Program Description

Blest Are We: Faith in Action is a thematic program that invites all learners to explore and grow in Faith, Word, and Action. The series is offered by RCL Benzinger, one of several Catholic publishers approved and recommended by the Office of Evangelization & Catechesis in the Diocese of Des Moines. Each grade level theme has five units with four chapters correlated to the four pillars of the Catechism: 

• What Catholics Believe 
• How Catholics Worship 
• How Catholics Live 
• How Catholics Pray 

Format and Content

Grade 1: Introduction to the Holy Trinity. Units include Our Church Community, Our Loving God, God's Son Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Jesus Church of Followers. Participating in Grade 1 sessions is a pre-requisite to Grade 2 sessions and preparing to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

Grade 2: The Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Community. Units include We Gather as Believers, We Ask God's Forgiveness (preparing for Penance & Reconciliation), We Celebrate the Word of God, We Celebrate the Gift of Eucharist (preparing for First Holy Communion), We Go in Peace.

Grade 3: Introduction to the Catholic Church, its Structure, and Core Beliefs. Units include The Church is One, The Church is Holy, The Church is Catholic, The Church is Apostolic, The Church Has a Mission to the World.

Grade 4: Moral Teachings of the Catholic Church. Units include The Goodness of God, Jesus is the Son of God, The Holy Spirit, The Church, Social Justice. Themes focus on the moral teaching of the Catholic Church. 

Grade 5: The Sacraments. Units include God's Gift of Life, Baptism & Confirmation, The Eucharist, Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders & Matrimony.

Family Faith Evenings: During 2021-22, we hope to offer three intergenerational sessions to complement Blest Are We: Faith in Action, and to support and offer resources to parents as primary faith formators of their children.
 

Home Study Option

Families who have chosen the home study option for their child(ren) in 1st-5th grade will receive:

• a copy of the student workbook for their child's grade
• account login information to access digital resources for their child's grade through the Flourish website associated with our Blest Are We: Faith in Action curriculum

As this is our first year offering a home study option for these resources, we must set up an individual account for each child enrolled in our program. We will provide your child's workbook and account login information as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
 

Sessions & Schedule

Grades 1 - 5 meet weekly during the faith formation year, with breaks for holidays that align with local school districts and Catholic Church holy days. Additional parent information meetings and parent/child sacramental preparation sessions may also be part of the formation year. Please see the Faith Formation Handbook 2021-22 for specific dates, and watch for emails throughout the year from the Faith Formation Office. Session times are:

Mondays
4:30-5:30pm
5:45-6:45pm

Wednesdays
4:30-5:30pm
5:45-6:45pm

Calendar