The CCD program, or Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, is a religious education program for children in grades K-8

The parish elementary CCD program endeavors to assist parents as the primary religious educators of their children. The program, staffed by volunteer teachers and aides, provides for the formal  religious education of the children St. Mary’s Parish, from Pre-K 4 year olds through students in grade  8. Children on the elementary level are prepared for the sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation. 

GENERAL CCD CURRICULUM

PRE-K 4 & K 5 YEAR OLDS
This program is designed to help very young children know themselves as special people. Songs, stories, puppets, finger-plays, spontaneous prayers and sensorial activities are used to encourage the child's developing sense of his/her own uniqueness as a person. Through a heightened awareness of their importance in God's creation, their sense of God's love for them can begin to bloom.
 

ELEMENTARY
The elementary program seeks to assist parents in their task of instructing children in the Catholic faith - our beliefs, values and practices. It also strives to assist parents in teaching the children what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
The program of instruction for children in grade 1 through grade 8 presents the concepts of God, the Commandments, the Sacraments, Works of Mercy, Mary, Saints and Church in a manner appropriate to the children's level of understanding. The " We Believe" series of the Sadlier Publishing Company is used with children in grades 1, 3, 4, 5, 6. Grade 2 students focus on the preparation for reception of the Sacraments of 1st Reconciliation & 1st Communion, which actually begins in grade 1. The Sadlier "We Live our Faith" is used with grade 7 students. Grade 8 students review the previous 7 years of course work as part of their preparation to pass the test on Catholic doctrine before entering the High School Confirmation program, Light of Faith (LoF).

Our program encourages full participation in the prayer life of the parish. All children will learn the various prayers, experience different ways of praying, and will study the Mass, the greatest form of prayer and worship. All children and teenagers are expected to attend Mass weekly and Holydays of Obligation. CCD is never a substitute for mass
An Advent/Christmas Program is presented in December that the students participate in from each class session. A Penance service is conducted during Lent, on a Monday, at 4:00pm in the church. Parental and family support and attendance is crucial and encouraged. Details to follow and announced in the Sunday Bulletin.
The program also encourages service to the Christian community. Children are invited to participate in the monthly parish food drive for the needy, feeding the poor ministry and in the Lenten collection for the poor.

Classes are held Sept through April Sunday mornings at 8:30 (gr PreK-8) & 10am (gr PreK-7) & Monday afternoons (gr 1-8). Sunday evenings classes for grades 5-8 are held October through March.
                                     

For further information, contact Religious Education Director PJ Miller at
973-627-8276  or email ccd@stmarys-denville.org

CCD Office / Fax Number: 862-781-4137

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