Class Sessions:  Our goal is to enable families to attend Mass together; to learn, share, and grow in their faith as a family. All sessions will be held from 9:10am to 10:20am in the lower school building.

 

Class Attendance: Attendance will be taken beginning with orientation. All absences will be recorded. Students who miss more than three (3) classes will not progress to the next formation year/receive the sacrament. However, we know that life can be unpredictable! If a family situation arises preventing your child from attending classes, please talk to the Youth Director, Samantha Denefe. 

 

Mass Attendance: Mass is the center of our Faith. It is through the Mass that we grow in our intimate relationship with Christ! This year, Mass attendance will be monitored. In the back of the Church there will be a sign in sheet for all families participating in PRE. Please sign in before Mass.  If your family is out of town and unable to attend Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary, don’t sweat it! Please just arrange for each of your children to bring in a bulletin from the Catholic Church which they attended that weekend. Then attach a note with your child’s name and grade. Also, www.masstimes.org is a wonderful site to help you find Mass times at local Catholic churches during your travels.

 

Class Parents: All parents are asked to attend two (2) classes per semester with each of their children. This is to aid the teacher in managing the kids. Please sign in on the clipboard when entering class. Parents are asked to stay the entire class and not move from one classroom to another. Please do not interrupt the class in any way.

 

Prayers and Teachings: Prayer is a form of communication, a way of talking to God or to the saints. There are a number of recommended prayers and teachings which should be known by all Catholics. This list has been broken down into a manageable number of prayers or teachings to be learned at each grade of parish religious education. Copies of prayers to be known are being sent home. As of September 7th, prayers will be tested periodically with each student. An assessment of this review will be placed in the student’s file and a copy sent to the parent.

 

Prayer Buddies: This year, we will also have prayer buddies! Children will be assigned a prayer buddy during class. They are encouraged to pray for their buddy every day.

 

Textbooks: Faith & Life textbooks are loaned to families and need to be returned at the end of the academic year in useable condition. All textbooks lost or returned damaged will be assessed a $20 fee per book to the family. This fee will be required in order for the student to complete the academic year and progress to the next level.

 

Sacramental Prep: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as the Diocese of Little Rock has established regulations which every Catholic Church must adhere to. Sacrament preparation must be done in community, that is in the Parish, and will be accomplished by requiring all students in the given sacrament year to attend retreats and/or events such as service projects, prayer buddies, Holy Hours, or Diocesan events. Secondly, a year of faith formation must be taught to the students before the student can enter a sacrament preparation program. This is met either through a year of PRE or a year at a Catholic school prior to the year the child is to receive the sacrament.  

 

Important Dates:

Prayer Testing: Sept. 7th, Nov. 2nd, Jan. 25th, Mar. 1st, Apr. 19th

Reconciliation: Oct. 5th (3rd grade and up), Apr. 26th (2nd grade and up)

Lenten Tree: Lent (Feb. 18th through Mar. 29th)

Holy Days of Obligation: Immaculate Conception Dec. 8th, Christmas Dec. 25th, Mary Mother of God Jan. 1st

 

Communication: There are many ways to communicate with IHM’s Youth Department. Youth Director Samantha Denefe can be reached via cell at (501)420-3936, in the office at 851-2763, or by email at youthdir@ihmnlr.org. We also have a one way text messaging system to remind you of important dates! To sign up please text @ihmpre to (650) 646-2207. We will also put you on our email chain once you have filled out the registration form. Living the Faith assignments will be posted on our church website. Don’t forget to find us on our Facebook group Immaculate Heart of Mary Youth Ministry.

 

Inclement Weather: Weather can sometimes be unpredictable. If a situation should arise where we need to cancel PRE due to inclement weather, we will communicate this via Remind101 by 7:15am on Sunday morning.