St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

Living the Year of Faith
Some thoughts on the Christian vocation

+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Los Angeles Prayer Breakfast, 9.18.2012

Writing in about the year 116, the pagan historian Tacitus described a fringe group of religious blasphemers who lived in Rome under the emperor Nero. They refused to honor the gods. They engaged in “superstitious abominations” and worshipped a crucified criminal. They were blamed for Rome’s great fire in A.D. 64, and as a result, they were hunted down and put to death.

Three hundred years later, they were the official religion of the Roman state.

Read more...

At St. John Neumann we offer religious education classes to all children in order to follow the directives of Jesus to "feed my sheep." Our goals as religious educators are to teach the children more about their Catholic faith, to teach them about their Savior, Jesus Christ, and to encourage a personal relationship with their Creator. Our Catechists facilitate this learning through textbooks, prayer, service projects, and fellowship with each other; however, we encourage our parents to be the primary teachers of the faith for their children by attending Mass regularly and discussing the faith at home. The home is the "domestic church," and it is there that the Holy Spirit can most effectively speak to the heart of each family member. Our role in religious education is to support and facilitate this spiritual growth. Let us work together to plant those seeds of faith in our children and watch them grow to the glory of God!

Classes
PSR classes are for students who will be in a Kindergarten through 5^th grade class during the 2012-2013 school year.

Class sessions will be offered at two different times:

• Wednesday evenings from 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. beginning August 29th and ending May 1st *OR*
• Sunday mornings  from 10:15 – 11:30 a.m. beginning August 26th and ending May 5th, 2013

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for PreK students will be offered on:

• Wednesday evenings from 5:00-6:00 beginning August 29th.

* All classes are taught in English using English only books.  Spanish supplements are available for parents if requested and many of our catechists are bi-lingual.

 Sacraments
In order to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, a child must

• Be in second grade or higher (age 7 and over),
• Have been baptized and
• Have completed at least one year of religious education prior to the sacrament year

If your child is ready to receive these sacraments this school year, you must let us know by completing a yellow sacrament form and bringing an original baptismal certificate (do not leave the original – we will make a copy for our records and return the original to you).

CO-ED BIBLE STUDY
Thursday Evenings at 7:00 pm
Coordinator ~ Ann Hayes click here for Evening Bible Study Registration Form 2012-2013.

WCBS - Women's Catholic Bible Study
Wednesday Mornings at 10:00 am
Coordinator ~ Judy Butterick
Registration:  send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or
click here for WCBS Registration Form.

Most Frequently Asked Questions:

What is available for my children or family in religious education?
How do I sign-up?
When do PSR (Parish School of Religion) classes start?

For your convenience, most program schedules, fees and calendars for the year can be found outside the Parish Ministries Office.  You are welcome to come in to the Parish Ministries Office to register.

PSR Classes are  Kindergarten through grade 5 and meet either on Sundays from 10:15-11:30 am in the school building, or Wednesdays from 6:30-7:45 pm.  Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered for PreK students on Fridays, 10:00-11:30 or Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00.

EDGE Middle School Program for our 6 - 8 graders is on Sunday evenings from 6-7:30 in Donnellan Hall.  This program focuses on catechetical themes and life issues that affect our youth.  There are also recreational and social activities that build community. For more detailed information click on Middle School on the SJN Home Page.

Life Teen – Life nights for high school students are held on Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm, following the Life Teen Mass.  These evenings help teens deepen their faith and better understand their role as young Catholics today.  There is also Wednesday night Pizza and Prayer from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. There is no fee for Life Teen.  For more information click on Life Teen on the SJN Home Page.

Confirmation – Confirmation preparation begins in ninth grade.  Tenth graders should  enroll in Confirmation by completing a green sacramental form.  For more detailed information click on Life Teen on the SJN Home Page. 

First Reconciliation and First Communion

Second grade children: St. John Neumann offers a sacrament preparation class for second graders in which the classroom focus is specifically on preparing the children to receive  Reconciliation and the Eucharist. Children need to have taken a religious education class in first grade to prepare for the second grade sacrament class. These classes meet on Sunday at 10:15 or Wednesday at 6:30. Additionally, parents are asked to attend two parent meetings during the year in which they will hear a teaching on Reconciliation and the Eucharist, and receive a booklet to work on with their child at home. Children will meet on two Saturdays for special retreats on the sacraments as well. There will be a  rehearsal before the sacrament of First Communion in the spring.

Third-Fifth grade children: For those children who are in third, fourth or fifth grade and would like to receive the sacraments for the first time, St. John Neumann offers a two year sacrament preparatory program on Sunday mornings at 10:15 and Wednesday evenings at 6:30.  Parents will also attend the two parent meetings and receive the booklet to work on at home in the second year of this program. These children will also participate in the two Saturday retreats and the rehearsal in their second year.

If you would like to register your child to prepare for the sacraments, please pick up a yellow sacrament form in the RE office and fill it out along with your child’s class registration form. We will need a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate if he/she was baptized at any church other than St. John Neumann. The class registration fee covers the sacrament program as well.

For specific dates and more information, please click on Sacraments at the SJN homepage.

Special Needs – Classes for those with special needs are on Monday evenings from 7:00-8:15 pm.  Contact Linda Mauge in the Religious Education Office for details and to register.

Family Formation – This program is designed to assist families; those with two parents, single parents, and/or grandparents etc. in learning more about their Catholic faith within the format of home lessons, adult teachings and community gatherings.  Children’s lessons are written for Pre-K through 5th grade.  A separate registration form is required to enroll in this program. 
For information, contact Becky Wakim at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Thank you for your support as we work together to help our families grow in faith.