Welcome to the Religious Education Program of Mary, Mother of Divine Grace Parish in Westchester, IL! Our MISSION is to share our faith with our young people; helping them to encounter Jesus Christ, and to develop a good and lasting relationship with him. We focus on Evangelization, where Administrators, Catechists and Parents work together to help our students grow in faith through scripture, prayer, service, observance of our Catholic church beliefs and traditions; and by emulating the lives of the saints; our role models in faith! Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, the Holy Eucharist (First Holy Communion) and Confirmation is offered to all eligible students at any grade level. We welcome back our RETURNING Families and, with open arms, welcome our NEW Families! Our special thanks go to our Catechists/teachers, Classroom Aides, RE Staff, parents and all of our volunteers for working together to make Our RE Program viable! We are looking forward to a New Year of Religious Education 2024-2025 with faith and hope. Please check out the following information about the new RE Year.
REGISTRATION WILL BE OPEN ON JULY 1, 2024, WITH A DEADLINE OF AUGUST 15, 2024. Below is some important information about our RE Program:
1. The new RE Year will begin on Monday, September 16, 2024, from 6:15PM – 7:30PM at the Divine Infant (Old) School Building – Address: 1640 Newcastle Ave. Westchester, IL 60154.
2. Registration Forms for NEW and RETURNING students are available for downloading at the bottom of this page. Completed Registration Forms should be mailed or dropped off at the Divine Providence Rectory Monday – Friday between 8:30am – 4:00pm (or during the After-Hours forms should be dropped down the mail slot at the DP Rectory door at 2500 Mayfair Ave, Westchester, IL 60154). WALK-IN Registrations at the Religious Education Office at Divine Infant are welcome. Please call Sr. Christine at (708)865-8086 or (317)313-8266 to come in or to schedule an appointment.
3. The FULL AMOUNT of the TUITION is due at the time of Registration. Any financial constraint should be discussed with Sr. Christine, Director of Religious Education (at the time of Registration) to come up with a possible arrangement. Our hope is for any child to receive the faith formation they deserve regardless of the family’s financial situation.
4. Tuition for 2024 – 2025 (also see payment information at the back of the Registration Forms):
$250 for 1 child
$350 for 2 children
$450 for 3 children+
5. Sacramental Fees for 2024-2025 (also see the payment information at the back of the Registration Forms): $100 for the Holy Eucharist (First Communion) $125 for Confirmation
6. Payment Method: Checks, Money Orders, Cashier’s Checks, Cash and Credit Card payments are all accepted. Please make checks payable to Mary, Mother of Divine Grace Parish (Religious Education).
7. Credit/Debit Card Payment Option: If you wish to use a Credit Card, there is an additional Credit Card Fee of 4%. To pay by credit/debit click on the following link: https://www.wesharegiving.org/App/Form/70a29401-a609-4112-bc8c-33573e909348
8. Call Mrs. Rebecca Cornacchia, Director of Operations at (708)562-3364 ext. 20, if you have any questions.
I invite you to partner with us, as we strive to enhance the Faith Formation of our students, helping them to become what God intended them to be in life.
Sister Christine Nantaba, IHMR Director of Religious Education
Mary, Mother of Divine Grace Parish
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Some General Information About Our Program
What does the current RE Curriculum look like? Our Religion Curriculum focuses on the Catechetical and Sacramental preparation of our students in the mysteries of our Catholic Faith. We use several Religion
Resources including the Bible, the Religion Series “Christ In Us” from Sadlier, the books on the Lives of Saints, Blackline Masters and several On-line Resources. What materials will the students need? Grades 1 – 7 will use the “Christ In Us” Religion Textbook (from the Sadlier Publishing Company), while Grade 8 will use “Confirmed In Spirit,” a Confirmation preparation textbook from Loyola Press. First Communicants will use the Sacramental Prep. Resource called “Together in Jesus” for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion from the Pflaum Publishing Company. All Textbooks and any other supplies will be provided on the first day of Class.
Sacramental Preparation- We prepare our students to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, the Holy Eucharist (First Holy Communion) and Confirmation. Ordinarily, the general preparation for First Holy Communion takes place in Second Grade, and that of Confirmation in 8th Grade. However, we take students who need to receive these three sacraments at any Grade Level they may be and offer them the necessary preparation.
Catechist/Teacher Responsibilities- The Administration has created a 2024 - 2025 schedule of RE Classes which is posted towards the bottom of this page. Catechists will teach Religion Lessons once a week to their respective Grade Levels. Catechists will prepare Lesson Plans and post Homework Assignments On-line for Grades 4 - 8 and send home paper copies of Homework Assignments for grades 1 – 3. Catechists will assess students’ progress through On-line assignments and tests, as well as through Verbal Tests and Family Activities.
Student Responsibilities- Students are expected to attend IN-PERSON Religion Classes every Monday, except on holidays, as indicated on the RE Calendar. Failure to attend any class without prior notice will count as an absence. Students must check their online Accounts each week for Homework Assignments, Unit Assessment Tests, and some other class activities and announcements concerning the RE Program. They should follow the On-line instructions given to them in class by their teachers/catechists, and sign onto their individual student accounts to access this information. Students should have all of their supplies ready before the beginning of each class; for example, the Religion Textbooks for their Grade Level, pens, pencils, crayons and any other supplies that the teacher would have provided to the students on the first day of class. Students should take initiative for their faith formation by attending all scheduled RE classes, participating in class discussions, and by completing their Homework assignments and Family Activities as expected.
Parent Responsibilities- To drop their children off for the RE Classes on time and to pick them up accordingly. To make sure your child(ren) have their Religion Folder every time they come to class. To encourage their children to complete all Homework assignments, and to help with completion of the Family Activities. Avoid scheduling anything for your child during the time they are to be attending RE Classes unless it is absolutely necessary. Notify the Administrator of Religious Education about your child’s absence. Keep a list of logins and passwords for each child. Most important of all, to help our students practice their faith at home by saying their prayers, going to church on Sunday to attend Mass, passing on your faith beliefs and traditions, and by exemplifying the Christian way of living in your homes.
Once again, we are very grateful to our Catechists, Aides and Office Staff for their dedicated service to our Program. We welcome back our Returning Families and warmly welcome our New Families to the Program. We pray that God continues to bless us with a good, safe and faith-filled year!
Sister Christine Nantaba, IHMR Director of Religious Education
Mary, Mother of Divine Grace Parish
Westchester, IL
[email protected]
708.865.8086