The Religious Education Staff
The Pastor of the Cathedral is responsible to the Archbishop of Chicago for providing opportunities for religious education. Children who do not attend schools where religious instruction is included in the daily curriculum, attend religious education classes at other times.

The Director of Religious Education is responsible for the administration of the religious education program. The program at Holy Name is currently for children in 1st through 8th grade.

Volunteers serve as catechists or music teachers in the religious education program. These faithful people give generously of both time and talent to children and parents.

The Parish Council has an Education Commission. Members serving on this commission are concerned with the overall mission of the parish to provide formation and education in the Catholic faith.

Program Schedule and Information:
Religious Education classes meet on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. in Francis Xavier Ward School classrooms. They are held 3 times per month during the months of September through May. Additional program offerings include Family Masses; Advent and Lenten Reconciliation Services; a Children’s Christmas Concert; and an end-of-year May Crowning Prayer Service and Graduation Ceremony.

Children in 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th grades receive sacramental preparation for the celebration of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation. However, sacramental preparation and celebration is open to children of all ages. Baptism of children over 6 is arranged separately by calling Peter Harley at (312) 573-4478. Please leave your name and number and indicate the best time to reach you. Children are to be enrolled in religious education classes the year prior to the year of sacramental reception as a norm. This means if a child is to celebrate Eucharist in 2nd grade, they are to be enrolled in 1st grade. The same holds true for the other sacraments.Parents must show proof of the child’s baptism and other sacraments that have been received.

Curriculum:
The religious education program follows a recognized curriculum that is in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. A variety of texts, including supplementary materials approved for use in religious education, are used at the various grade levels. Questions or suggestions can be sent to Peter Harley, Director of Children’s Faith Formation,  email at pharley@holynamecathedral.org

Registration is now open for the 2019-2020 year.
Please download, complete and return the registration forms below, along with a copy of your child’s certificate of baptism if he/she has not been baptized at HNC, or if you have not previously submitted one to the Religious Education Office.
Include a check or money order made payable to Holy Name Cathedral and bring the registration form, along with the required registration fee(s), to the rectory (730 N. Wabash) or mail to:
MAIL YOUR REGISTRATION TO:
Holy Name Cathedral
Religious Education Program
Attn: Mr. Peter Harley
730 N. Wabash
Chicago, IL 60611

To complete registration, payment and medical release form must be received by the Religious Education Department
Fill out both forms to complete registration.  
Registration Form 2019-2020
Medical Release Form 2019-2020

Fee Structure
$150 One Child (Registered Parishioner)
$200 Family more than one child (Registered Parishioner)
$200 One Child (Non-registered family)
$250 Family more than one child (Non-registered family)
$100 Sacrament Fee for children celebrating First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
$50 Sacrament Fee for children celebrating Confirmation.

Scholarships
No child and/or family will be excluded from the Religious Education Program due to lack of funds. However, a completed registration form, including medical and emergency information, must be on file in the Religious Education Office for your child to be properly enrolled in the Program.
If you are in need of a scholarship, please contact the Religious Education Office, or simply complete the registration form, write Scholarship Requested across the top of the first page, and return to the above.
Questions or concerns: Please call Mr. Peter Harley at (312) 573-4478 and leave a message indicating the best time to reach you. You may also send an email to pharley@holynamecathedral.org

Click here to view the 2019-2020 Calendar of Events and Parent Handbook

Holy Name Cathedral Parish
Office of Religious Education
730 North Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-573-4478

The Religious Education Staff

The Pastor of the Cathedral is responsible to the Archbishop of Chicago for providing opportunities for religious education. Children, who do not attend schools where religious instruction is included in the daily curriculum, attend religious education classes at other times.

The Pastor shares his responsibility for religious education with a person who is recognized as a professional in this field of this ministry. The Director of Children’s Faith Formation is responsible for the administration of the religious education program. The religious education program at Holy Name currently serves children in grades 1st through 8th.

Volunteers serve as catechists in the religious education program. All catechists are skilled, knowledgeable and faithful Roman Catholics. As committed witnesses to the Gospel, catechists serve the parish by communicating Christ’s message as articulated in the magisterium of the Church.

The Parish Council, in its role as advisor to the Pastor, has as part of its structure an Education Commission. Members serving on this commission are concerned with the overall mission of the parish to provide formation and education in the Catholic faith.

Mission of Holy Name Cathedral

The mission of Holy Name Cathedral is to…
Go forth…

telling the Good News
sharing in the breaking of the Bread
enriching the community through our talents, treasure, and time
transforming the community by prayer and action
The Catechetical Mission of the Religious Education Program

The mission of the Holy Name Religious Education Program is to…
Go forth…

empowering parents
teaching children the Good News
celebrating the call to love as we are loved
Staff

Rector: Very Rev. Gregory Sakowicz

DRE: Mr. Peter Harley

Requirements for Registration

Each year, parents who complete registration forms, attend to necessary fees, and supply the necessary documentation of earlier sacramental records for their children, may enroll their children in the program. Non-parishioners are welcome; however, the tuition will be higher since members of the parish, in addition to tuition, support the parish through contributions.

Fee Structure

$150 One child (Registered parishioner)
$200 Family more than one child (Registered parishioner)
$200 One Child (Non-registered family)
$250 Family more than one child (Non-registered family)

$100 Sacrament Fee for children celebrating First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

$50 Sacrament Fee for children celebrating Confirmation.

Tuition is subject to change. Generally, tuition is not changed during the year. Demonstrated needs-based scholarships are available. The program does not refund fees in the case of partial attendance or transfer to another program.

