Parish/Religious Education for 2018 and 2019:

Adult Religious Education Opportunities in Winter 2019

 Preparing for Lent

On Thursday, February 7, at 7 PM in the warmly heated Tara Hall, Fr. Bernie Campbell and the Education Committee will offer a four part series on Preparing for Lent. Using short films by Fr. Michael Himes, this series is full of scripture, reflection and discussion, as well as a time to come together as a community to share our faith. Everyone is invited to this adult education series. Bring a friend or a spouse. Come early, at 6:45, for refreshments, or come earlier for the 6 PM Mass. Fr. Bernie has been preparing for these four evenings for the past three months, so please come and get ready for a great experience of Preparing for Lent. The series continues on Thursday evenings, in February 14, 21 and 28. Don’t miss this unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about, and share, your faith!!

Lenten Adult Faith Sharing and Home Mass Evenings

Consider inviting two or three or four couples (or individuals) to your home, along with a priest (Fr. Greg or Fr. Bernie).  We would begin with a Mass, with a faith sharing discussion (with a focused topic of your choosing) during the homily, and then concluding with a potluck supper and fellowship.  The format would depend on what the hosts want to do, but would take place on a Monday through Friday evening.  Please contact Fr. Bernie or Fr. Greg by email if you are interested and set up a date between March 6 and April 17.

Spiritual Walking Tours

Fr. Greg will lead four Tuesday morning Spiritual Walking Tours in Lent, beginning March 5, 9:30 AM to 12 Noon. We begin with the Churches of San Pietro in Vincoli and Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses, Santa Maria ai Monti, San Francesco di Paola and Sant'Agata Reservations are necessary:    All tours begin at the Piazza della Repubblica in front of the Farmacia (Pharmacy with the large Green Cross) at 9:30 AM. And consider our full day tour of Florence (Firenze) on Wednesday, April 3! Details TBA!

Our 2018-2019 Family Based Religious Education Program is now filled.  For our 2019-2020 program, please contact Fr. Greg on July 15, 2019, but not before.  At that time information letters, application forms and the new schedule will be available.

We are currently redesigning our process for next year’s Religious Education Program. Registered active parishioners who have been regularly attending our parish Masses and programs, (and have contributed financially to the parish on a regular basis) will have first preference for enrollment. However, there will be a limited number of openings for non-parishioners and non-active St. Patrick’s parishioners. Attendance of the child together with one parent is mandatory for every session. The parent who attends must have a comprehensive, thorough understanding of English. And, even more importantly, the child must clearly understand and speak English. The minimum age for First Communion is now 8 years old and the Third Grade (by the first day of class) and for Confirmation it is 14 years old and the Ninth Grade. We will also be increasing the homework for the weeks inbetween the classes.

The St. Patrick's Catholic American Community as St. Patrick's/San Patrizio (formerly located at Santa Susanna)  offers Religious Education Classes in English for students ages 6 through early teens, plus their parents. We have moved from a class-based school to a family-centered workshop, meeting once or twice a month. Our classes now meet at the newly renovated space at St. Patrick's Church, and in the parish hall and library below the Church. These two hour workshops meet on a Saturday from 3:30 to 5:30 PM from September to May, for a total of 11 sessions. Each workshop is followed by a Family Mass (held at 6:00 PM in St. Patrick's), in which each class takes responsibility on a rotating basis. While the children are in class, the parents have a special required class of their own that will assist them in home teaching during the weeks between the workshops. The child and at least one parent must be fluent in English. The English-speaking parent must attend all sessions. (Italian families are required by the Vicariato di Roma to receive Religious Education from their local parish church). All children and parents who wish to apply for the sacramental programs are required to meet with Fr. Greg before being accepted (these meetings take place AFTER application has been made.  These appointments take place between July 20 and September 7.).

Children's classes are taught  by deacons and seminarians from the North American College. There are generally two First Communion classes (age 8+) of approximately 18-20 children each. The Confirmation class (age 14+) contributes 12 hours of community service as part of their classroom requirement. Minimum age for First Communion is age 8 (and Third Grade, American system) when classes begin, and for Confirmation age 14 (and 9th Grade) when classes begin. We also have non-sacramental classes for children in grades 1 through 8, who are either not old enough yet to receive First Communion and Confirmation or have already received First Communion. Adult classes are taught by Fr. Greg and special guest speakers. All participating parishioner families must be registered members of the St. Patrick Catholic American Community, attend all classes as well as regularly attend Mass at St. Patrick's Church or the Marymount Chapel Mass on the Via Cassia during the school year. There is a separate fee rate for and non-parishioners and non-active parishioners in the sacramental classes. If parents themselves have any questions about our program or for an application you can contact Father Greg. (after July 15, 2019)

The calendar for the 2018/2019 school year is below: 

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24: Children's Pageant Mass at 4:30 PM; Vigil Mass at 7:30 PM (with Christmas Carol Concert at 7:00 PM); Christmas Day Masses: 9:00 AND 10:30 AM.

For other Adult Religious Education Opportunities outside of St. Patrick's Parish, please contact The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, at www .laycentre.org