Overview of Curriculum

Curriculum Order Form

The Diocesan Religion Curriculum was most recently revised in 1994 and is in the process of being updated. It identifies the content of our Faith to which children in grades Kindergarten through 12th are to be introduced. It is for use by all catechetical programs in the diocese: Catholic schools, parish-based programs, home schooling and youth ministry.There are some basic assumptions behind the structure of the curriculum:

• the goal of the curriculum is to guide all Catholics toward an adult, living, vibrant, growing faith;
• the scope of an adult faith is so extensive that all points of Faith can not - nor necessarily should be - included in a curriculum for youth classes and programs;
• no single textbook or published material could cover all necessary content foci.

The structure of the Curriculum:

• The four "Pillars of the Church," identified by the Catechism of the Catholic Church form the backbone for the curriculum.
• Under each Pillar are three or four principle "Faith Themes" that organize the content.
• Under each Faith Theme, then, are various, age appropriate content foci that state the basic teachings that address children's faith in age appropriate ways.
• The Faith Themes and Content Foci are divided into four primary sections, corresponding to age groups: Primary (grades K - 2), Intermediate (grades 3 - 5), Young Adolescence (grades 6 - 8), Older Adolescence (grades 9 - 12).
• While these sections correspond to specific age groups, their subdivisions are less specific. For example, in the Young Adolescence section, the years are labeled, "The God Year," "The Jesus Year," and, "The Holy Spirit/Church" year. This was done so as to adapt the entire curriculum more easily to the growing number of "non-grade-oriented" programs being implemented by parishes and schools throughout the diocese (i.e.: Lectionary-based catechesis, the catechumenate for children, family-based education, etc.)

The Pillars of the Church and Faith Themes:

Each parish and Catholic school is to have at least one copy of the curriculum. Please consult with the principal, catechetical leader or youth minister for more information, or contact Sylvia Mancuso 1-585-328-3210 ext. 1295, or 1-800-388-7177, ext 1295

Curriculum order form (pdf file 87kb)