Non-discrimination Policy

The Holy Name Cathedral Religious Education Program is operated under the auspices of the Catholic Bishop of Chicago, a corporation sole, in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Program does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, or national and ethnic origin in administration of its policies, supplementary programs or any other program-based function.

Expectations of Parents

Parents are the primary religious educators of their children. No religious education program will be able to instill values, tell stories of faith, and witness to God’s love and companionship if it is absent in the home. Parents are the image and likeness of God in the eyes of their children.

A number of opportunities exist for parents to be involved with in teaching the children. Firstly, you are always welcome to attend a session. Secondly, a newsletter will be sent to you each month encouraging you to witness through catechists, works of service and charity, and tasks that develop peace and justice.

Finally, parents are expected to attend Sunday Liturgy with their children on a consistent basis. Attending Mass as a family is a wonderful opportunity for you to introduce your child to the Body of Christ and to explain to your child the importance of worshiping with the larger faith community.

Religious Education Program Location and Hours

Religious Education classes are held in Francis Xavier Ward School on Sunday mornings from 9:15 – 10:45 a.m.

Parents are to bring their children to the triple glass doors behind the statue of Mary in the Cathedral courtyard or directly to their classrooms at 9:15 a.m. Children will be dismissed from the Parish Center Auditorium at 10:45 a.m.

Safety

Your child will not be allowed to leave with anyone other than you unless we have permission in writing. The safety of your children is our main concern.

Custody Issues

The religious education program presumes that in the case of divorce or separation both parents have access to the children unless one parent can provide evidence that he or she has the sole right. If parents cannot agree on custody issues, the religious education program may require parents to make other arrangements for the child.

Attendance

Children are to be regular and punctual in attendance. If a child misses classes frequently without a valid reason, the Director of Religious Education and catechist will ask to meet with the parents to address the issue.

In addition, children are to attend both Sunday Liturgy and classes on a consistent basis. This is the only way they will be able to connect and comprehend the material(s) presented in class.

Teachers should be able to expect to leave at the end of the class without delay due to parents not arriving on time. Any child left in the Auditorium longer than 15 minutes after the end of class will be brought to the Religious Education Office (Room 212) in the Parish Center.

Absence
Please notify us by either calling the Religious Education Office and leaving a message, or contacting the teacher directly when you know your child will not be attending a session. Leave complete information as to how we can get the information on make-up work to you. The number at the Religious Education Office is (312) 573-4478.

Medication
Except in extraordinary circumstances which must be approved by the catechetical leader, the religious education program or personnel will not maintain, supervise the taking of, or administer medication.

Search & Seizure
We reserve the right to inspect all desks, lockers, and other parish supplied enclosures. In addition, we reserve the right to inspect a participant’s personal property when there is a reasonable belief that the individual is violating the rules, regulations and policies of the religious education pro

Calendar
Classes begin on Sunday, September 9, 2018 and end on Sunday, April 14, 2019.
Click here for 2019-2020 Calendar of Events

Policy Concerning Reception of the Sacraments

Children are to be enrolled in religious education classes the year prior to the year of sacramental reception as a norm. This means if a child is to receive communion in 2nd grade, they are to be enrolled in 1st grade. The same holds true for the other sacraments. Parents must show proof of the child’s baptism and other sacraments that have been received.

Sacramental Preparation Meetings and Dates of Celebration
Parents Meetings are conducted for the benefit of those parents whose child is being prepared for the reception of a sacrament. Parent Meetings will take place in the Cardinal Bernadin Parish Center and are scheduled to last approximately one hour. Parent attendance at all scheduled Parent Meetings is mandatory.

Curriculum
The religious education program follows a curriculum that is in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Sadlier’s We Believe Series provides a spiral curriculum that presents the key concepts of faith each year in a deeper and broader way as the learner grows more capable of understanding and living in discipleship.

In addition, a variety of supplemental materials approved for use in religious education, from a variety of publishers, are used at the various grade levels to enhance the learning and formation process.

Emergencies
If classes are cancelled due to an emergency, a member of the religious education staff will notify you.

The Director of Faith Formation
If you would like to schedule a meeting with the Director , please call (312) 573-4434 and leave a message indicating the best time to reach you.

Children’s Faith Formation

Middle School candidates (Grades 7- 8)

Policy

It is the policy of the Archdiocese of Chicago that adolescent preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is a two-year process.  Holy Name Cathedral offers preparation, beginning in Grade 7. Those preparing for the sacrament are referred to as candidates.

All candidates must be enrolled in the Children Faith Formation.  Copies of baptismal and First Communion certificates must accompany the registration form.

Sacrament Fee

In the second year of the preparation, families are requested to pay a $50. Sacrament fee, which helps defray additional costs for the Sacrament (retreat, Mass preparations, musicians, etc…)  The fee should be submitted with the registration fee.

Sponsors

Each candidate  should choose a sponsor to serve as a spiritual mentor throughout the two year process.  The sponsor will be required to attend certain events.  In accordance with Canon Law, the sponsor must be :

• At least 16 years old
• Has been baptized, confirmed, and received Eucharist in the Roman Catholic tradition
• Cannot be the parent (biological/step) of the candidate

The sponsor does not need to be the same gender of the candidate.

Retreats

There may be retreat days integrated into the Confirmation experience.  If so, the candidate will be required to participate.

Attendance

Candidates are expected to be present and punctual for sessions and other required events.  The Coordinator for Children’s Faith Formation will monitor attendance, and contact parents, if necessary.  Failure to comply with this policy may result in the delay in the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.