The Rite of Baptism declares that parents are “the first educators of their children in the ways of faith; may they also be the best, bearing witness to their faith, in what they say and do.” In the Faith Development Department we hope to give parents support in this task.
The Diocese of Raleigh has published Faith Development Guidelines which govern both parish and home-based Faith Development. The Diocese also publishes specific Guidelines for Home Catechesis. These Guidelines say that children should follow a program of Liturgical Catechesis, in which the Sunday Scriptures are the basis of Faith Development. Children should be taught in accordance with their needs and styles of learning at different ages and stages of development. What they should learn falls into four categories:
The Diocese has guidelines for Faith Development for children of different ages, for what they need to know and understand, including vocabulary, prayer, liturgical gestures and symbols, and key Scripture passages. As children mature, they also need to experience Christian service and leadership, and develop discerning and critical attitudes towards the world in which they will take their places.
Here are the guidelines for different ages:
Pre-K to 2nd Grade
3rd to 5th Grade
6th to 8th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
The Diocese and St. Thomas More parish also have the following guidelines and expectations of Home Schooling parents:
The parish promises to support the parents by:
We hope and trust that your witness of faith to your children will be blessed by God, and will bear fruit in the faith and goodness of your children, as they are nourished by the Word of God, and the love and good example of their families and friends.
You may also wish to contact ARCH-Raleigh, the Association of Catholic Homeschoolers of Raleigh