Religious Education

Contact Information

Cecille S. Toy
Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE)
Email: CRE@st-dunstan.org
Office Tel: 650-697-7451

Important News & Updates

Religious Education Registration Now Open for School Year 2022-2023
Please register online here:
https://forms.gle/3dgRtCFToArFNARr9

Classes are on Tuesdays, starting on August 30, 2022, through May 16, 2023.  Classes will be held in person* whenever possible, conforming to the mandatory Safety requirements of the civil authority as well as of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Don’t delay, register now – Registration Deadline is August 26, 2022.

*In cases when a student will need to stay at home (i.e. sick or on quarantine), classes may be streamed via Zoom. While face to face class is in session, there will be no live interaction between the student on Zoom and the rest of the class or the Catechist. The Catechist may send out homework questions to make sure that the student understood the class and paid attention, in order to be counted as being present for the class.

*If the situation requires the school to close our doors and stay at home, we will resume classes via Zoom for everybody. The schedule will stay the same, and the Zoom link for the specific class will be emailed to your family.

In addition to filling out the On-Line Registration, you are required to fill out and submit the following Forms:

Class Schedule

Classes are held Tuesdays with the following grade level schedule:

  • Grade 1 – 4:00-5:15pm -- Catechist Maria Soberano
  • Grade 2 – 5:30-6:45pm -- Catechist Tatyana Larson
  • Grade 3 – 5:30-6:45pm -- Catechist Vicky Clemente
  • Grade 4 – 4:00-5:15pm -- Catechist Sue Pallari
  • Grade 5 – 5:30-6:45pm -- Catechist Vaiola Kautoke
  • Grade 6 -- 5:30-6:45pm -- Catechist Terri Cuellar
  • Special Sacrament Level 1 for 3rd Gr & above, first year preparation for First Holy Communion – 5:30-6:45pm -- Catechist Maria Soberano
  • Special Sacrament Level 2 for 4th Gr & above, second year preparation for First Holy Communion – 6:45-8:00pm -- Catechist Tatyana Larson
  • Confirmation I – 7:00-8:30pm -- Catechists Marvin Laubacher and Delenne Franco
  • Confirmation II – 7:00-8:30pm – Tiffany Avila and May Cepriano
  • Special Sacrament Level 3 – In addition to Confirmation I, supplemental classes for those who need catch up Catechism (i.e., did not attend 6th Grade Catechism) – Fridays; 5:30-6:45pm – Catechist Cecille Toy

Please contact the Office of Religious Education if you need help in figuring out which level your child should be registered in, especially if your child was not enrolled last year.

Attendance Policy

We only meet once a week, and each class leads to the next.  When you register your child for Religious Education, it is understood that coming to class on time and your child’s attendance at every class is a priority for your family.  We understand however that there are circumstances beyond your control, such as the child being sick.  

  • In case your child will have to be absent from class, you are required to send an email or text message to the CRE and let us know why your child will be absent.  Notify us at least 2 hours before your class time.  
  • A maximum of 3 absences will be tolerated, after which: (1) additional work will be required from the student which will need parent supervision, and (2) an in-person meeting with the student and the parents, with the Coordinator of Religious Ed and/or the pastor.

Expectations from Parents

As the primary teachers and leaders of the faith for your family, you have a wonderful opportunity to continuously grow and learn more about your own personal faith.  The Catechists and I are here to honor that and to collaborate with you to guide your children in their life-long faith journey.  We encourage parents to be ACTIVELY involved in their Religious Education.  

Sunday mass in person as a family consistently every Sunday – this should be a family priority because this is a great opportunity to be fed by God and to worship as a family.

  1. Read email announcements from our office and respond promptly when needed.
  2. Talk to your children about what was discussed after every class.  Ask what was discussed, what was interesting and what new thing they learned or experienced in class.  Find out if they have any questions.
  3. Send us an email to provide us with feedback, questions and/or concerns.  We love to hear from you.
  4. Join us during class masses and other events.  The RE (Religious Ed) class calendar specifies certain dates for your child’s class mass – scheduled on a Tuesday, at 5:00pm at St. Dunstan Church.  There are 3 weekday class masses for the entire school year (see the RE Calendar for schedule of your class).  We ask that the student and family attend these 3 class masses.  We will reserve pews in front for you (sit with your student).  Class masses will not take the place of their classes.  The student will still have to go to class at their regular class time.
  5. In addition to the weekday scheduled class masses, we will also schedule a Sunday class mass once a month.  We hope that your entire family can join us during your assigned Sunday mass schedule.  We will provide you with the schedule of these Sunday class masses.
  6. There will be Reconciliation Services (confession) scheduled for the students of Religious Education.  Your family is always welcome to join and receive this sacrament, after all the students have confessed.  
  7. Parents of students preparing for Sacraments (First Holy Communion and Confirmation) will be required to attend retreats and meetings throughout the year.  You are expected to be more involved as your child prepares for their sacrament.
  8. Orientation meeting for primary grade Parents is on the first day of Religious Ed, 8/30/2022, during your child’s scheduled time of class.  Students will go to class in the classroom while parents have orientation at the Parish Center.
  9. We need adult helpers as volunteers for the RE program to work properly throughout the year.  We hope that as parents you will be part of this.  See HELP NEEDED section below.

