Religious Education
Nothing is
more important to the Christian than to know and understand his or her Catholic
Faith. Learning and living the Faith must be the goal of all the Baptized. The
Rite of Baptism clearly states that the parents are the first teachers of the
faith, may they be also the best of teachers. How do we accomplish this
mission? First and foremost is the actual living out what we believe and to
allow ourselves to be strengthened by the Grace of God. Yes this means active
participation at Sunday Mass we cannot hide nor should we be ashamed of the
truth. The truth is we are obligated as sons and daughters to love the Lord our
God with all our mind, all our strength and all our
heart. Making excuses just falls short of the mark whereby we gradually begin
to deny who we are and what we are called to become. Being open to God's Grace
at Mass, listening attentively to His word and acting in response to His grace
is the first way parents accomplish this mission. The second is formal
education in the faith, which is secondary to the primary example given by
parents. Not to practice what one learns
to be true, is a conundrum, an enigma, a puzzlement,
it just does not make sense.
Here at Sacred Heart classes are held on
Sundays at 8:45 a.m. and end at 11 a.m. with the completion of the 10 o'clock
Sunday Mass. Again, participating at Mass is not optional for anyone. We highly
encourage and expect parents to be with their children during Mass. Remember
your children learn by your example, they receive enough negative and mixed
signals in the world, learning and practicing the faith should never be one of
them; please recall the promises made by you at their Baptism.
To be a
community of faith is not a burden, rather it can lead to extreme joy, for to
live our faith is to be a person rooted in the love of Christ. Love places
demands on us, we must act upon love, if we are to live in the love of Christ.
We must become doers in the world which is the command of Christ to go out and
bear fruit. When we do this families are more understanding, more forgiving and
become more Christ centered; therein resides extreme joy!
