New at Mater Dei? Ready to get involved?
Learn more about our service ministries, social groups and prayer & devotional apostolates through our online Parish Life series!
Do you care deeply about the education of our children in the True Catholic Faith? Then get involved with the Youth Catechism program at Mater Dei!
Who is the leader of this group?
Tracy W Nunley is the Director of Education for Mater Dei Parish. She moved to TX in January of 2015 and took over this position in August of that year. She is a certified Catechist who has worked in Religious Education since 1995.
What does your ministry bring to the Mater Dei community?
We prepare our children and those wishing to convert for reception of the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. We provide continuing education in the faith for children 5 years through seniors in high school.
Our Catechetical program educates our First Holy Communion children from 5 to 7. Between First Holy Communion and Confirmation the children attend a St. Joseph’s Catechism Class. The Confirmation class is for 10 year olds and up.
After Confirmation there are three rotating classes of Mary and the Saints, The Virtues, and Church History. High school students are formed in Catholic Apologetics.
What kind of time commitment would be required from a new volunteer?
Teachers prepare for weekly Sunday instruction at 1:00pm for approximately 14 classes in the fall and 14 classes in the spring. Assistants simply attend the one hour class as an additional Safe Environment Trained adult so there are always two SET adults in the classroom per diocesan regulations. In cases where the regular teacher cannot attend the assistant would teach the class.
There are those who are assigned to a particular teacher and attend the one hour class each week there is class. Others serve as back-ups for when the regular assistants are unable to be there. It is very helpful to have a list of back-ups in case of illness.
To participate in this apostolate requires one to be Safe Environment trained and renew annually.
Any final thoughts?
Our children are the future of the Church and there is nothing more rewarding that passing on the true Catholic Apostolic Faith. Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:20). Walking with someone as they prepare to be received into the Catholic Church is incomparable.
Who to contact for more information
We are currently looking for a few regular assistants for the 2016/17 school year. To be added to our list of assistants please contact Tracy Nunley at ccd@materdeiparish.com. To become Safe Environment Trained please contact Andrew Walters at safe@materdeiparish.com.