The sacred duty and the joy of each succeeding generation of Christian believers have been to hand on the deposit of faith that was first entrusted to the apostles by Christ himself. We have received this gift, the deposit of faith- we have not conceived it. It is the heritage for the whole Church. It is our privilege and our responsibility to preserve the memory of Christ’s words themselves and to teach future generations of believers to carry out all that Christ commanded his apostles. National Directory for Catechesis
The Junior Saints Program involves a comprehensive approach to Religious Education and Youth Ministry for all youth in the 6-8th grades. Youth who want to learn the fundamentals of Catholic faith and give back to the community do so through semester and summer programs. These include weekly faith formation sessions in a classroom setting, monthly service projects, and community building events.
The ministry of Religious Education helps adolescents develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Catholic Community through Scriptures and Tradition and their application to life. Catechesis in Junior Saints fosters growth in Catholic faith in three dimensions: trusting (heart), believing (mind) and doing (will).
Faith formation in the 6th – 8th grade will emphasize incorporating the young people more fully into the sacramental life of the church. Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation begins in the 6th grade classes and continues until Confirmation is received during the 8th grade year. Each candidate for Confirmation must be actively participating in a religious education program through the Parish RE Program or through All Saints Catholic School. Class time for 6th-8th grade faith formation is Sundays 3:15pm – 5:45pm. See Confirmation for additional requirements.
The All Saints Religious Education Program is a Volunteer Based Program. In order to have a successful Religious Education Program, volunteers are needed. It is required by All Saints Catholic Community that for all scheduled events, there will be a minimum of two “Cleared Adults” present with children and youth at all times. These adults may be either employees or volunteers who have been screened through the procedure outlined in the Safe Environment Program.
Each class is taught by a volunteer Catechist (no previous experience required-Training provided) with a second “cleared adult” as a moderator. If the classes do not meet this minimum requirement of two cleared adults, a substitute is recruited or the class may be cancelled. All registration forms contain an area to check off your Volunteer Position – registration is not complete until this area of the form is complete.
More information on RE Registration, and Volunteering can be found by downloading a Religious Education Registration Packet or contacting the Religious Education Department at 972-778-0313 or e-mail dross@allsaintsdallas.org
The Junior Saints program nurtures in young people a social consciousness and commitment to a life of justice and service rooted in their faith in Jesus, Scriptures, and in Catholic Social Teachings. The Youth Minister and core group will build an environment of love, support, appreciation for diversity, which models Catholic principles and links the ministry effort to the resources of the broader community.