or director of Religious Education.

Confirmands preparation meets on Wednesdays, from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Classes run from September 20th, 2023 to April 24th, 2024.

2024 Confirmation date is: Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 at 7:00pm Mass at St Lawrence Catholic Church

Please see the Confirmation Resource Packet, at bottom of page under LINKS, for details on the requirements.

Safe Environment

For the safety of our children and in compliance with the United States Council of Catholic Bishops, St. Raphael follows the diocesan safe environment policies. All adult catechists and chaperones are required to go through safe environment training and pass a background check. We also provide safety training for your children. Our new program was designed by the Diocese of Omaha and is faith-based.

If you wish to "opt-out" your child from the Safe Environment Program, please sign the back of the Acknowledgement Form (at bottom of page under LINKS) and return it to the Parish office.

Circle of Grace Parent Letter (K-8)

Circle of Grace Parent Letter (9-12)

Circle of Grace Parent Information

Click here to read our diocesan mission statement on safe environment.

Click here to read about Circle of Grace at the Diocese of Omaha website.

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