When attending Mass it is proper to do the following:

• Dress modestly and appropriately before the Lord.
• Arrive to Mass on time.
• Make the sign of the cross with holy water upon entering the Church.
• Men and boys, kindly remove hats or caps before the Lord.
• Genuflect facing the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle before entering your pew or altar. If unable to genuflect, a heartfelt bow is acceptable.
• Please turn off (or to vibrate) all cell phones prior to entering the Church.
• Please be “prayerfully silent”. Refrain from unnecessary talking as it distracts others who are intently praying and reflecting.
• Join in the singing, and sing your praises to the Lord. Give Him thanks.
• Listen to the readings as God speaks to you directly through His words.
• Remove gum and candy prior to entering the church.
• Catholics, receive Holy Communion with reverence. You may receive on the tongue or in your hand. If you choose to receive the Body of Christ in your hand, please be sure your hands are clean and your right hand is under your left hand. Consume immediately. Please do a reverent head bow before receiving Holy Communion.
• Please exit the church after the final song and after the celebrant has completed the recessional procession.
• Please be sure to take all your belongings and leave the pew and missal ready for the next Mass participant.

Thank you, and God bless you.

Religious Education teachers are called catechists. A catechist (from the Greek word “to echo”) is someone commissioned by the parish to hand down its faith tradition.

 Qualities
• A practicing Catholic, baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith
 A desire to grow in and share the Catholic faith
• An awareness of God’s grace and the desire to respond to that grace
• A commitment to the Church’s liturgical and sacramental life and moral teachings
• A generosity of spirit, respect for diversity, and a habit of hospitality and inclusion.

Knowledge and Skills
• Basic understanding of Catholic teaching, Scripture, and Catholic Tradition, and a willingness to learn about the Ignatian charism and openness to pray in the Ignatian manner
• Honest and caring relationships with the age group being served.

Expectations
• Attend Mass regularly
• Foster an environment of prayer each week to include a variety of forms, incorporating Ignatian Spirituality  
• Prepare lessons in advance, giving careful consideration to the developmental level of the grade being taught (per curriculum approved by Archdiocese of Washington)
• Work as a team with co-catechist(s), substitutes, room parents, and other volunteers
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early to set up the classroom
• Incorporate a variety of techniques (visual, verbal, musical, physical) to facilitate varying learning styles of students
• Restore and clean the classroom at the end of each class.