“Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world. Mt. 28:20
The seeds of faith, lovingly planted by our God, are primarily nurtured by the parents of the children entrusted to our care. Our task is to complement the role of the parents while creating a holy environment for the students to continue to grow in the image and likeness of our God. Our task is to teach as Jesus did. This process is accomplished through five interrelated aspects.
Students need to know Jesus, to understand His message and to appreciate the role of the Catholic Church. A body of content exists regarding Jesus and the Catholic Church that students should know. This is presented to students in a developmental manner as laid out in the Rayne Catholic Religion Curriculum Guides provided to all religion teachers. Through parables, stories and examples, students deepen their Catholic knowledge. We use the Sacred Scriptures, diocesan-approved texts (PreK & Kindergarten use the Image of God Series and 1-8th grades use the Sadlier Book Series) and approved supplemental materials when appropriate.
Integration of Values: In Religion class, students learn the principles of their religion. In all other classes, the applications of these principles to daily living become evident. Teachers focus on this application of Christian values through their questions and discussions with the students. Because of this integration of values in all lessons, all teachers are involved in the religious formation process.
Liturgy and Prayer:
In prayer, especially reflective prayer, children and adults listen and speak to Jesus. The knowledge of Jesus gained in the religious studies class enables people to have a deeper relationship with Jesus, which leads to the desire to celebrate his gifts with us. We emphasize the need for adequate preparation and active participation of the students in the celebration of these liturgies. These expressions of worship are community activities that call for everyone to play an active part. The readings, the prayers, the Eucharist and the liturgical ministries of service inform and move the participants to a deeper formation.
Religious formation directs how people interact with one another. The religious education process challenges students to live their faith. Christians bear witness to Jesus. Therefore, throughout the year and in all classes, teachers make reference to the Christian life and challenge students to respond in a way reflective of Jesus.
Students need to see others living the Christian message. While the example of students is affirming, the example of teachers is educational. Students see that religion has relevance to adults in their daily activities. The special environment in our Catholic school comes from all the members modeling the Christian life. We as educators ask you as parents to model Jesus at home as well.
Jesus modeled service at the Last Supper when he washed the feet of the apostles; St. James tells us that “faith without good works is dead.” Therefore the concept of service is taught as an essential part of our living faith, is practiced throughout the school year, and is assigned as homework.
In conclusion, we believe that religious education encompasses the total process of education in a Catholic school. We are grateful for the opportunity to aid Jesus in the building the faith and lives of our students.
We will build a relationship between our students and our Lord by using the “PLUS” Method. . .
P = Prayer (spending time with Him)
L = Learn (learning about Him and understand His Church)
U = Unity (sharing experiences and building community; we cannot do it alone)
S = Service (helping others)
The Assessment of Children/ Youth Religious Education, commonly referred to as ACRE, is an integrated assessment tool providing faith knowledge questions (cognitive domain) and questions related to religious beliefs, attitudes, practices and perceptions (affective domain). A multilevel, developmental and age appropriate tool, it is used in grades 5 (Level 1), grades 8 or 9 (Level 2), and grades 11-12 (Level 3).
This tool helps educators know where the strengths and weaknesses are in their catechetical programs. Levels 2 and 3 are aligned to the U. S. bishops’ framework for high schools. All levels are aligned to the six tasks of catechesis outlined in the General Directory for Catechesis:
- knowledge of the faith
- liturgical life
- moral formation
- communal life
- missionary spirit
Each of the categories is assessed, helping educators know what areas students know well and what areas need extra attention. Making decisions with this knowledge leads to wise program development.
Bible: Break Through!; The Bible for Young Catholics published by St. Mary’s Press
Gospel Weeklies published by Pflaum Publishing
Text Book Supplement: Be My Disciples published by RCL Benziger
Curriculum covers each:
Scripture: God’s Word Speaking to us
Doctrine: Know and Understand the Basic Teachings of the Catholic Church
Sacraments and Worship: Centrality and Importance in our lives
Morality and Social Justice: Role of faith community and the universal Catholic Church
Christian Faith and Practice: Responsibility of Stewardship
Day of Recollection/Retreat
Each year students in grades 3 through 8 are provided the opportunity to participate in a day of recollection. This day gives the students a chance to leave their regular activities behind and spend a day getting to know God and themselves in a new dimension. These days are a required activity. Students absent on this day must make-up this activity to successfully complete their religion course.
3rd Theme: “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (in Lent)
4th Theme: “What is Prayer?” (in Lent)
5th Theme: “Life in the Spirit” (in Lent)
6th Theme: “Identity in Christ” (in Lent)
7th Theme: “Living a Life of Virtue” (in Lent)
8th Theme: “Leadership and Stewardship” (in August or September)
8th Theme: “In the World, but not of the World” (in Lent)
Devotions – Monthly
1st Week of month: 1st Friday Mass
2nd Week of month: Rosary
3rd Week of month: Chaplet
4th Week of month: Adoration
Since our task is to complement the faith and the example given by the parents, we encourage each family to:
- Attend mass regularly on weekends and holy days; As Catholics, we are taught the importance of keeping holy the Lord’s Day. Regular attendance at mass on weekends is a Church law.
