Religious Education for Children (Spirit and Light)
Updated: July 2023
We are excited to announce an update to all the Religious Education programs in the Oak Park area! Historically there were separate religious education offerings in each of the four Oak Park Catholic Churches as well as the Family Mass Community. Over the past few years, there has been some collaboration between those religious education departments. This year, that collaboration will be even stronger.
With a unified Religious Education, families will be able to discern which religious education model works best for them, empowering parents to truly be the first teachers of their children. Religious education will be more responsive to unique situations. Some classes have a Montessori style learning environment with experiential opportunities. Others have a more traditional classroom and use a textbook. Additionally, one has families coming together to share prayer and engage faith.
This unified religious education is a part of Spirit and Light: A Catholic Collaborative for Living Faith. It is a catechetical resource for the Catholic Community in Oak Park and the surrounding areas. Its mission is welcoming all and sharing Christian faith within the Catholic context.
Here is our latest information about program offerings, start dates and the “how to” registration process for the 2023-2024 school year.
PRESCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM (PREP) is designed to give pre-school children (ages 3-5 years - PK3, PK4 and K) an introduction to basic Catholic Christian Principles.
o PREP (PK3, PK4 and K) at St. Giles Campus / McDonough Hall - Room A & B
o Classes offered on Sunday during 10:30 am Mass
CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD (CGS) is a faith formation program based on the Bible, the Liturgy of our Church, and educational principles of Maria Montessori. Children and Catechists gather to further experience their relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and their life in the church. The CGS program has three multi-age levels for children in grades Pre-K through 6th. Here is the age breakdown: CGS - LEVEL I - 3 to 6 years old (PK3, PK4 and K), CGS - LEVEL II - 6 to 9 years old (GRADES 1, 2 and 3) and CGS - LEVEL III - 9 to 12 years old (GRADES 4, 5 and 6). CGS classes meet three times a month.
Ascension Campus:
o CGS – Level I (Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
o Sun. 9:00 am – 10:15 am / Tues. and Wed. 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm / Wed. 9:30 am – 10:45 am
o Sun. 9:00 am – 10:15 am / Tues. and Wed. 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
o 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
o Tues., Wed., Thurs. – 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm / Sat., 10 am – 11:15 am
o Tues., Wed., Thurs. - 4:15 pm - 5:30 pm and 6:00–7:15 pm / Sat., 10 am-11:15 am
o Tues., Wed., Thurs. - 4:15 pm - 5:30 pm and 6:00 – 7:15 pm / Sat., 10 am-11:15 am
FAMILY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION is an opportunity for the entire family, parents, and children in Grades 1-6, to grow in faith. The child, along with parents/caregivers, attend a monthly meeting where there is time for family conversation as well as age-appropriate activities. The remainder of the month students work with parents at home using a textbook.
o Family RE - Catechesis (Grades 1-6) at St. Giles Campus / McDonough Hall
o Monthly Meetings on Sunday from 9 to 10:15 am
TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (TRE) is a text-based faith formation program for 1st – 8th grades. The program is designed for students to learn about our Catholic faith, teachings, and traditions.
o Located at Ascension Campus / School (Grades 1st – 8th)
o Classes offered on Sunday (9-10:15 am) or Tuesday (6:45-8 pm)
o Middle School Ministry (Grades 7-8) at St. Giles Campus / McDonough Hall
o Meet twice a month on Wednesday (4:30-5:45 pm or 7-8:15 pm) with a monthly at-home activity
SPRED (Special Religious Development) is a program of the Archdiocese of Chicago whose purpose is two-fold: the inclusion of the developmentally disabled into the liturgical and community faith life of the parish and the formation of a small faith community where both special friends and their catechists nurture their faith. Ages 6-10 years old.
o SPRED is held on the St.Giles Campus
o Classes are offered twice a month on Wednesday from 6-7:15 pm
o SPRED is not available for registration through this online form - please call the Spirit and Light Office for registration at 708-434-1554.
ASCENSION CAMPUS – PHONE 708-848-2703
Terri Monaco – Coordinator, Traditional RE, Sacraments – Ext 253 – [email protected]
Sue Santin – Administrative Assistant – Ext 254 – [email protected]
Cooky Perez-Eraci – Director of Youth Ministry for the Catholic Oak Park Parishes – 708-370-3674 – [email protected]
Kelly McCreary – Administrative Assistant – Ext 101 – [email protected]
Peggy Plastina – Coordinator, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Ext 408 – [email protected]
Rachel Faulman – Coordinator, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – Ext 401 – [email protected]
Alex Ryan – Sacrament Coordinator – Ext 403 – [email protected]
Tim Smyth – Coordinator, Family Religious Education – [email protected]
Mary Ellen Lesniak – Liaison, St. Giles Family Mass Community – [email protected]
Connie Rakitan – Program Director, Faith & Fellowship – 708-383-9276 – [email protected]