Help Needed:

  • We need one Catechist as a sub who can teach from August 30 through December 13, 2022, 4:00-5:15pm class on Tuesdays.  No experience required; we will provide the training.
  • We need nine adult helpers who will function as Catechist Aide, during the same time that your child is in class.  Simple job – monitor or audit the class you will be assigned to, as part of our safety protocol.
  • We need help with office work – data entry, filing, organizing.  Time is flexible, depending on availability of the volunteer.
  • We need adult volunteers to help with Youth Ministry

Are you being called to serve the children/youth of our parish community who will be the future of our Church?  Is faith important enough that you want to have the opportunity to share your faith, time, and talent? We need volunteers.

This is a great ministry that allows you to live out Christ’s mission to spread His teachings and be a good role model to your child and the community.  Be part of our Faith Formation family.  No experience is required; we will provide the training.  Please, prayerfully consider if you hear the calling from the Holy Spirit.

Contact Cecille Toy by email at CRE@st-dunstan.org.

Overview of the 2022-2023 Religious Ed Program:

The St. Dunstan School of Religious Education welcomes all children and youth, who are baptized Catholic and those wishing to be baptized in the Catholic faith, to enroll and participate in our Religious Education Program. Enrollment priority is given to those families who are registered in our Parish. If your family is not registered with our Parish, please fill out our parish registration form.

We at St. Dunstan Parish want to provide the best possible formation of our young people. Our faith life is a treasure that especially during these times, needs to be supported and deepened. And now more than ever, our parish families need us to minister to them, and provide them with our support.  We have an unprecedented opportunity to build and strengthen our domestic church, at home.

The Religious Education school year has traditionally mirrored the safety protocols of the St. Dunstan Parish School.  The Parish Administration, Principal and Administration of St. Dunstan School have allowed Religious Education students and staff to occupy and use the school classrooms during these sessions.

Class sessions are regularly scheduled on Tuesdays, from 4:00 to 5:15 pm for Grades 1 and 4, 5:30-6:45pm for Grades 2, 3, 5 and 6.  Special Sacrament Level 1 for kids in Grade 3 and above, preparing for 1st year First Holy Communion prep; class is at 5:30-6:45pm.  Special Sacrament Level 2 for kids in Grade 4 and above, preparing for 2nd year First Holy Communion prep; class is at 6:45-8:00pm.  Confirmation I & II classes are from 7:00 to 8:30pm.  Special Sacrament Level 3 for kids registered in Confirmation I but have missed some primary Catechism.  This is a supplemental class for those who need catch up Catechism (i.e., did not attend 6th Grade Catechism) – Fridays; 5:30-6:45pm.

Our Mission:

The St. Dunstan School of Religious Education is an important part of the St. Dunstan Parish Community. We provide our students with a desire to share in the adventure of faith, learning, liturgy, and life. Our faith formation program is in partnership with the parents, for children to grow in love, knowledge, appreciation, and desire for Jesus Christ and become active members of the Catholic Church. We are committed to helping parents provide and encourage their children with a solid spiritual foundation of their Roman Catholic faith.

In line with the above-mentioned Mission Statement, the goals of the Religious Education Program at St. Dunstan Parish are:

  • Inculturation with today’s students who are natives of the Digital World, who are adjusting back to in-person classes, who may be facing challenges of social interaction, depression, and spiritual hunger.
  • Connect with the students and their families, listen to their stories, and welcome them as members of the Body of Christ.
  • Create opportunities for a relationship with these students and families that will develop into a deep and personal relationship with Christ.
  • Partner with the parents to provide basic catechetical instructions, Catholic teachings of the Church, learn to appreciate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, other forms of prayer, and awareness to the devotion to the Blessed Mother, such as praying the rosary.
  • Full participation in the life of the Catholic Church and foster community among the children, their families, and the parish community.
  • Empower students to follow the great commandment to love God and love our neighbor, to follow their mission and spread the good news to the rest of the world and be a true disciple of Christ.
  • Ongoing conversion to Jesus Christ and the Gospel and encourage the lifelong spiritual journey to continuously deepen their faith and relationship with God.

The Religious Education program assists parents and guardians in passing on their faith through the Catechism ministry. The program helps children/youth build and strengthen their relationship with Jesus and the Church. Catechists do this by proclaiming the Word, building a sense of community, leading to prayer and worship, encouraging loving service to others, and through the example of their own lives.

The Religious Education Catechists are volunteers. They are people who have answered the call to minister to our children/youth and who have prepared themselves in diverse ways to serve as Catechists. They are people for whom faith is important enough to share.

