Parish School of Religion (PSR)

Parish School of Religion (PSR) exists to assist families not enrolled at St. Mary School in fulfilling the sacred duty entrusted to them by God at Baptism: the Christian formation of their children in the truth of the Catholic faith. PSR is not merely a program or activity, but a participation in the Church’s perennial mission to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ and to hand on the Faith which has been received.

The Church has always taught that parents are the primary educators of their children in matters of faith and morals, and that this responsibility comes from the very nature of parenthood itself. As the Catechism states at length:

“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children.
They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule.
The home is well suited for education in the virtues. This requires an apprenticeship in self-denial, sound judgment, and self-mastery—the preconditions of all true freedom.”
(CCC 2223)

PSR exists to support, strengthen, and supplement this parental mission, not to replace it. The parish, as an extension of the Catholic Church’s teaching office, cooperates with families by providing systematic instruction in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, doctrine, moral theology, prayer, and sacramental life.

The Church insists that catechesis must be ordered toward truth. Education in the faith is reliant upon a want for knowledge of God and desire for the good.  As the tradition has long held, truth precedes love, for one cannot love what one does not know. 

Accordingly, PSR is intentionally structured to teach the objective content of the Catholic faith:

1. Who God is
2. What He has Taught
3. How He saves
4. How We are Called to Respond

This includes instruction on the Creed, the Sacraments, the Commandments, prayer, and the life of grace, always in continuity with the Church’s received teaching.

Participation in PSR is thus an act of obedience, stewardship, and charity: obedience to Christ and His Church, stewardship of the souls entrusted to parents, and charity toward children, who have a right to receive the faith whole and entire. Through faithful catechesis, PSR seeks to prepare students not only for the reception of the Sacraments, but for a lifetime of informed, reverent, and courageous Catholic living.

PSR is available to all children in First through 5h Grade.
To enroll your child in PSR, please contact Carole Harrison, 217-824-8178

PSR SCHEDULE 26-27

PSR Registration Form

OCIA - Becoming Catholic

Contact: Carrole Harrison at, 217-824-8178

Thinking about becoming Catholic or just want to learn about Catholicism? The Catholic Church warmly welcomes you on this journey of exploration and discernment!

26-27 Calendar

Information Sheet for Inquirers

---

WHAT IS OCIA?

OCIA stands for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. This collaborative process of study, exploration, faith sharing, and faith formation is the first step in being fully initiated into the Catholic Church. During this process participants are introduced to the liturgy, the teachings, and the life of the Catholic Church.

At the Great Vigil of Easter, candidates receive the Sacraments of Initiation–Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation–receiving the full gifts of the Holy Spirit and becoming full members of the Catholic Church.

---

WHEN DO SESSIONS MEET?

Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 pm in the St. Mary School Library.

---

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

You’ll explore Catholic beliefs, history, and the beauty of our rituals. Some topics will include:

• Scripture and the Sacraments
• God, Son and Holy Spirit
• Church history and the papacy
• Heaven and hell
• Mary and the saints
• The problem of evil; sin and reconciliation
• Conscience, moral decision making, justice

---

WHO JOINS OCIA?

• People interested in learning about Catholicism.
• People who have never been baptized.
• People who have been baptized in another Christian faith tradition and are now interested in the Catholic tradition.
• People who were baptized in the Catholic tradition, but were not raised practicing Catholicism, and are seeking the sacraments of Confirmation and or Eucharist.
• Returning Catholics and those who want to renew their knowledge of our Faith

---

Period of Inquiry, or Pre-catechumenate

Inquirers are invited to deepen their understanding of how God has been active in their lives, and begin to learn what the Catholic Church believes, teaches and proclaims to be revealed by God.

---

Rites of Acceptance and Welcome

Inquirers are recognized by the Church as genuinely seeking greater instruction and formation. Dismissals begin, where OCIA participants depart Sunday Mass after the homily to go study the Word of God together.

---

Period of the Catechumenate

The catechumens (non-baptized) and candidates (baptized) reflect more deeply on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His Church, and their personal journeys of faith.

---

Rite of Election (First Sunday of Lent)

The catechumens are welcomed by the bishop and declared “elect” in the sight of the Church—as legitimately seeking baptism. Candidates are also blessed by the bishop.

---

Period of Purification and Enlightenment (Lent)

Those elected for Baptism together with the candidates deepen their prayer and examine their lives more closely as they prepare to celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation–Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation.

---

Rites of Initiation (Easter)

The elect and candidates profess their faith and receive their Sacraments of Initiation at the Great Vigil of Easter, welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church.

---

Period of Mystagogy

The newly initiated persons reflect further on the mystery of the Easter Sacraments and become more integrated into the community of the Church as faith-filled and active disciples of the Lord.