Welcome to W.e.r.e.!

... on what's happening in the program and other news and notes.

The Wednesday Evening Religious Education (W.E.R.E.) program is religious education for students in grades 1-8 who are not in a Catholic school. Parents are the first and primary educators of their children through word and example. The purpose of the W.E.R.E. program is to supplement the role of the family in faith and formation. We have small classes, dedicated teachers, and an excellent curriculum. We share our faith through lessons, words, actions and love of Jesus Christ.

The W.E.R.E. program is currently accepting registrations for the school year. Admission into our program is for active, contributing , registered members of St. Mary Parish. However, if space is available we welcome families from other parishes who wish to attend.

Attendance and participation in classes are of the utmost importance. For students preparing to receive the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist, or Confirmation, the following criteria must be met: active participation in the Catholic faith, regular attendance to religious education classes (no more than two absences), parent attendance at sacramental meetings, completion of grade prior to sacramental grade (have to have completed first grade religious education class to enter the second grade religious education class. Have to have completed seventh grade religious education to enter the eighth grade religious education classes.) While we know that parents are the first and foremost educators of their children, we also know that the sacraments of the church are communal celebrations. Therefore, it is very important that the preparation for these sacraments be done in a communal setting. It is the Parish’s obligation to be assured that this preparation be theologically and pastorally sound. In order to be admitted for the Sacraments of Initiation (Eucharist and Confirmation), the preparation must be done within the W.E.R.E. program. 

8/21/24 - Open Night

8/28/24 - Fair Parade - NO CLASS

9/4/24 - Regular Class

9/11/24 - Regular Class

9/18/24 - Safe Environment

9/25/24 - Regular Class 

10/2/24 - Regular Class

10/9/24 - Regular Class

10/16/24 - Fall Break - NO CLASS

10/23/24 - Regular Class & Mock Baptism

10/30/24 - Regular Class

11/6/24 - Regular Class

11/13/24 - Regular Class

11/20/24 - Regular Class

11/27/24 - Thanksgiving Break - NO CLASS

12/4/24 - Regular Class

12/11/24 - Regular Class

12/18/24 - Break - NO CLASS

12/25/24 - Break - NO CLASS

1/1/25 - Break - NO CLASS

1/8/25 - Regular Class & Fr. Joe meets with 2nd gr.

1/15/25 - Regular Class

1/22/25 - Regular Class

1/29/25 - Regular Class

2/5/25 - Regular Class

2/12/25 - Regular Class

2/19/25 - Regular Class

2/26/25 - Regular Class

3/5/25 - Ash Wednesday - Mass at 7 pm in church

3/12/25 - Regular Class (Confessions gr. 2, 3, 4)

3/19/25 - Regular Class (Confessions gr. 5, 6, 7, 8)

3/26/25 - Regular Class

4/2/25 - Regular Class

4/9/25 - Spring Break - NO CLASS

4/16/25 - Regular Class and Living Stations in church

4/23/25 - Regular Class

4/30/25 - Regular Class 

 PRAYERS TO BE LEARNED

Grade 1: Children should be able to say these prayers:

• Sign of the Cross
• Glory Be
• Our Father
• Meal Prayer
• Hail Mary
• Guardian Angel Prayer

The following prayers are specifically recommended for the grade levels listed:

Grade 2:

• Simple Act of Contrition
• all of the above

Grade 3:

• The Apostle’s Creed
• all of the above

Grade 4:

• Morning Offering
• all of the above

Grade 5:
All of the above

PRAYERS

SIGN OF THE CROSS – In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

OUR FATHER – Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

HAIL MARY – Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

GLORY BE – Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

GRACE BEFORE MEALS – Bless us, O Lord, and these Your gifts, which we are about to receive from Your goodness, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

GRACE AFTER MEALS – We give You thanks for all Your gifts, Almighty God, living and reigning now and forever. Amen.

GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER – Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule, and to guide. Amen.

ACT OF CONTRITION – My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You, whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend with Your help, to sin no more, and to avoid what leads me to sin. Amen.

APOSTLE’S CREED – I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

MORNING OFFERING – The traditional prayer is listed below, however, teach your child to offer his or her day to God in his or her own words.

Oh Jesus, through the Immaculate heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, for the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and for the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops, for all of the members of the Apostleship of Prayer, and in particular for those intentions recommended by our Holy Father. Amen.

Ten Commandments

1. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10.You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Corporal Works of Mercy

The Corporal Works of Mercy are actions that help People in their bodily needs.
• Feed people who are hungry.
• Give drink to people who are thirsty.
• Clothe people who need clothes.
• Visit prisoners.
• Shelter the homeless.
• Visit people who are sick.
• Bury people who have died.

Spiritual Works of Mercy

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are actions that help people in their Spiritual needs.
• Help people who sin.
• Teach people who are ignorant.
• Give advice to people who have doubts.
• Comfort people who suffer.
• Be patient with other people.
• Forgive people who hurt you.
• Pray for people who are alive and for those who have died.

Check out this site developed by one of our parish Girl Scouts for her Gold Award project. We’re grateful to Vanessa for her hard work and for helping the youth of our parish learn about their faith.