Welcome to our Homeschool program.
Parents are the first and best teachers of our faith.  Our Homeschool programs allows parents to take the lead in instructing their children in our beautiful faith.  While we wish all families could have joined us for our in-class sessions, we understand that every family is unique, and our session times do work for you.
Our Homeschool Families are using the same series as our in-class students:
Faith and Life from Ignatius Press. For grades 1 – 8
Image of God from Ignatius Press for Kindergarten
Homeschool family expectations:
PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS

• Parents and students are expected to attend Mass weekly.
• Parental support is an essential element of our Homeschool Faith Formation Program.  Parents should be the primary teacher of each lesson, guiding their child(ren) through each lesson.
• Parents should see that each month’s scheduled lessons are submitted when required.
• Parents are required to attend all sacramental parent meetings.  Sacramental meetings will be held during the Faith Formation sessions at the Holy Child site. Homeschool families can choose which session to attend.

• Students are to follow and complete the schedule for each month.
• Students must read each page (or for the younger students, the prompt will read the lesson for the children) and complete all the work requested in their own handwriting.
• Students must attend all requested sacramental meetings (either in person or Zoom.)
• Middle School Youth group for grades 6, 7 and 8 meet the first Sunday of the month and are held during the normal Faith Formation sessions.  Homeschool students have the option to choose which session to attend. Students in grades 6 and 7 are highly encouraged to attend. 8^th grade students are required to attend ALL Middle School Youth group meetings. 

• Homeschool students:  All assignments must be completed and submitted to the Faith Formation Office at the due dates. Students must complete all outstanding work prior to receiving their sacraments.

• ALL 8^TH GRADE STUDENTS (including homeschool students) are required to attend Middle School Youth Group sessions.
  • Middle School Youth Group takes place the first Sunday of the month during both the AM and PM sessions of CCD at the Holy Child site.
  • Homeschool 8^th grade students have the option to choose to attend either the AM session or the PM session.  

• Provide a valid baptismal certificate to the Faith Formation Office as soon as possible.
• Students are required to have TWO YEARS of instruction prior to receiving a sacrament.
  • For First Reconciliation and First Communion – students are required to have completed grades 1 and 2 of religious instruction either in in class, homeschooled or Catholic school. 
  • For Confirmation - students are required to have completed grades 7 and 8^th of religious instruction either in in class, homeschool or Catholic School
  • If transferring from a different parish or school program into grade 2 or 8, written proof must be provided of grade 1 or grade 7 completion from previous program. Please contact your previous program to obtain this.

• Sacrament prep instruction will in their regular Faith Formation session
  • Students are expected to complete all Diocesan requirements before they can receive a sacrament.
    • For Reconciliation and First Communion:
      • Complete religious instruction for grade 1 and grade 2
      • Complete requested assignments provided by catechist or assigned for Homeschool prior to receiving Sacrament
      • Attend Sacramental Parent meeting
      • Know grade specific prayers
      • Attend sacramental retreat or extra Sacramental prep classes or zoom meetings
    • For Confirmation:
      • Complete religious instruction and Confirmation prep for grade 7 and 8
      • Attend Sacramental Parent meeting
      • Attend Middle School Youth Group Nights
      • Complete 8 hours of Community Service
      • Choose a Confirmation name and provide a written report
      • Obtain a Confirmation Sponsor and a valid sponsor verification form and complete the Sponsor interview
      • Write Letter of Intention for Confirmation
      • Attend a Confirmation Retreat
      • Attend Confirmation Rehearsal

If, at any time, you have any questions or concerns on the Homeschool lessons, please contact Mrs. Hand at 412-221-5213, ext. 4220, or email [email protected]. 
May God bless you as you and your family continue on your journey of faith

Faith Formation Homeschool Policy

How to make the Sign of the Cross Correctly:



How to hold your hands in prayer correctly:

 

The Sign of the Cross   (Kindergarten through Grade 8)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Father (Kindergarten through Grade 8)
 Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary   (Kindergarten through Grade 8)
Hail Mary, full of grace! the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be   (Kindergarten through Grade 8)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Prayer Before Meals (Kindergarten through Grade 8)
Bless us, O Lord, and these Your gifts which we are about to receive from Your bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer After Meals (Grades 1 through Grade 8)
We give You thanks, almighty God, for all Your goodness. You live and reign now and forever. Amen

The Act of Contrition is the main prayer for Reconciliation that the child recites (by heart) to the priest.
There are two forms to choose from:  Form A is the one that the older students know.
                               Form B is the one in our book.  Either form is fine for use.

 Act of Contrition (Form A) (Grades 2 to Grade 8)
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you whom I love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy.    Amen

Act of Contrition (Form B) (Grades 2 to Grade 8)
O my God, I am heartly sorry for having offended You. 
I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the health of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. 
Amen

Apostles Creed (Grade 2 – Grade 8)
I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Hail Holy Queen (Grade 5 – Grade 8)
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Lead: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
Response: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Nicene Creed (Grade 5 – Grade 8)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Queen of Heaven  (Grade 6 – Grade 8)
O Queen of heaven, rejoice, Alleluia;
For He whom thou didst deserve to bear, Alleluia;
Is risen again as He said, Alleluia.
Pray for us to God, Alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia.
R. Because our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.

Let us pray.

O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ
didst deign to give joy to the world:
grant we beseech Thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.