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A Message to Parents
At your Orthodox Marriage service we prayed that God would bless you with, “The sight of sons and daughters.” We asked God to grant you, “Children for education in the faith.” There has never been a point in history where holding our precious children close to the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ has been more crucial. Our society is an increasingly secular and morally ambiguous one. Our kids need a spiritual compass and support to navigate our complex digital world.
Our church school is here to complement the home based Orthodox Christian life. Nothing can make up or replace living the faith out in your home- in prayer, virtue, and spiritual formation. St. Katherine is here to support you and reinforce the spiritual foundation you plant in your home. Our lives in the church and in our homes should not be disconnected from each other.
It is in the church that your children will be with friends, learn about the Gospel of Christ, the core teachings of our Orthodox Faith, and the central message of Jesus Christ’s love in their life. The church cannot accomplish this alone- we need your help living it in your day-to-day lives.
A child’s spiritual life begins with the experience of worshipping God. Every Sunday, it is our responsibility to bring our children to the Divine Liturgy which begins at 9:30 AM, much later than most schools begin during the academic week. We should begin by teaching our children to enter God’s house with reverence- to venerate the icons, light candles, offer prayers for themselves and others.
This beautiful model is not achievable if sporting activities take on the priority in our lives that was once held by our Lord and His Church. Our priorities in life always come down to the choices that we make.
With love, +Fr. Demetre
Objective of the St. Katherine Sunday School
The Church School Program utilizes a curriculum of study that will enhance each student’s knowledge of the Orthodox Christian Faith in core areas such as: the Holy Bible, Church history, Doctrine, Spirituality and Worship. We also stress the communal nature of the Faith and emphasize the importance of the local Christian community [our parish] by fostering the importance of strong bonds and relationships.
Scriptures on Children
Matthew 19:13-14 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
2 Timothy 3:15 And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; Even when he is old he will not depart from it.