 St.
Matthew Parish School of Religion (CCD)
795 Havens Corners
Road
Gahanna, Ohio 43230
(614)471-2067
Catechetical Leader: Julie Zarichny
Preschool Coordinator: Jerri Heine
Secretary: Molina Oros
Office Hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm - Monday - Friday
The Religious Education Office is
located inside St. Matthew School.
Mission Statement
The Religious Education Program is a fundamental part of the
parish's ministries and has been steadily growing in recent
years as younger families with children have joined the Parish.
This program provides opportunities for children to receive
religious training and sacramental preparation, and to experience
faith formation through scripture, worship, service and community.
It is the goal of the program that each child will not only
know about God, but will truly come to know God. This year,
we hope to have over 600 children enrolled in the religious
education program. - Julie Zarichny
The primary purposes of St Matthews Religious Education Program
are to provide our students with: faith formation through religious
classes an excellent religious education the opportunities
to discover, develop, and maximize their talents religiously,
morally, and socially, and to give the students opportunities
to express faith through community service and worship.
Why Religious Education?
Why do Churches bother with Religious Education? Isn't religion
something everyone experiences differently? Isn't it good enough
just to go along in life and "not hurt anyone"? No.
The primary question we have to ask ourselves is this: Did
God reveal Himself? Did the all powerful, all good, eternal
and invisible Creator of all things (including us) reveal Himself?
And if so, what in God's name (literally) did He say? This
is the ultimate question, and yes is the ultimate answer. God
did not create a world with human persons without bothering
to communicate to them. And this is the basic reason for religious
education, to answer the most important question there is:
What has God revealed?
God communicates to us His children through Scripture and
Tradition, that is, the Bible and Church teaching. Vatican
II calls these the two channels of God's communication, two
fonts of the same Word of God, brought to us by the Spirit
of Truth, Whom which Christ promised us before His ascension.
This Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, was to make sure the
official teaching authority of the Church (the Magisterium),
despite their sinful human nature, would never err in any matter
of faith or morals, which are the matters necessary for salvation,
until He comes back again at the end of time (as we know it).
This priceless deposit of truth is then passed on inherently
through the centuries, and contains the way to human happiness
and the way to heaven. What an awesome gift! I invite every
parishioner to buy a new Catechism of the Catholic Church,
the book that contains these truths in a clear systematic fashion.
So Religious Education isn't education in how we feel, public
opinion, or cultural norms; it isn't necessarily about what's
popular, pleasurable, or easy, but rather it is about the Word
of God - what God has told, and is telling, you and I. It eliminates
the confusion the world offers, and contains answers to all
the fundamental questions found in the human heart, questions
of who we are, who God is, the meaning of life, what God expects
of us, how to attain human fulfillment, and how to live forever.
If there is something to learn that is more important than
this, what is it??
Let us pray for a fruitful year of bringing these mysteries
to light, so that with the children we may come to know them
clearer and live them better.
Teachers, parents, and students: If ever you want to communicate
anything to do with Religious Education and have e-mail, please
write: julie@stmatthew.net
HELP NEEDED!
Children's Liturgy
of the Word will take place
at the 12:00 noon Mass for children in Kindergarten through
4th grade. Volunteers are greatly needed. We ask for a four
week commitment. No need to attend another Mass. Training is
available. If your children want to attend, please consider
this very important ministry by calling the Religious Education
Office at 471-2067.
HELP NEEDED on Sunday evenings from 6:15
p.m. - 7:30 p.m. during our Religious Education classes. We
need volunteers who have attended a Protecting God's Children
session and had a background check to help our Catechists in
several grade levels. We also need help for a Down Syndrome
third grader. Please call the Religious Education Office at
471-2067. Our children need you!
Please
click here to find out about Registration. Looking
to Register? Below are forms for the following religious
education classes.
The schedules below are in  download
your copy here!
REGISTRATION FORMS FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES
 • Pre-school Registration Form
• Elementary, middle school, and high school forms
• RCIC form
• TIC form
Interested in being a parent volunteer for
our religious education program?
Please
click here for a parent volunteer form.
Click here
for the Religious Education handbook.
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