Office of Religious Education

A. Introduction

• The Eparchial Office of Religious Education exists to assist the Eparchial Bishop in his teaching office and ministry handing on the Faith, by acting as a resource to pastors, other clergy, parish and regional religious education directors, catechists and members of the faithful, particularly the elementary, high school and adult levels, as well as Catechumens in the Church.

B. The Eparchial Office

• The Eparchial Office of Religious Education achieves its goal in the context of:
  • A thoroughly Catholic interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures;
  • The authentic teaching of the Church, especially as seen in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where applicable;
  • The spirit of the Second Vatican Council, especially the “Decree on the Eastern Catholic Churches”;
  • Maronite traditions
  • In cooperation with other groups in the Worldwide Maronite Church.
• The attitude which governs this Office may be summed up in the words of Pope John XIII: “We are not on earth to guard a museum, but to cultivate a flourishing garden of life.”
• The Director of the Eparchial Office of Religious Education is appointed by the Eparchial Bishop.
• The Director of the Eparchial Office of Religious Education is responsible for the administration and supervision of the eparchial religious education program.

C. The Pastor and Parish Coordinator

• The Pastor shares with parents in the awesome and beautiful responsibility of spiritual formation of the child in the Maronite Tradition.
• The quality of every religious education program is dependent upon having catechists well informed in doctrine and communication arts. Catechists should participate in certification programs.
• The Parish Coordinator of Religious Education is to be a person of mature faith, a witness to the presence of Christ in the world and one who has a fervent sacramental and spiritual life and a deep feeling for the excellence of the Christian message.
• The Parish Religious Education Coordinator is to:
  • Organize and implement religious education programs in the parish;
  • Recruit and provide for the training of volunteers who assist in the program;
  • Recommend to the pastor programs and audio-visual material and necessary supplies;
  • Prepare the schedule of classes for the school year;
  • Provide for the maintenance of permanent records of programs and the participants;
  • Collaborate in the preparation of an operating budget;
  • Prepare and present annually a report to the parish religious education committee, the pastoral council, or the pastor;
  • Be familiar with eparchial policies relevant to religious education.

D. Recommended Texts

• The Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon recognizes that all students are to receive a religious education that is reflective of sound theological and educational principles, therefore Maronite religion books will be used in all parishes. This series, Faith of the Mountain will enable students to grow with enthusiasm and fervor in the traditions of our Maronite Faith.