- Pray with their children
- Inquire about religion lessons taught in the classroom
- Actively participate with your children in stewardship/service projects
In this way, we will be working hand-in-hand to model Jesus’ example for our children.
Field Study Trips
Each year students in grades 5 through 8 are provided the opportunity to participate in a day off campus to experience our Catholic Faith in different venues. This day gives the students a chance to leave their regular activities behind and spend a day getting to know God and themselves in a new dimension.
5th St. John Cathedral in Lafayette; Diocese of Lafayette
6th Seminary in Covington; Carmelites in Covington
7th St. Martinville, St. Martin DeTours Church; Community of Jesus Crucified
8th Seelos Center; St. Louis Cathedral; Ursuline in New Orleans
Welcome House in Crowley, Grave Site of Charlene Richard
All Grades: Way of the Cross after each weekly liturgy
Holy Week: Daily Prayer Services reflecting on the Timeline of Holy Week
From Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem until His Passion
Liturgies / Prayer Services
Weekly School Liturgy
PreK and 4th Grade
K and 8th Grade
1st and 6th Grade
2nd and 7th Grade
3rd and 5th Grade
It is Diocesan Policy that the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion be made through the Church Parish and NOT the school.
Since the school follows diocesan guidelines, parents should realize that it is their responsibility to find out what they and their children will need to know and do in order to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.
The Sacraments are studied in grades 1 through 8. Thus, the children learn more about the sacraments each year as they grow in ability to understand in greater depth the mystery of the sacraments and their importance in their life.
Sacrament of Holy Eucharist
All students have the opportunity to attend Mass each week. Each grade (1-8) has the opportunity to prepare for at least one school mass during the school year. Grades 2 through 8 are provided with the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the course of each school year.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered bi-weekly. Therefore all students will have a minimum of one opportunity per semester to receive this sacrament. Students may request to receive this sacrament as often as desired.
Service to others and our community has always been an integral part of our religion program. Students, grades Pre-K through 8, are required to participate in our Spiritual Acts of Stewardship. By using the stewardship model of time, talent and treasure, we feel the program will teacher the children that “stewardship” is a way of life and not just once a nine weeks.
The component of Time will focus on having our students spend time in pray with Jesus.
Talent will focus on having the students use their talents to give service to others.
Treasure will focus on having the students give up a portion of their available money or anything of value to them for Jesus.
Spiritual Works of Mercy
PreK Comfort the sorrowful: Postcards to military overseas
K Pray for the living and dead: Praying for others
1st Instruct the ignorant: Pro-Life
Corporal Works of Mercy
2nd Give drink to the thirsty: St. Jude (pop tops)
3rd Visit the Sick: Visit Nursing Home
4th Shelter the homeless: Daily Manna Christian Service Center
Corporal Works of Mercy & Spiritual Works of Mercy
5th Clothe the naked: Coats for Kids
Admonish the sinner: Prayer Cards to those in prison
6th Bury the dead: Clean Cemetery
Forgive all injuries: Penance Service
7th Feed the hungry: Thanksgiving Basket
Counsel the doubtful: Penny Drive
8th Visit the imprisoned: Angola Trip
Bear Wrongs Patiently: Welcome House
Religious Education Across the Curriculum
In the pursuit of developing every aspect of each student and infusing religion in all aspects of the school environment, Rayne Catholic strives to bring ‘Faith – Family – Formation” by using the Catholic Social Teachings.
Catholic identity goes much deeper than a stand-alone religion class – Rayne Catholic strives to see our Catholic Faith through everything. A focus on cross-curricular planning is an essential component to the Rayne Catholic Mission and Identify. RCE uses the tenets of the Catholic Social Teachings as a guide to develop awareness across the curriculum. The school will focus on one of the seven each month to develop ‘big idea’ questions to connect with each academic subject.
Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God’s special love for the poor and called God’s people to a covenant of love and justice. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came “to bring glad tidings to the poor . . . liberty to captives . . . recovery of sight to the blind”(Lk 4:18-19), and who identified himself with “the least of these,” the hungry and the stranger (cf. Mt 25:45).
Through these teachings Rayne Catholic encourages students not only to make cross-curricular connections but to explore those connections in the context of our school, community, state, and world.
Seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers (September – Labor Day; Constitution Day)
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected–the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.
Call to Family, Community, and Participation (October – Red Ribbon Week)
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society — in economics and politics, in law and policy — directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable (November – Thanksgiving Project)
A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person (January – Pro-Life)
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
Solidarity (February – Catholic Schools Week; Black History Month)
We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.
Rights and Responsibilities (March – Lent)
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities–to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
Care for God’s Creation (April – Earth Day)
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.