The D.R.E is the Director of Religious Education and has the privilege and responsibility of organizing the parish's faith formation efforts. If you have any questions regarding our F.F.C program, please contact the DRE, Aracely Correa at 806-364-6150.

Aracely is also the new church secretary. If you need to set an appointment with Fr. Tony, donate flowers, questions about renting the A/R, GYM, and cafeteria, etc. Please call Aracely Correa.

The level of planning to hold catechetical sessions in the parish buildings depends on the number of children and teens participants.  The pastor should convene a small group consisting of catechetical leaders(s), catechists, parents and a member of the Parish (Pastoral) Council to explore the situation in the parish and community and make the best decision for the families.

We need to continue providing catechesis for all – children, teens, and adults through life-long catechesis, sacramental preparation, RCIA, Adult Confirmation, etc.

How are we going to accomplish this task?

Many publishing companies are making provisions for digital learning and, as with everything some programs are better than others in content and cost.

This pandemic has brought many difficulties but I dare to say families have been given a great opportunity to share their faith with their children and teens in a more intentional way.  How is this?  Parents have the responsibility of passing on the Catholic Faith to their son and daughters.  Can they do it?  Of course they can! At first they might need a little help from the parish in regards to materials and of course all will need the opportunity to gather at least once a month in a very safe environment.

WHAT IS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT DURING THE COVID-19?

Following the guidance of local government and county health department

Requirement for parental and public notices – letting families know within at least a week before beginning catechetical activities what the parish is planning to do.

            Required and recommended practices – to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. 

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.  While it is not possible to eliminate all risk of furthering the spread of COVID-19, the current science suggests there are many steps parish catechetical sessions can take to significantly reduce the risks to children, teens, catechists and their families. 

• The virus is thought to spread primarily from person to person.
• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

• COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms (known as asymptomatic spread).

• Frequent handwashing
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands and properly cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid close contact with others- stay at least 6 feet from others and do not gather in groups.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Catechetical leaders, catechists, and catechists assistants must self-screen for COVID-19 before coming to the catechetical sessions and report to the catechetical leaders if they have symptoms or have been in close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19.
• Restrict visits to the catechetical sessions to those who are essential to the running of the program.
• Develop a plan for screening children and teens to prevent the spread of the virus.

• Any individuals–including catechists, assistants, volunteers or other visitors–who themselves either: (a) are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to the catechetical sessions until the person has been screened to determine any of the below conditions for returning have been met:
  • • at least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications) 
    • the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath);
    • and at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared. 
    • Children, teens, catechetical leader, catechists, staff, volunteers or other campus visitors–who have had close contact with someone who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, as narrowly defined in this document and as determined by the appropriate public health agency, should stay at home through the 14-day incubation period, and should not be allowed on campus.
    • All should be screened after the incubation period has concluded, and if the individual did not experience COVID-19 symptoms during that period, the individual can be allowed back on campus. If the individual experienced symptoms, they must stay at home until the conditions outlined above have been met.

• In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to the campus until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above. 
• If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school

before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either (a) obtain from a medical doctor –licensed in the state of Texas, a note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or (b) receive two separate confirmations at least 24 hours apart that they are free of COVID-19 via acute infection tests at an approved COVID-19 testing location.  https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/.

Identifying Possible COVID-19 Cases at the catechetical sessions

• Catechetical leaders must immediately separate any child or teen who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at the catechetical session until the child or teen can be picked up by a parent or guardian and immediately notify the pastor. 
• The area used by the individual who shows COVID-19 symptoms must be cleaned immediately.
• Children and teens that report feeling feverish should be given an immediate temperature check to determine if they are symptomatic for COVID-19.

To respond appropriately to lab-confirmed cases

            Require actions for lab confirmed cases

• • • Parish must notify local health department.
    • Area used by the person must be disinfected; unless, 3 days have already passed since the person was in the premises.
    • Families of all children and teens, catechists and staff must be notified of the confirmed case.

Require and recommended practices to mitigate spread in the catechetical sessions

                        General health and hygiene practices

• Hand sanitizer and/or hand washing stations with soap and water at each entrance and the same in every room where the children and teens gather.
• All, including adults, should sanitized and wash hands frequently.
• Catechists must show/teach children and teens handwashing techniques
• All should be encourage to cover coughs and sneezes.
• Parishes should start more frequent cleaning practices with additional cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces that are touch in common (door handles, tables, desks, etc.) between different groups.
• Cleaning products must be stored safely and harmful products are not to be used near children.
• Windows should be open frequently to improve air flow by allowing outside air to circulate in the building

• Masks include non-medical grade disposable face masks, cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth), or full-face shields to protect eyes, nose, and mouth. Face shields may be superior to cloth face coverings in many circumstances, given improved ability to see mouth movements and improved air circulation. 
• Consistent with state and local regulations, local school district best practices and diocesan directives, all catechists, assistants and visitors must wear masks or face shields. Catechists who are distanced more than 6 feet from children and teens are not required to wear face covering during the catechetical process.  Face coverings are required outside the rooms and where people congregate in relatively close settings, for example, during meetings or in break rooms, or where people may congregate. 
• Similarly, children and teens for whom it is developmentally appropriate, should wear masks or face shields at times when they will be in close proximity to other children and teens for an extended period (i.e., when they would otherwise meet the definition of a close contact). 
  • Young children and persons who are unable to adjust or remove masks should not be regarded as suitable candidates for wearing masks or face shields. 
  • It is not developmentally appropriate for children 6 years old and below to wear masks. 
  • It may not be developmentally appropriate for some children and teens, including some with disabilities, to wear masks. 
  • For children 6 to 8 years old the determination of whether wearing a mask is developmentally appropriate is up to the catechetical leader in consultation with the child’s parent or guardian.

• Where feasible without disrupting the catechetical process, encourage children and teens to practice social distancing. 
• In the room children and teens should be placed a minimum of six feet apart. 
• Parishes should plan for entry, exit, and transition procedures that reduce large group gatherings (of children, teens and adults) in close proximity.