Ways to Foster and Strengthen Faith in the Family

  • Family prayers – before/after meals; rosary; novenas; bedtime prayers; praise, thanksgiving, petitions, intercessory prayers together as a family
  • Sacred space at home – create an altar table where you can display the Catholic Holy Bible, the crucifix, your family picture, and other religious articles
  • Daily blessing for individual children – blessing each child before they leave your home for school, lay your hand on top of their head, or sign of the cross on their forehead, as you ask God to bless them and guide their path.
  • Read the Catholic Bible – this is good habit to make for you as an individual, and for your family.  The best way to prepare yourselves for the Sacred Sunday Mass is to read all the readings ahead of time.  Go to https://bible.usccb.org/   to get the readings for the mass.  It is good to meditate on the readings prior to the Sunday mass.  Every Catholic home should have a Catholic Bible.  If you do not have one, I urge you to get one as soon as possible.  The Bible is how God speaks to us and guides us.  If you have young children, in addition to your family Bible, it will be good to have a Catholic Children’s Bible that is filled with pictures to show your children as you read them bible stories.

Registration

Welcome and thank you for enrolling your child/children in our Religious Education Program.  Registration is done online, using this link:   https://forms.gle/3dgRtCFToArFNARr9

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Religious Education:  CRE@st-dunstan.org

Students meet in the St. Dunstan School Classrooms.

Note that Special Sacrament Level 3 will meet on Fridays, 5:30-6:15pm in addition to Confirmation I class on Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30pm

VIRTUS

The office of Religious Ed will be conducting a special VIRTUS class: Teaching Safety -- Empowering God's Children

We are holding this special class in compliance with the requirements of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.  All parishes with Religious Education classes and all Catholic Schools in Grades K-12 within the Archdiocese of San Francisco, are required to provide this class during the school year, every year.  This class will be scheduled during regular class time.  A notice will be sent to you ahead of time.

Communication

The Email system is the primary means of communication between the Office of Religious Education and parents.  Parents are expected to monitor the parent primary email address that you provided during registration.

You will receive communication from the Office of Religious Education primarily by email, and sometimes by text or phone call.  Please consistently monitor all communication and announcements.  Add this email address to your contact list to avoid missing any information, requirements, and deadlines:  CRE@st-dunstan.org

As parents, you are expected to pass on any information that your child needs to know.

You are required to notify the Office of Religious Education of any change of email address home address or telephone number (work, home, or cell) immediately so that we can update your contact information. This is necessary especially in the event of an emergency.

Certificate of Sacraments Required

Your child needs to be baptized at a Catholic Church and we need to have a copy of your child's Baptismal Certificate.

If your child has received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, we will need a copy of the Certificate of First Holy Communion.

Sacrament Preparation

First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion Preparation
Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion is a two-year program. Children must attend and successfully complete either 1st grade, or Special Sacrament Level 1 Religious Education classes to be eligible for 2nd Grade, or Special Sacrament Level 2. First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation involve classroom instruction, parent meetings, retreat, prayer celebrations and attendance at mass. The involvement of the parents in their child's preparation for these sacraments is vital. The Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are celebrated during the spring of the second year of class.

Confirmation
Our Confirmation Program is a two-year preparation program for students typically in Junior High Grades 7th & 8th. Confirmation I (for first year confirmation students) is designed to explore and better understand our Catholic Faith, learn to have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Mass as the pinnacle of our Catholic Faith, and begin preparation for Confirmation.

Confirmation II (for second year confirmation students) is designed to finalize the preparation for Confirmation, develop the resolve and confidence in making decisions to be the best version of themselves, develop the hunger to deepen their personal relationship with Christ, constantly encounter Christ at the mass, at daily personal prayer, meditation, and as active members of the Body of Christ by serving others. Students must successfully complete Confirmation I to be eligible for Confirmation II. The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated during the spring of Confirmation II.

  • Special Sacrament 3 -- Program for Students in Confirmation I + Supplemental Class
    supplemental classes for those who need catch up Catechism (i.e., did not attend 6th Grade Catechism) – Fridays; 5:30-6:45pm – Catechist Cecille Toy

Students who missed certain levels of Catechism (i.e., missing 6th Grade Religious Ed), will be admitted into our Special Sacrament 3 Program to catch up. Students will attend regular Confirmation I class on Tuesdays, plus attend additional classes on Fridays, 5:30-6:45pm.  The goal is for the student to have a better understanding of the Catholic Faith, our salvation history and what it takes to be a disciple of Christ. Please call the Coordinator for Religious Education for further information.

Note:  All students who are enrolling from another Religious Education Program or parochial school will be required to provide a letter from the Director/Coordinator of the Program or report card indicating that student successfully completed the course requirements for the grade level before being eligible to enroll at the St. Dunstan School of Religion.