Religious Education

Registering your children for Religious Education assumes a level of commitment to the practices of our Catholic Faith.

Parents are the Primary Catechists of your children. We encourage you to weave the practices and prayers of Catholicism into everyday life. Weekly Mass attendance, daily prayer, celebrating the Sacraments, Holy Days and seasons of the Church year are all expected to be a part of the religious formation of children within the family. Active participation within the St. Thomas More community provides an opportunity for your children to experience the joys, sorrows and celebrations of life within a faith community.

Our Religious Education Coordinators would be happy to share new ideas and strategies to help you to integrate your faith more fully into your family life.

Due to limited space, Religious Education classes are reserved for registered parishioners only.

Registration booklets are sent out in June. We begin processing registrations and assigning classes on July 31st. All classes will be filled on a first come basis.

A late fee of $75.00 will be assessed to anyone wishing to register after the first day of class.

With emphasis on community and active learning, our Elementary Religious Education sessions at St. Thomas More offer busy families a starting point to have faith discussions with their children at home throughout the week.  Through the study of the scriptures, traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church.  In following this approach they come to a better understanding of the traditions and teachings of the Church – a gift from God to help us become more like Jesus.

We offer classes for grades Pre-Kindergarten through 6 on Sunday mornings, Grades 1 – 6, on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, as well as, Tuesday evenings.

Our dedicated catechists are volunteers who accept the call of the Holy Spirit to minister to the children of St. Thomas More.  They generously give their time and talents to this ministry.  They are required to attend training sessions and are encouraged to begin and complete a certification process through the Archdiocese of Detroit.  We strive to never bore a child with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Middle School Religious Education is for students in the 7th and 8th grades.  They are young and they are alive!  Our approach is to understand their situation.  Instead of meeting in a classroom, these students first meet in the Church to listen to a Catholic topic.  They then move to our Social Hall where a film clip is shown highlighting the topic previously presented.  They then separate into small groups.  Catechists engage the students in discussions on what they have just seen and heard.  Finally, they return to the Church for prayer and reflection.  The students lead the prayer services.  The goal is to help these youngsters learn and live out the Paschal Mystery (the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) in their own lives and in the life of their community.

The Youth Group is for 9th through 12th graders.  The Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall.  The formation of our youth follows the four-fold mission of the Church itself:

Due to limited space, Religious Education classes are reserved for registered parishioners only.

Registration booklets are sent out in June. We begin processing registrations and assigning classes on July 31st. All classes will be filled on a first come basis.

A late fee of $75.00 will be assessed to anyone wishing to register after the first day of class.

Registration Form (pdf printable version)

In order to keep the children of St. Thomas More safe, we have developed some regulations for student pick up and drop off.  Please be sure your children know and understand these procedures.

STUDENTS IN ALL GRADES MUST BE DROPPED OFF AND PICKED UP AT THE WEST (ADAMS ROAD) ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH. 

At dismissal instruct your children to wait on the sidewalk or inside the vestibule until your car pulls into the circular drive. 

Please do not allow your children to cut across the line of traffic to meet you in a parking space!  It is extremely unsafe for them to pass through the line of cars to reach you.

Note:  Children will not be allowed to exit Religious Education classes using any of the EAST (back) exit doors.

PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE IN PICKING UP CHILDREN.  IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE, 248-647-4680, ext 1, TO LET US KNOW!  A late pickup requires coming into the Religious Education office.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR PRE-K,
KINDERGARTEN, AND GRADES 1 and 2

The Religious Education office will require written permission from all parents of children in Pre-K, Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 specifying who will be allowed to pick up their student(s).  Forms will be available the first week of class.

Dismissal Permission Slip for Pre-K, Kindergarten, First and Second Graders (pdf printable version)

Dear Parents,

As you know, our dismissal policy for pre-k, kindergarten, first and second graders requires a parent or an older sibling to pick up the child from the classroom.

Although we prefer this policy, we understand that it is a hardship for some families. Intricate carpools and family situations require special consideration as well.  We are also sensitive to the fact that you are the best judge of your child's maturity and self-reliance.

With this in mind, we are asking that you complete and return to the Religious Education office this permission form.  We will use this information to give the catechists your specific instructions regarding dismissal procedures for your child.  Please be sure to include all names of persons to whom your child may be released.  Until we receive this permission form, we will follow the procedure that is currently in place.

Your children are our greatest blessing.  Ultimately, the safety of your child is our primary goal.

We believe that it is in the best interest of the family that most Sacramental preparation for young people occurs within the home.  We provide the support and materials for parents and guardians to work with their children to gain a better understanding of the importance of the Sacraments in living a Catholic and Christian life.  Through parent meetings, family retreat experiences, and family- friendly preparation materials, the Religious Education staff and catechists help families prepare to celebrate the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation.

Preparation for Confirmation begins for students in the 8th grade.  This preparation gives them a greater understanding and appreciation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.    Confirmation is celebrated in the 9th grade. 

