St. Elizabeth Aiea

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Table of Contents


  • Class Structure
  • Special Programs
  • Class Meeting Times
  • Program Guidelines & Requirements
  • Attendance
  • Behavior
  • Visiting Policy
  • Registration Fees
  • Role of the Student
  • Role of the Parent
  • Special Requirements (Confirmation Candidates)
  • Diocesan Guidelines

 

CCD Handbook

Class Structure

The St. Elizabeth CCD program provides a religious education opportunity for children of all ages. There is a class for almost every corresponding grade level.

  • Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten
  • 1st Grade
  • First Communion
    For 2nd graders who have already received Baptism. Students are prepared for First Reconciliation and First Communion. Students should be attending Mass weekly with parents and should know basic prayers.
  • 3rd Grade
  • 4th Grade
  • 5th Grade
  • 6th Grade
  • 7th Grade
  • 8th Grade
  • 9th Grade
    This class is also for any students in a higher grade who are preparing to enter the Confirmation process. Students in grades higher then 9th are given the opportunity to test into Phase 1. Confirmation.
  • Confirmation
    Specific guidelines determine acceptance into the program.
  • Confirmation Phase I: First year of the 2-year community and faith building process that is Confirmation.
  • Confirmation Phase II: Second year of two that culminates in the candidates receiving the final Sacrament of Initiation: Confirmation.

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Special Programs

The order of classes listed is the "typical" progression through the religious education program here at St. Elizabeth. But for a variety of reasons, there are students who need special attention. In order to accommodate these students and in concordance with the guidelines of the Diocese of Honolulu, we also offer the following classes:

  • Older Communicants I (Grades 3-5)
  • Older Communicants II (Grades 6-8)
  • Older Communicants III (Grades 9+)
    The three classes above are for students that have been baptized, but have yet to receive First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

Students in grades 3-12 who have not received any of the Sacraments of Initiation, may be received into the Ride of Christian Initiation of Children (R.C.I.C.) at the request of their parents. This program is offered in the following three age brackets.

  • R.C.I.C. Primary (Grades 3-5)
  • R.C.I.C. Intermediate (Grades 6-8)
  • R.C.I.C. Upper (Grades 9+)

Upon completion of the R.C.I.C. program, students are both encouraged and expected to continue in the St. Elizabeth CCD program in order to more completely develop their understanding of our Catholic heritage and faith, culminating in their full initiation in the Church at Confirmation.

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Class Meeting Times

Class times are as follows:

Saturdays from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

  • Pre-K/Kindergarten
  • 1st Grade
  • First Communion
  • 3rd Grade
  • 4th Grade
  • 5th Grade
  • 6th Grade

Sundays from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

  • 7th Grade
  • 8th Grade
  • 9th Grade
  • Phase I Confirmation
  • Phase II Confirmation

TBD:

  • Older Communicants III (9+)
  • R.C.I.C. Upper

For the safety of the children parents are requested to bring them to class no earlier than 15 minutes before class starts. Children should be picked up no later than 15 minute after class ends.

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Program Guidelines & Requirements

To be eligible to enroll in the program, students and their families should be registered parishioners of St. Elizabeth. Also, they must be baptized according to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. If the student has not been baptized, please contact the rectory immediately to make arrangements. If the student was baptized in another Christian denomination, a public profession of faith must be made in order to officially enroll the student as a member of the Catholic Church.

A copy of the baptismal certificate is required at the time of registration.

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Attendance

Every class is important. When a student arrives late or leaves early, it is disruptive to the learning environment for everyone involved--catechist, student and classmates. Please do whatever is necessary to keep class times clear of other activities. Religious education is simply too important.

In the event a class absence is unavoidable, please let your child's catechist know as soon as possible; preferably in advance so that lesson plans may be reworked if necessary. Also, please provide a note from a parent or guardian to the catechist or CRE explaining the absence.

A maximum number of 5 absence has been set. This number should be sufficient to allow for family trips and occasional illnesses. Upon the sixth absence, students in sacramental classes will be required to repeat the year. Do note that a blue card will be sent home to notify you of your child's absence from class.

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Behavior

Students are expected to behave in a prayerful and respectful manner at all times not only towards their catechist, but also to the CRE, parish priests and one another. Any behavioral problems will be handled by the catechist, CRE, the Associate Pastor or the Pastor.

Furthermore, students are expected to arrive to class prepared to participate fully. That means having completed any and all assignments and with all necessary textbooks, journals, and any other materials prescribed by the catechist. In the event of disruptive and/or inappropriate behavior, the following steps should be followed:

  1. The catechist will talk with the student privately.
  2. If the behavior continues, the catechist will report to the CRE. Parents may be called in for a conference.
  3. In cases of serious behavioral problems, the student may be asked to leave the program. In such cases, the Coordinator of CCD, Pastor and parents will meet to determine the best course of action for the continued faith development of the student.

