Religious Education Program
In agreement with the Cazenovia Central Schools, our students are released during the school day to attend Religious Education at St. James on a weekly basis. St. James is one of four parishes in the Diocese of Syracuse that has release time Religious Education.
Classes are from September to May.
Schedule:
Grades 1 & 2: Tuesdays, 1:15pm-2:15pm
Grades 3 & 4: Wednesdays, 1:15pm-2:15pm
Grades 5-7: Wednesdays, 8:50am-9:30am
Grades 8-12: Wednesdays, 8:00am-8:40am
Elementary Religious Education -
Preschool-7th Grade, Carrie Adolfi, CoordinatorApproximately 320 children are enrolled in Grades 1-7, being taught by 28 volunteer catechists!
Besides weekly classes our children are involved in numerous activities such as:
Children's Liturgies: each grade, except 2nd and 6th, are actively involved in at least one Sunday Mass per year. (2nd Graders prepare for First Holy Communion)
Stations of the Cross: our 6th Graders share their interpretations of the Stations of the Cross one Wednesday during Lent.
Bread Baking: our 5th Graders make bread for our Thanksgiving baskets which are distributed to those less fortunate.
Share the bounty: children of all ages are asked to share some of their Halloween candy with our college students.
High School Religious Education - Grades 8-12, Julie Hagan, Coordinator
13 Catechists volunteer their time from 8:00am to 8:40am every Wednesday with our teens. An average of 200 young people attend and inside our walls there is much excitement, learning, faith sharing and teaching.
The curriculum covers a variety of current topics that teens are interested in learning more about such as the Sacraments, exploring the Bible, parent/teen relationships, Social Justice, media, challenge of discipleship, managing life's struggles, who are you becoming, and moving on-embracing the future.
St. James Extension Program - Grades 1-12, Julie Hagan, Coordinator
The Extension Program at St. James provides Religious Education classes for students in Grades 1-12 who do not attend the release time program through the Cazenovia Central Schools due to enrollment in other schools.
Catechists teach the Extension classes every other Sunday morning at 10am during the school year. The program meets in our Library and then breaks up into sections for grades 1-4, 5-7, and 8-12 in the classrooms. In recent years, we have shifted to a lectionary-based curriculum that corresponds to the day's readings. The program has grown to include over 20 young people.
If you have any questions regarding our Religious Education program, please feel free to contact the Religious Education/Youth Ministry Office at, 315-655-4871 or e-mail stjyouth@twcny.rr.com, or by mail at St. James Religious Ed Office, 6 Green Street, Cazenovia, NY 13035