Classes
For our registered community members we are offering the following:
1. A 3-Year Cycle to Prepare for First Holy Communion
RE1 provides a basic introduction to the New Testament as well as some traditional Catholic prayers. students start around age six or when the child is able to read and write with fluency. Children will be expected to follow a two hour class once a month and work with written material.
Religious Education Foundation Class – The Foundation Course is the first class in the RE program. The course will teach your child the foundations of their faith and they must attend if they then wish to prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion. To be able to attend, your child should:
- Be a minimum of six years old or a first grader at school
- Be able to speak, write and understand English to at least an Elementary level
- Be able to make the Sign of the Cross
RE2 is a preparation class for the Sacrament of Reconciliation by teaching them about our Catholic Community, God’s Loving Forgiveness and Confession/Reconciliation. The children are usually aged 7-9. Reconciliation Preparation means the Preparation to receive the loving gift of forgiveness and healing of the Lord. The students will receive the sacrament of Reconciliation in late spring. Children must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving First Holy Communion.
RE3 is a preparation class to receive First Holy Communion and children in this class are usually aged 9-11. First Holy Communion occurs only after receiving Baptism, and once the person has reached the age of reason (usually, around the second grade). First confession must precede the reception of the Eucharist. This program will guide students to have a deeper understanding of the Mass, as well as the Body and Blood of Christ. First Holy Communion is usually received after Easter. Students need to attend Mass a minimum of 20 times before they receive First Holy Communion. A Mass Attendance sheet is signed by the teachers or priest.
2. The Workshop (until age 14) for continuous religious education
This program offers a workshop for students up to 14 years old who have received first Holy Communion and wish to continue their catechism studies before joining the Confirmation class. It helps them to gain confidence and knowledge of their faith.
3. Confirmation class
For baptized children who have done their First Communion and will be 15 years old at the time of Confirmation. This program will guide students to have a deeper relationship with God and the Holy spirit, and to mature their faith in the Catholic Church.
Young people wishing to be Confirmed at 15 years old should have had a prolonged period of religious education and be ready to make a serious commitment to their faith. The Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred on those who have completed, in full, all religious education classes as well as the retreat leading up to this point. The students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in late spring, usually around Pentecost Day or soon after, depending on the availability of our Bishop.
Schedule
Students will be expected to attend a monthly two-hour class. The classes are held on one Sunday a month from 3:00-5:00 pm from October through June. You can also download an overview document with all the Dates and Locations for all Religious Education classes.
Religious Education Classes and Sacramental Masses are included in the Important Events box on the homepage and on the calendar. You can import events from this calendar to your personal Google calendar so your child does not miss any classes. All other information will be provided by the teacher.
Before you register – Important notice for parents
Please make sure your family is registered in our community using our registration form.
Responsibility for the preparation of these Sacraments is shared by parents and the ESRCCB. Many of your families are “international” families, moving from one country to another and in most cases without the benefit and support of a Catholic school system. We ask parents to accompany their children’s journeys of faith, make a commitment to attend Mass regularly, as well as help their children with their homework / assignments.
How to register?
July-August is time to register your children for Religious Education in our community. Please register using our Religious Education Registration Form
Note that for registration to be completed and your child to be able to attend the Religious Education class we will need:
- The registration of your family in our community in addition to registering your child/children for Religious Education
- Depending on the level your child will be entering the program the following documents (compulsory) and other documents outlined in the registration form (helpful) if you are new to the community:
- To enter RE2: Your child’s baptism certificate
- To enter RE3: First Reconciliation Certificate
- To enter RE4/5: First Holy Communion Certificate
- Payment to be made per the instructions on the form
Parents who had their children registered in a previous year and who already provided a baptism certificate do not need to provide one again. However, we still ask that you complete the online form as we are moving to online registration.
Please make sure to register quickly so we can book sufficient class rooms and order enough books for all the children.
In the meantime, do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions,
Monika Kelly – RE Coordinator
While our community offers Sacraments, we are not a Parish. All sacraments are recorded in the local Basel Parish of Heiliggeist
Therefore, if you need official copies of Sacraments please contact:
Kath. Pfarramt Heiliggeist Thiersteinerallee 51, 4053 Basel
Tel. 061 331 80 88
info@heiliggeist.ch