The Divine Mercy Parish religious education program provides a parish-based support to the teaching of religious education for Catholic children and young adults in our community. This faith formation consists of classroom studies and preparation for the reception of the sacraments. The goal is to enable and encourage the students to learn and grow in their Catholic faith. The role of parents, in partnership with the catechetical leaders, is an integral part in providing the fullness and richness of our Catholic faith and traditions to the children. It is from the parents where they first receive their proclamation of faith. Additionally, our religious program relies entirely on volunteer support from catechists, teachers, aides and parent partners.

To register for Divine Mercy Parish’s Religious Education Program online, please click on Program Information tab on the left pane. To register in person, please visit the CCD office on Sundays from 12-12:30 PM, or the Rectory Monday through Friday from (rectory office hours). Feel free to contact ccd@divinemercyrahway.church with any inquiries.

Additional notes:

• Sacraments of Penance and First Communion are offered for students in Grade 1 and 2 while the sacrament of Confirmation is offered for higher grade students which consists of a two-year preparation program. Refer to the below Sacramental Preparation link for more information.

• Students’ attendance in the Sunday 11:00 AM Mass is required. Due to the pandemic, please make sure your child attends the livestreamed 11:00AM Mass at our church's Facebook page. 

• Students are encouraged to play special roles during Sunday mass. This may include reciting the first and second readings and helping out in the collection and offertory services. During church events such as the Christmas celebration, students typically participates by showing off their talents in singing and stage acting.

  

Program Information and Checklist

• Registration has now ended for school year 2020 – 2021.
• Parent orientations are held in conjunction with the first day of classes.
• Complete and submit all registration forms to the CCD office or click on the appropriate button below to register your child/children.

• For students that will have First Communion or Confirmation in 2021, please use button below

 

• Birth certificate should be submitted upon registration.
• Baptismal certificate should be submitted upon registration.

Registration Fees

• Fees for parishioners are as follows:

 

• Fees for non-parishioners are as follows:

 

• Special Payment Plan can be arranged by visiting the CCD office. Do not delay in registering due to financial hardships.
• To avail of the parishioner fees, parents are invited to become an active parishioner by completing the Family Registration Form. An active parishioner regularly attends Mass at our church and contributes to the parish either via envelopes or online giving. Active parishioners are assesed on a yearly basis. You can be removed from the roster if we don't see active participation within the year.
• Please note that no registrations will be accepted after the August 31 deadline.

Class Schedules and Other Formation
 

• Our parish CCD program runs from September through May of the following year. For the 2020 school year, classes will start on Sunday September 13, 2020 followed by the Tuesday class on September 15, 2020.
• Classes are held on Sunday and Tuesday, namely:

    

Sacramental Preparation and Information

• First Penance and First Communion

• Confirmation

 

➢ Confirmation Saint Report and Letter To the Bishop  
➢ Confirmation Candidate Profile 
➢ Confirmation Saint Report Template 
➢ Confirmation Bishop Letter Template

Special CCD Events

• First Communion
• Confirmation Retreat
• Confirmation Sunday
• Parent Formation
• Christmas CCD party
• Easter Sunday Egg Hunt
• Lent Penance Service
• Thanksgiving Day Mass

Students with Special Needs

• Our parish CCD program welcomes and support students with special needs and disabilities.
• We will make every effort to accommodate and provide them with inclusive environments such as (for example) wheel-chair accessible pathways and special seating accommodations as needed.
• Parents are encourage to contact the CCD office prior to registration regarding their child’s special needs.

Program Documents

• Parent Participant Handbook
• Student Code of Conduct and Discipline Guidelines Handbook
• Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
• Student Absence Forms
• Early Release form for Student’s
• Faith Literatures:
  • Prayers
  • How to pray the Holy Rosary
  • Penance Procedures
  • Church Etiquette
  • Sunday Mass Readings
• Religious School Year Calendar
• School Safety Protocols

Why Volunteer in the CCD Program?

• Serve God with the skills that He has blessed you
• Develop your spiritual growth
• Refresh your knowledge in religious education
• Encourage child(ren)’s learning
• Become more involved in the parish community

What are some ways I can serve?