First Eucharist

Preparation for First Eucharist takes place in the second grade.  Children and their parents or guardians explore the topics of community, worship, and service as they prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Eucharist in early spring.

First Reconciliation

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation is celebrated in the 4th grade at St. Thomas More.  Preparation is rooted in helping the children and their families come to understand the effects of sin on their relationship with God, others, and themselves.  This Sacrament is celebrated in January.

Confirmation

Preparation for Confirmation begins for students in the 8th grade.  Confirmation is conferred by the Bishop in the fall of their 9th grade year.  Preparation includes attendance at regular Religious Education classes, a Confirmation retreat at an offsite retreat house, and ten hours of Christian Service.  Those being confirmed must choose a Confirmation name.  They are required to write a short report on why that name was chosen.  The student selects a Confirmation sponsor.  They are both required to attend a rehearsal the week before the Confirmation ceremony.

Through this preparation, the Confirmed students will come to a greater understanding and appreciation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The purpose of Adult Religious Education is the strengthening of faith commitment among the members of the community.  Ones faith commitment grows and develops through the actual living out of the Christian life.  This includes:

Deepening of friendships and relationships among the members of the Church.

Ongoing realizations and insights of the faith stories and teachings of the Church.

Experience of living justly in our everyday lives.

Worshipping together and strengthening of bonds within a community of believers.

The goal of Adult Religious Education, in other words, is the conversion of the community to Jesus Christ – to think and act more like Jesus.

Thinking of becoming Catholic?  If you are, then the RCIA is for you.  The RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.  It is for those who have never been baptized, for those baptized in another faith, or for those who wish to complete their initiation in the Church by celebrating the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.  The RCIA meets on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.  Many Catholic topics, especially the seven sacraments are discussed each week.  RCIA gathers in the Church for the 9:00 a.m., Sunday Mass.  After the homily they depart the Church for further instruction and reflection.  

 

A Little "More" is St. Thomas More's Ministry to Young Families. A Little "More" encourages young families to recognize how faith is woven throughout family life.

We offer opportunities for parents to gather together, to listen to speakers, join a book club, or to participate in a short study group. Afterward gather to discuss the study materials.

A Little "More" brings parents together to meet new friends and to further explore their faith.

There are many ways to become involved in Religious Education at St. Thomas More.  We are an all volunteer parish, and all of our programs depend on the generosity of the St. Thomas More community.

Catechist

Do you love God and want to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ?  Do you have a heart for children and youth?  Do you want to learn more about your faith as you volunteer in the Church?  Is the Holy Spirit calling you, but you haven’t answered because you can’t believe the Spirit would need you?
Think again!

A catechist is a Baptized and Confirmed person called by the Holy Spirit to the prophetic ministry of the Church. Catechists share the faith with the children in our Religious Education program.  They plan, prepare and implement lessons from the catechetical resources provided to them.  All catechists must attend an orientation program and work toward certification through the Catechist Certification Program of the Archdiocese of Detroit.  Catechists must be active participants in the life of our parish, especially the Sunday Eucharist.  They must have an active prayer life and a deep love of God, the Church, and God’s holy people. Catechetical ministry at St. Thomas More requires about 40 hours a year of preparation, training, and teaching.

Catechist Aide

Are you unsure if you want to be a catechist?  Do you love working with children, but don’t want the responsibility of planning a weekly lesson and then teaching it?

Opportunities exist for teens and adults to help in the Religious Education program as classroom aides.  An aide assists the catechist in implementing each lesson. Aides may be asked to occasionally substitute teach for the catechist they work with.  All Confirmed teens interested in becoming a catechist must spend one year as a classroom aide.

Church Tour Docents

Have you always wondered about our parish home and the religious symbols in St. Thomas More Church?

Each year we host church tours for our First Eucharist candidates and their families.  We will give you the material needed to learn about the spirituality and symbolism of St. Thomas More; then ask you to guide small groups through the Church.

Cookie Bakers

Do you love to bake cookies and make them extra special for guests and friends?

Confirmation and First Eucharist receptions require hundreds of dozens of home baked cookies as part of the St. Thomas More celebration of these Sacraments. We need many people to volunteer to bake three dozen cookies for each reception.

Office Help

Do you like organizing paper and working with office machines?

Volunteers are needed during Religious Education classes to help with copying, collating, cutting and organizing materials to help the Religious Education staff as they assist catechists in their ministry.

Supply Room Organization

Do tidy and organized drawers and closets make you happy?

St. Thomas More has a well stocked catechist supply room that needs constant re-organization.  We could use your help for an hour or two, weekly or monthly, as catechists and catechist aides use these materials.

Catechist Aide

Do you love working with children?  Do you love God and want to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ?  Is the Holy Spirit calling you, but you haven’t answered because you can’t believe the Spirit would need you?

Think again!

Opportunities exist for teens and adults to help in the Religious Education program as classroom aides.  An aide assists the catechist in implementing each lesson. Aides may be asked to occasionally substitute teach for the catechist they work with.  All Confirmed teens interested in beoming a catechist must spend one year as a classroom aide.