RELIGION
GUIDELINES
The religion guidelines for the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia were revised and approved for use beginning
September 2000. Below is a synopsis
of the core content for each grade level.
Please keep in mind that concepts
are taught at the level of the child’s understanding and practice of the Faith,
and since each level has its own particular focus, it is imperative that a
child’s participation in the program be continuous beyond
Confirmation.
Level One
God the Father, Creation, Living
in God’s World, God the Son: Jesus Christ; God the Holy Spirit, Sacraments of
Initiation; Mary: Titles of Mary, Days in Honor of Mary, Prayers to Mary, May
Devotions
Prayers: Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary,
Glory Be, Angel of God, Grace before and after meals, Simple Morning Offering,
Introduction to the Rosary
Level Two
Blessed Trinity, Sacraments
(Initiation, Healing, and at the Service of
Communion); The Mass: Liturgy of
the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist; Mary: Titles of Mary, Days in Honor of
Mary, The Rosary, May Devotions
Prayers: Sign of the
Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Act of Contrition, Grace before and
after meals, Morning Offering, Simple Acts of Faith, Hope of Love, Prayer
before Communion, The Rosary
Because the
children are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist
this year, it is essential that they begin the practice of regular weekly
participation at Sunday Mass.
Level Three
The Trinity, Sacraments: the
Sacraments of Initiation, Sacraments of Healing, Sacraments at the Service of
Communion; God’s Law, Christian Community; Mary: Titles of Mary, Days in Honor
of our Lady, Prayer to Our Lady, May
Devotions
Prayers: Sign of the
Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Morning Offering, Act of Contrition,
Grace before and after meals, Prayers of the Mass, Apostles’ Creed, The Rosary,
and Hail, Holy Queen
Level Four
God the Father, Commandments,
Grace, Sin, Conscience; Jesus Christ Our Redeemer, The Beatitudes, Works of
Mercy, Virtue; Mary: Example of Faith, Example of Holiness, Prayers (Including
the “Litany of the Blessed Virgin”), Apparitions, Days in Honor of Mary, Titles
of Mary
Prayers: Sign of the
Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Morning
Offering, Act of Contrition,
Grace before and after meals, Prayers of the Mass,
Apostles’ Creed, Acts of Faith, Hope and Love, the Rosary, Hail Holy Queen, the Angelus, Regina Coeli, Litany of
the Blessed Virgin Mary
Level Five
Sacraments, Sacraments of
Initiation, Sacraments of Healing, Sacraments at the Service of Communion;
Mary: Major Beliefs, Mary and Christian Devotion, Days in Honor of Mary,
Prayers, Titles of Mary, Shrines of Our
Lady, Symbols of Mary
Prayers: Sign of the
Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Morning Offering, Act of Contrition,
Prayers of the Mass, Apostles’ Creed, Grace before and after meals, Acts of
Faith, Hope and Love, The Mysteries of the Rosary, the Hail, Holy Queen, the
Memorare, Angelus, Regina Coeli, Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Level Six
The Bible, Old Testament: Choosing a Special People, Moses, Exodus,
and the Covenant; Joshua, Judges, Kings, Important Queens, Prophets, Biblical Women; Christ Fulfills the Old Testament;
Mary: Dogmas Believed, Days in Honor of
Mary, Prayers, Biblical Places and Mary, Prayer (Mysteries of the Rosary)
Prayers: Sign of the
Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Morning Offering, Act of Contrition,
Grace before and after meals, Prayers of the Mass, Apostles’ Creed, Acts of
Faith, Hope and Love, The Mysteries of the Rosary, The Hail, Holy Queen,
Angelus, Regina Coeli, Memorare, Come Holy Spirit, The Magnificat, Litany of
the Blessed Virgin Mary
Level Seven
New Testament, Jesus, Jesus the
Christ, Jesus is Lord, Liturgy and Worship, The Liturgical Life of the Church;
Mary: Mary in the Gospels, The Virginal Conception, Always a Virgin, Days in
Honor of Mary, Prayers, Blessedness of Mary, Mother of God
Prayers: Sign of the
Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Morning Offering, Act of contrition,
Grace before and after meals, Prayers of the Mass, Apostles’ Creed. Acts of Faith,
Hope and Love, The Mysteries of the Rosary -new emphasis, The Hail, Holy Queen,
Angelus, Regina Coeli, Memorare, Come, Holy Spirit, The Magnificat, Litany of
the Blessed Virgin Mary
Level Eight
The Church: Concepts, Marks,
Development; Liturgy, Sacraments and Sacramental,
The Dignity of the Human Conscience, The Virtues, Sin, Mercy, Law, Grace, and Christian Holiness; The Tradition of
Prayer, Expressions of Prayer, Challenges to Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer- “Our
Father” Mary: Marian Churches and Shrines, Mary in Art, Titles of Mary, Mary
and Christian Devotion, Days
in Honor of Mary
Prayers: Sign of the
Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Morning
Offering, Act of Contrition, Grace
before and after meals, Prayers of the Mass, Apostles’ Creed, Acts of Faith,
Hope and Love, The Mysteries of the Rosary, The Hail, Holy Queen, Angelus,
Regina Coeli, Memorare, Come, Holy Spirit, The Magnificat, Litany of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, Emphasis on all forms of Prayer
In addition to
the above, each level focuses on the following:
The Liturgical
Year - Advent, Christmas / Christmas
Season, Lent , Holy Week/ the Triduum, Easter, Ordinary Time, Feasts.
Prayer - The “Jesus
Prayer”, Prayer in Common, Song and Gesture, Journal Keeping, Meditation,
Guided Meditation and Shared Prayer.
Sacramentals - presented and
developed
Social Justice - Life and dignity
of the Human Person, call to Family, Community and Participation, Rights and
responsibilities of the Human Person, Care of God’s Creation, Dignity of Work
and the Rights of Workers and Solidarity of the Human Family.
Saints, Feasts,
Special People - 120 Witnesses of our Catholic Faith.