• Be a class parent; sit-in and assist the catechists
• Sit with the class during Mass and help guide their behavior, show them which pages to follow during Mass
• Take on a more active role by:
  • Training lector
  • Training ushers
  • Starting a youth choir
  • Taking on the youth group and developing enriching activities to guide our youth that would encourage an encounter with Christ
  • Assist with First Penance
  • Assist with First Communion
  • Assist with Confirmation

What do I need to do? (Volunteer Requirements)

• Fill out and submit a Volunteer Application
• Successfully complete a background screening (done by parish)
• Attend Protecting God’s Children workshop and obtain certification (if working with/being around kids)
• Observe Catechist(s) for a period of time before taking on an active role

 

Welcome to another exciting year of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) with Divine Mercy Parish. We would like to thank you for entrusting your child’s Catholic Christian formation with us. As Parents, you are primary teachers, educators of your child with regards to their Catholic Faith. The examples that you provide at home, your dedication to our catholic faith and sacraments as a family is an integral part of your child’s spiritual journey.  

As part of our mission to educate your child, Divine Mercy Parish in Rahway is the only parish in the Diocese of Newark that is providing a comprehensive Parent Formation Workshop.  These are classes  that will provide the Parents to grow deeper in their Catholic Faith.  We will be rediscovering our rich Catholic faith, and will provide information and resources from the Catechism of the Catholic Church for you and your family to help you and your children grow spiritually.  We encourage that you attend the Sunday mass after your child’s class and to participate in the sacrament of Eucharist and Reconciliation regularly.

---

BIBLE STUDY AND WORKSHOPS

---

We are starting new series called The Search. Attendance is mandatory for parents of children in our parish CCD program. The English series workshop runs from October 5, 2020 to April 5, 2021 for the English version and October 19, 2020 to April 19, 2021 for the Spanish version. To learn more about The Search workshop, please click here

---

FOR FACILITATORS OF "THE SEARCH"

---

Blessings and Peace to all!

Another year has come for us to proclaim God's Love and Goodness to all families we serve. This year, we are challenged to continue our mission with the aid of Zoom (virtual classes), but we totally rely on the wisdom and help of God, whom His work is being accomplished through our program. 

Virtual Class schedule will be every  1st Monday each month starting in October at 5 at 7pm and 3rd Monday in Spanish.  We begin this on Monday, October 5th, 2020

As I quote the letter I gave to parents (attached)  “Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. You bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, love, forgiveness and respect. Religion, however, is much more than a school subject. It is a way of living. By taking the time to pray - both at home and in Church - families show their children the importance of a God-centered life.

Please join me as Facilitators , and after the video sessions, we break out into rooms in Zoom and will moderate the group assigned to you according to the Topic " The Search". I will be sending the questions to be reflected during the session. Please log on to Formed,org and review the topics assigned per month and be prepared for monday. 

Your role as Facilitator:
* To make them feel welcome
* To keep them focused on the topics
* To listen to their sharings and take note, you may share your own experience to initiate the talk.
* To pray for them while they are speaking
* To let them know once the time is up, the zoom room will let you know through the screen.
*** Zoom will automatically send you in groups and will also automatically put you back in the main room (15 min given for group sharing).
 

---

CCD Resources

Virtus Online
RCAN Guidance on Sex Abuse
Resources for Reporting Abuse
Parish Religious Education Calendar
Catechists Resource
The Need for Catechists
Best Practices Guidelines for Online Services
Best Practices Guidelines for Video Calls
RCAN Guidelines for Using Zoom and Other Remote Technologies

Contact Information

Eleanor (Susie) Atienza
Parish Catechetical Leader/Director of Religious Education
susie@divinemercyrahway.church

Janice Marron, CCD Coordinator
Contact email
ccd@divinemercyrahway.church

We have all been called by our Lord Jesus Christ to become salt of the earth and light for the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Nowhere is this call more evident than in our readiness to support and participate in the formation of our youth so they can grow and thrive in the Catholic faith.

To help sponsor a child for religious education program in our parish, please click on the link below. On the memo field, mention this: CCD Registration for <Child's_ Name>. Please check the appropriate fee on the Program Information tab within this page.

Sponsor a Child's CCD

Thank you for your generosity!