Inclement Weather: If schools in your county are closed or close early, SOR is also cancelled. However, if threatening weather develops during the day, a decision to cancel is made by noon, and a note posted here. Any questions, you can always contact Laurie Vitek (above) at anytime. Parents, always use your own judgment about driving during bad weather, and make sure you’re safe. Thanks!
Interested in Becoming a Catechist?
Are you interested in teaching the catechism and helping children incorporate their faith into daily life? We are looking for teachers for the 2012-13 SOR year. All volunteers must undergo a background check for residency/criminal. Teachers must be available for ongoing faith formation, meetings or other session planning during the year. Please contact the office at 706-865-4474, and leave your contact information. Thank you!
SOR SCHEDULE
January 18:
Classes 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
January 25:
Classes 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 and
First Communion for Older Students/Spanish begins: elementary ONLY, classes are weekly during SOR time (6:30-7:45pm)
February 1:
Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10 and First Communion Older Students/Spanish
FAMILY DINNER NIGHT; we begin serving at 5:45 pm and stop at 6:20 pm; confirmation students should report for service hours at 5:30 pm, if possible.
February 8:
Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10 and First Communion Older Students/Spanish
February 15:
Classes 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 and First Communion Older Students/Spanish; Classes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 will be in parish hall for special presenter from Georgia Right to Life
February 22:
As in past years, we will attend Ash Wednesday Mass together with our classes; please report to your classroom areas at 6:30 pm; we will take attendance then go to Mass. All classes, grades 1-10, will meet.
February 29:
Grades 6-10, Presentation on Abstinence by Alicia Davis from Gainesville Care Center; parents and parishioners are welcome to attend.
St. Paul the Apostle has a Youth Mass!
The first Saturday evening of the month at 5:00, we gather for Youth Mass (except for January 1). All families are encouraged to join together with their children to celebrate the Mass, and enjoy some new music. Our youth band works very hard to learn new praise music for our enjoyment. We are looking for students to serve at the altar, proclaim the scripture readings, help with music, and be ushers. Please contact the religious ed office to sign up.
Thursday Morning Bible Study – For Adults
All adults are invited to join our Thursday Morning Bible Study, hosted by John and Kathleen Higgins (Phone: 770-535-7827). Please come join us for scripture study and discussion, prayers for the sick, DVD viewing and discussion, or other activities. No homework is required, just come as you are. We begin at 10:30 am every Thursday. We do not meet on Food Pantry day, which is the last Thursday of each month.
Program Format 2011-12 – School of Religion (SOR)
Parents are charged with the responsibility of evangelizing their children, and we at St. Paul the Apostle religious education ministry are here to assist you, but not take your place. We firmly believe that attendance at Mass (the Sunday obligation), along with catechetical instruction, are hand-in-hand requirements for a complete learning of our faith. Consider a family discussion of the best time to attend Mass before the weekend.
As a result of lack of space to offer individual classes each week, we will offer communal, or group catechesis, to your children. This is a temporary arrangement until our education center is completed. It will be held on alternate weeks, broken down by grade. The first 2 weeks of each month will be for Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and the last 2 weeks of each month will be for Grades 6, 7 and 8. One teacher will guide the entire grade group. Other teachers will be there to assist. Grades 2, 9 and 10 meet every week, as they are preparing for sacraments. PARENTS are encouraged to join their children in their catechesis.
Confirmation Students: Confirmation is a 2 year program, beginning with 9th grade (which we call Year 1). If your child is in 9th grade in the upcoming school year, they must also register for 9th grade SOR (Year 1), in order to be confirmed in their 10th grade year (which we call Year 2). However, if your child is in 10th grade at school, but has not been through the Year 1 program, they must begin with Year 1 and complete both years before being confirmed.
First Holy Communion Students: There is a lot to learn about our faith for First Communion students, especially about our Lord being present in the Eucharist! We begin preliminary work on this sacrament in 1st Grade, so that children are not struggling in 2nd Grade as they prepare to receive in the spring. If your child is beginning 1st Grade this fall, they should register for 1st Grade SOR.
Children beginning 2nd grade in the Fall will receive First Reconciliation/First Communion in the Spring. Children must have been enrolled and actively attending a religious education class in first grade, a Catholic school, or a homeschool program. All First Communion children and one parent or family member are expected to participate in a Eucharistic Retreat during the winter season in preparation for First Holy Communion. Attendance is mandatory for the sacrament, at the discretion of the administrative priest.
Absences: Missing more than 5 classes during any sacramental program could jeopardize your child’s receiving the sacrament. After 5 absences, the DRE will notify the administrative priest, and at his discretion, a meeting may be planned with the parent and student.
Tardiness: It is important to arrive for class on time, each Wednesday, just like a regular school program. Your child’s catechist has worked hard on lesson plans for that time period, and it is disruptive to have students arriving late.
Group Catechism Classes (grades 3, 4, 5 and grades 6, 7, 
will meet in the parish hall. On Wednesday evenings, the hall is a dedicated classroom space. If you’d like to socialize while waiting for your child, you are welcome to meet in the kitchen or in the narthex, after the Spanish Mass. We will serve coffee in the parish hall kitchen.
Grades 1-4: parents must pick up their children after SOR at the classroom. They will not be permitted to go into the parking lot unattended. This change is due to security and safety issues, with more children enrolled.
We have chosen the Loyola Press program, “Finding God” for our SOR classes, which has been approved by the U.S. Council of Bishops and Archbishop Gregory’s own religious education advisors. Please check out: www.FindingGod.org for more information.
For group catechesis this year, we will be using the “We Believe!” program published by Sadlier Religion Press.
School of Religion (SOR) for Children Grades 1 through 10
Meets Wednesday evenings, 6:30-7:45 pm.
Elementary age children (grades 3, 4, 5) have group catechesis the first 2 Wednesdays of the month.
Secondary age children (grades 6, 7, have group catechesis the last 2 Wednesdays of the month.
Grades 2, 9 and 10 and Sacramental Prep classes and meet each Wednesday.
Tuition is $30 per child with a max of $90 per family.
During SOR Year: Spanish Language Mass with Fr. Arturo, 6:30 pm, Wednesdays; all parents and parishioners are welcome to attend.
Family Dinner Night: Join us for a complimentary dinner with your family on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:45 pm.. Come eat with your children and get to know the SOR families!