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Visiting Policy

In order to provide a safe learning environment, we will need to restrict class attendance to teachers and aids who have been properly certified and cleared by the Diocese of Honolulu. Visits by parents, guardians and others, on a one time basis only, will need permission from the Coordinator of Religious Education.

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Registration Fees

The current registration fees are listed below. In addition to these fees, non-registered parishioners will be assessed an additional fee of $50.00. Registration forms accepted after the regular registration has ended will be subject to a late fee.

  • First Student - $20.00
  • Second Student - $10.00
  • Third or more - $5.00 each

If any family cannot afford the payment, arrangements can be made with the Pastor. No child will be turned away due to an inability to pay the registration fee.

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Role of the Student

In order to ensure a positive environment for learning and also for faith development sharing and community building, all St. Elizabeth CCD students are expected to know and honor the following promises:

  • I promise to attend Mass regularly
  • I promise to come to class with a prayerful heart, and open mind and an ear tuned to God's voice.
  • I promise to complete my assignments on time and to come to class prepared to participate.
  • I promise to treat my teachers and classmates at all times with respect.
  • I promise to make every effort to attend class each week.
  • I promise to attend any and all sessions, prayer services, retreats and rehearsals when scheduled.
  • I promise to come to class on time and to stay until class is dismissed.
  • I promise to make up any assignments missed due to class absence and to turn them in on a timely manner.
  • I promise to maintain a positive learning environment by not misbehaving, talking out of turn, teasing or making fun of any of my classmates.
  • I promise to involve my parents in my religious education by asking them questions when I need help and sharing what I have learned with them on a regular basis.
  • I promise to manage my time well so that my parents are not forced to chose between CCD and school work.
  • I promise not to bring cell phones or ipods to class.
  • I promise not to eat in class.

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Role of the Parent

Parents are the primary catechists, or teachers, of their children. They are not asked to be experts in theology, but rather to teach by the example of regular Mass attendance and prayer, and by not placing other activities on a higher priority then God and Church. As such they are asked to give the following statements careful and serious consideration. Parents and/or guardians will be asked to sign a covenant agreeing to be governed by the promises in the Handbook before class begin.

  • I promise to see that my child attends Mass on Sundays (or Saturday evenings) and holy days of obligation, and to accompany my child to Mass whenever possible.
  • I promise to see that my child attends all catechetical sessions, prayer services, retreats and rehearsals when they are scheduled.
  • I promise to attend all parent sessions and other activities when they are planned.
  • I promise to participate in the sacramental life of the parish, to the degree that I am able, as a witness of faith for my child.
  • I promise to seek out whatever aid I may need in completing my own sacramental readiness, whether through R.C.I.A., adult confirmation, Reconciliation or annulment.
  • I promise to make sure that my child knows the basic prayers of our faith (e.g., Our Father, Hail Mary, Act of Contrition, etc).
  • I promise to pray for my child during this time of learning and to encourage my child to share experiences with me.
  • I promise to review the Role of the Student section of this handbook with my child to see and he/she understands it.
  • I promise to ensure that my child knows the Pastor and Associate Pastor by sight and can greet them by name.

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Special Requirements for Confirmation Candidates

In order to demonstrate the candidate's appreciation of the importance of Confirmation, the following guidelines and requirements, in addition to those described in the section prior, apply to all students enrolled in the Confirmation process:

  • In combination with regular Mass attendance, each candidate will complete a Mass form. They are to be brought to class or turned in at the CCD office.
  • At the beginning of Phase I, candidates will write a letter addressed to the Pastor requesting to be admitted into the Confirmation process and giving reasons why.
  • In Phase I, candidate will also select the name of a saint to be his or her confirmation name.
  • Also in Phase I, candidates will select a sponsor that meets all of the following criteria:
  • --> Years of age and already a confirmed Catholic.
  • --> Currently practicing the faith
  • --> If possible, should be the candidate's godparents.
  • Candidates will perform a minimum of 20 hours of community service each phase. Not one event or activity may be counted for more then 10 hours per year.
  • Candidates will participate in a retreat each year.
  • Candidates will be interviewed at lease once each phase to assess progress and readiness by either the catechist, CRE, or Pastor.
  • In Phase II, candidates will write a letter to the Bishop requesting the Sacrament of Confirmation, explaining why they are seeking to receive the Holy Sprit into their lives, and identifying and explaining their choice of confirmation name.

Any candidate who fails to meet any and all of these requirements will be asked to repeat the Phase.

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Diocesan Guidelines

St. Elizabeth's Confirmation process is based upon the guidelines set forth by the Diocese of Honolulu. You are welcome review these guidelines at any time. Please call the CCD office at 487-7994 to make arrangements.

As a final note to the entire sacramental preparation process, it is the responsibility of everyone involved to be sensitive to safeguard a candidate's right to not receive the sacrament(s) if he or she does not wish to.

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Copyright © 2007 St. Elizabeth Aiea CCD All right reserved.