Religious Education

At St. Aloysius we aim in our Religious Education programs and teaching to share, in a meaningful way, the message of the Gospel. We aim to relate this to issues and concerns experienced by our children as they see them impacting on their daily lives.

Our Religious Education program and teaching is focussed on sharing the message of Jesus Christ and the Church, making use of the best of current research, theory and practise in education, leading the children to a full and rich appreciation of the Christian life

Christian attitudes are foremost in our content, teaching and modelling integrated through all learning areas ensuring the development of each individual and unique child in our care. Each year of schooling the children's' understandings and experience is enriched according to their stage of development.

We aim to foster a sense of belonging in the life of the Church by providing assistance in:
developing an awareness of,
an understanding of,
a response to,
and celebration of
the child in relationship to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit, to the Church and to the world.

The Diocese of Ballarat, in conjunctions with the country diocese of Victoria and Tasmania utilise as their primary resource, "Awakenings": a religious education curriculum developed specifically to meet the religious educational needs of the students.

"Awakenings" is a comprehensive and sequential curriculum framework that is informed by the Doctrine of the Catholic Tradition and is presented to teachers and students in a way that reflects current understandings about teaching and learning. "Awakenings" (p.55) states that:

Religious Education intends to awaken us intellectually:
* by encouraging critical thinking and inquiry;
* by firing our imaginative capacity;
* by enlightening our experiences with reason;
* by broadening our perspectives through Scripture and Tradition.

Religious Education intends to awaken us ethically:
* by forming moral character;
* by arousing our desire for wisdom;
* by attuning us to the attitudes of Jesus;
* by promoting responsibility and integrity in living.

Religious Education intends to awaken us spiritually:
* by relating our life to the mystery of God;
* by valuing our interior life and capacities;
* by developing prayerful and liturgical habits;
* by connecting compassion with justice.

PARISH BASED SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

The Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Eucharist are offered to children through a planned program over a two-year cycle. Preparation and support is extended through our Parish Based Sacramental Program, the Parish Sacramental Team and through complementary school programs.  For more information on the dates and times of the program please contact the Parish Office on 5335 9460 or click here to visit the website.