|
|
LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION AT
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Mt 28: 1 -20).
Faith is a gift destined to grow in the hearts of the believers. (CT 20). Adhering to Jesus Christ, in fact,
sets in motion a process of conversion, which lasts for the whole of life. (RM 46b).
Faith formation at Our Lady of Good Counsel offers an apprenticeship to the Catholic Christian life from early childhood
through the senior years of adulthood. All generations learn to live their faith in the home, the workplace,
and in the community.
THE CCF (CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN FORMATION) PROGRAM
Pre-School Religious Education Click on Registration Form here.
This program introduces our youngest community members, ages 3-4 years old, to our Catholic faith.
This program meets Sunday mornings, during the 9:30 Mass in the Kindergarten wing and the elementary wing of OLGC
school. Click here for the Pre-School 2009 Schedule.
Volunteers are always needed
|
Elementary Religious Education CCF Registration Form Here.
CCF Parent Guides
Meets on scheduled Saturday mornings (8:30-9:45; 10:30-11:45) and provides a comprehensive faith formation
process for children in grades K thru 6th grade and Parent/Child activities (one per grade, per semester) as well
as sacramental catechesis for Penance and Eucharist (more later).
Click here for the Altar Server Training & Registration Form for Grades 4 through 6 and Click here for the 2009
Elementary Grade Schedule for Grades K through 6. Volunteers are always needed
Elementary School
OLGC has an award winning Parish elementary school with approximately 450 students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 8.
The school's two-fold goal is to provide an environment which will foster rich religious training as well as solid academic education
in a Catholic value-oriented manner. It is fully accredited by the Virginia Catholic Education Association and is a
US Department of Education No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School.
Click Here to visit OLGC's Elementary School website.
|
Home School Religious Education
Under certain circumstances, parents are unable to bring their children to scheduled programs at the parish.
We do offer homeschooling religious education under supervision by the coordinator or director of the program.
|
Children with Learning and/or Developmental Disabilities
As much as possible, we try to include or mainstream children with special learning needs into the program.
It is best to arrange a meeting with the coordinator and/or director of the program.
|
Vacation Bible School
OLGC offers Vacation Bible School for rising Kindergarteners through 3rd graders, usually during the last full week of
June (generally the first week of summer vacation for Fairfax County Schools). They have a wonderful time learning about
their faith through art, music, drama, bible stories and games. Volunteers are always needed
|
Adult Religious Education
Pope John Paul II and many of the church's catechetical documents state that adult catechesis is the most important
catechesis the church does because adults witness and model the faith and form the youth and the children.
OLGC offers Scripture study groups, a Lenten Adult Education Series, presentations of various topics throughout the year,
and Chapel Talks on Sundays. Click on "Into the Fields"
to see one ongoing program that is available for Adult Education in 2009 through 2011. Volunteers are always needed
|
SACRAMENTAL CATECHESIS
Sacraments are symbolic actions
manifesting the offer of God's saving love for us in Christ and through the Spirit in the Church.
In the sacraments, we respond to God's self-giving and draw closer not only to God but also to
one another in the Church. (Richard Gula)
|
Infant Baptism
Parents do not need to register for the class, but should sign the roster to show that they attended the class.
If the church of baptism requires proof of your attendance to a Baptism class, you will need to contact Tammy Beaven,
Records Manager, at 703-896-7413 to request the letter. To schedule a Baptism at OLGC, please contact Merle Senyk at 703-896-7402
|
First Penance and First Eucharist
Click here for 1st Penance and 1st Eucharist Schedule for second grade students.
Normally these sacraments are offered at the "age of reason" or grade 2 whether the child is in the
CCF program or enrolled in OLGC School. Proximate or immediate catechesis is offered in the CCF class
or in the religion class at school. There is a parent meeting for each of the sacraments and a First Eucharist Retreat
for the children. A schedule of dates is given to the parents at the beginning of the school year.
|
Family Faith Program for Older Children
This program is for children in grades 3-8 who need to be prepared for and receive the sacraments of
First Penance and First Eucharist but otherwise have not missed much time in religious education.
|
Confirmation
This sacrament is normally offered in this diocese in grade 8. Preparation for this sacrament begins in grade 7
and is completed in grade 8. Immediate catechesis for this sacrament is offered in the CCF class and in the
religion class in OLGC School. The preparation process also includes a retreat, 3 group service projects, 40 hours of
individual service hours, and a faith sharing interview.
|
Confirmation for High School Students and Adults
Some high school students and adults of any age decide that they now wish to be confirmed. A 6 week course
in late winter/early spring is offered for them. They are confirmed at the Cathedral on the Feast of Pentecost.
|
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Children
The RCIA is a preparation process for baptizing adults and children of catechetical age (8-18 years of age).
It is also a process for adults and children of catechetical age who wish to convert to Catholicism from another
Christian faith or who were baptized Catholic as infants but had no further Catholic religious education nor sacraments.
If they are unbaptized, when they enter the church they receive all 3 sacraments of initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist;
if they are converting from another faith, they are received into full communion with the Catholic Church,
are confirmed and receive First Eucharist; if they are baptized Catholic, they complete their initiation in the Catholic
faith with Confirmation and Eucharist. This is a process of 4 periods that usually requires a minimum of a year's preparation.
|
CCF Registration Form
|
|
