Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, December 06, 2002 Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued By Susan K. Virgalitte Diocesan parishes and families in the diocese who choose to homeschool their children in religious education now have guidelines outlining their mutual rights and responsibilities. Bishop Thomas J. Tobin has issued a letter to all parish priests and religious education staff members, asking them to support families who choose to homeschool their children’s religious education. A new brochure, “Guidelines for Home-Based Catechesis,” is the joint project of the diocesan Offices of Catholic Schools and Religious Education and is now available to all parishes and families. The bishop asked diocesan staff to develop the guidelines for such families. The new diocesan guidelines are intended to help homeschooling families, whether those families homeschool in all subjects or only in religion. “The right and responsibility to provide home-based catechesis [religious education] should be respected and supported in our Catholic Church,” Bishop Tobin wrote in a recent letter to all parishes. The bishop asked pastors and parish religious education personnel to “make every effort to continue to support all parents as the primary catechists of their children, and in a special way, to affirm and respect parents who have chosen homeschooling.” Bishop Tobin asked parents who homeschool their children in religious education to participate fully in the life of their parish through weekly Mass, devotions, and apostolic works of the parish. He also advised them to stay in regular communication with parish staff and participate in opportunities for adult faith formation and sacramental preparation of their children. The new brochure sets out the responsibilities of parents and guardians, as well as those of pastors and catechetical leaders at the parish. It also sets forth guidelines for preparing children to celebrate the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation, and includes quotations from various Catholic documents which affirm parents as the first teachers of their children. Barbara Walko, director of the diocesan Office of Religious Education, said that the diocese has always supported families who choose to homeschool their children in religion, and all previous guidelines regarding elementary religious education have included those parents who choose to homeschool. “This brochure is new,” she said, “but its content is a reflection of current practices and gives priority to recognizing the important role that parents play in the faith development of their children.” Parents who choose to homeschool their children in religion are asked to contact their parish and tell their pastor or his staff of their decision. Parents are also encouraged to implement the diocesan Curriculum for Catechesis in their home lessons and to choose religion texts and other resources from those approved by the diocesan Office of Religious Education. Finally, homeschooled children and their parents are required to participate in parish preparations for the reception of sacraments. Pastors and parish staffs are encouraged to identify and communicate regularly with homeschooling families, provide them with resources, and invite them to participate in adult education and other parish functions. Of particular importance is the celebration of sacraments. The guidelines state explicitly that the immediate preparation for reception of the sacraments “is the responsibility of the parish community, directed by the pastor and his delegates,” and that the sacraments are to be celebrated with the entire parish community present. Therefore, even those children who are normally homeschooled in religion would participate in sacramental preparation and in the actual celebration of sacraments with their peers in the parish. “All parents catechize their children, whether they do it well or poorly, whether they do it with the support of the parish catechesis program or the Catholic school, or choose to be the only catechists of the children,” Ms. Walko said. “All parents, by their very lives, witness to the importance of God in their families, homes and lives. We wanted to affirm the parents’ role and their rights and responsibilities, and encourage mutual collaboration between the parishes and the homes.”   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001