Home-Based Catechesis

We are glad to journey with you as you teach the faith in your homes. Here, you will find relevant information and other resources you need to have a successful year of Religious Education in your home! 

The Catholic faith formation program is not a check-box but a lived experience and fine-tuning to Christ’s life.

"All Catechesis should be Christocentric-centered on Christ" - Pope Benedict XVI

Register for Home-Based RE

Home-based catechesis is the work of Catholic parents/guardians who choose to undertake formal religious education for their child(ren) at any time and in their home. For some families, homeschooling is the go-to for their children in terms of their academic subjects and their catechetical formation. In contrast, for others, this is a decision limited exclusively to their faith formation. Either way, here at Christ the Redeemer, our Religious Education department will support Families who have chosen this Home-based route for religious education.

What home-based Catechesis looks like:

• Parents/guardians teach weekly lessons in the home
• Children take a weekly online assessment, watch relevant videos, or do relevant activities to get credit
• Attend Family Retreats to connect with the larger CtR community and reflect and pray as a community.
• The whole family learns together, prays, and serves together in and outside of the home

Resources we provide:

• Word of Life textbook with weekly schedule
• eAssessments guidelines to help you stay on track
• Weekly Flocknote messages, called Echoing Christ, with supplemental catechesis and relevant information and ideas
• Family Gatherings and Retreats to pray as a family and parish community

Program Expectations:

• Families work together to study one chapter per week from the ‘Word of Life’ textbook, which is in line with the Archdiocesan Catechetical Framework.
• Students demonstrate their learning through a weekly eAssessment. 
• Families are highly encouraged to attend two Home Based Family Retreats (one in Fall and the other in Spring).

Service Experiences and Opportunities
In line with the social teaching of the Catholic Church, and in collaboration with the CtR’s Social Ministry & Outreach department, we at CtR Religious Education provide service opportunities for home-based families to do together as they concretize the lessons taught and live out their faith robustly within the community.

Service experience examples:

• Collect and drop off items for CAM
• Volunteer at a charitable organization
• Send cards to sick or elderly relatives
• Make a meal for a family in need
• Clean up litter in your neighborhood or local park
• Donate unwanted toys/clothing
• Give a bag lunch to someone on the street
• Create your own Service Experience idea!