St. Thomas the Apostle
Mass Schedule
Mon. - Sat. 8 AM
Saturday 5 PM
Sunday 8 & 11 AM
Holyday Masses
Day Before 5:30 PM
Holyday 8 AM
Confessions
Sat. 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Adoration Chapel
Mon. - Fri.
9 AM - 11 PM
Blessing of expectant mothers and families after Mass on the 1st Sunday of each month.
Irondequoit Catholic Community
Celebrating 100 years
Irondequoit Catholic Community Web Site
Clustered Worship Sites:
Individual Worship Sites:
St. Thomas offers one of the fullest and most dedicated programs in the area. We feel that this is the very least that we can do and must do for our children. For never has the religious formation of a child in Catholic faith been more crucial than in today's aggressively secular world. So, please remember the spiritual dimension of your child's development.
The children's program is staffed by a dedicated group of volunteer teachers, aides and office help. They receive no pay, but week after week they give of themselves and their time to teach our children the ways of God. But, the faith formation of children is a cooperative venture. It depends on the active participation of parents.
- Regular Classes on Sunday Mornings
- Registration
- Sacramental Preparation
- Class Content
- What we expect from our students
- Standard of Behavior
- Disruptive Problems
- Student Progress Reports
- Parental Responsibilities
- Volunteer Help
- Attendance Policy
- Absences or Tardiness
- Safety Concerns for Grades K through 3
- Health Concerns
- Special Education Needs
- Tuition
- Visitors
For more information on educational offerings, or if you have any questions, please feel free to call.
Religious Education office (585)342-2323
Hours: 9:30 AM-1:00 PM Monday - Thursday and 9:00 - 11:00 AM Sunday
Regular Classes on Sunday Mornings
St. Thomas offers religious education classes for grades K through 8. These classes are held on Sunday mornings after the 8:00 AM Mass from 9:15 to 10:45, September through May, with the regular holiday breaks.
Registration
Regular registration is held in late Spring. Registration for the Sacraments is held in early September. If already attending the School of Religion your registration for the new year is automatic, only individuals who have never attended the St. Thomas the Apostle School of Religion need to register.
Also, all students must register if they will be participating in a Sacramental preparation program.
Sacramental Preparation
The Church also gives Sacramental preparation for First Penance, First Communion (generally in 2nd grade) and Confirmation (generally in 8th grade) and requires at least two years involvement in some sort of recognized religious instruction. The Sacraments are parish-based; even children enrolled in Catholic school need to have Sacramental preparation at the parish.
Class Content
K - God's love for us and ours for Him and others. Also, basic faith concepts and first prayers.
1 - God's goodness - as Father and Creator; Son and Savior; and Holy Spirit, the gift of God. Also, Church as family and more first prayers
2 - Preparation for First Penance and First Communion
3 - Church as God's Community of faith and the Creed
4 - The moral law - The Ten Commandments, etc.
5 - The Sacraments and Christian Living
6 - Biblical salvation history, the Old Testament
7 - Jesus: The Way, the Truth and the Life
8 - Christ our Life: The Church then and now
Please note: Preparation for Confirmation for most St. Thomas students generally is made in 8th grade, but as with all sacramental preparation, these classes are distinct and separate from the regular School of Religion. Also all sacraments are "readiness" based not necessarily tied to a grade level.
What we expect from our students
Simply put, we expect all students to come to class on time, ready, willing and able to learn. (That means having had enough sleep and proper medication, if required).
Standard of Behavior
To come prepared with book(s) and pen or pencil on time.
To show by word and act a willingness to learn.
To participate in class activities and discussion.
To respect the teacher, especially by not talking when the teacher is talking, by not being loud or in any way disruptive.
To respect of the students and the property of others.
To respect all things holy and give a special honor to priests, deacons or other special visitors to class.
To dress properly (e.g. no caps, hats, sunglasses, immodest dress, etc. in class).
Not to chew gum or eat food in the classroom.
Disruptive Problems
Since class time is so precious, we cannot allow any child to hold a class captive by disruptive behavior or open scorn of the program. At the teacher's discretion, a child may be sent to the office and the parents called in. If the teacher and Administrator determine that there is a pattern which cannot be properly remedied within the scope of the program, proper action will be taken.
Student Progress Reports
The teachers will test and evaluate the student's objective progress. We will try to inform parents, in a timely manner, of their child's successes or areas of weakness or difficulties. We routinely send two Progress Reports home each year; one midyear and one at the year's end. This is to help parents monitor and work with their child.
Parental responsibilities
*To see that their children attend Mass each Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation.
- To see that their children, when of age, go to confession on a reasonably regular basis and participate in all the sacraments.
- To see that their children know their catechetical lessons and have completed all required assignments, pray their prayers and contribute to Church and charity.
- To model these things and way of life.
- To insure that their children have adequate sleep and has taken all necessary medications.
- To keep in touch with their child's teacher.
Volunteer Help\\ Please consider offering your help to our program. We depend on volunteers to carry the great bulk of this program. We need to draw from a pool of potential volunteers for new teachers, aides, helps of various sorts, substitute teachers and for a hundred and one other projects. This is a wonderful way to get more involved in the program, to be tremendous help to the Church, to grow in your faith and experience the grace of God in service. Volunteers in the program, pay no tuition for our School of Religion. So, if you think that you may be interested in finding out more about helping, please call the office at (585)342-1704.
Attendance Policy
We have fewer than 30 regular classes. Each one is valuable. Attendance is important and completion of homework and tests are critical. When a child falls three lessons behind, we have to call the parents to try to arrange a way for them to help the child catch up in a reasonable length of time. If responsible steps are not taken to catch up, the child will have to be placed in an "auditor" status. This simply means that the grads cannot be counted in their religious education . toward the requirement of two years of Catholic instruction for Sacramental preparation. Missing six lessons, except for serious cause or without special, prior arrangements puts a child in auditor status.
Please note: The increasingly intrusive demands of school sports do not constitute serious cause to skip religious education. God and spiritual life must come first! If a child must miss a class for sports, prior arrangements with the teacher or administration is required.
Absences or Tardiness
Patterns of unexcused absences or tardiness are matters of serious concern. If your child will be absent, please call the office (585)342-1704 as soon as possible. We must account for each child inorder to ensure their safety. Therefore, if we are not notified, we will call you to verify your child's absence. (Absence for reason of illness or fro an exceptional event can be excused. So, be sure to let us know when you call). But, regardless of the reason, the parent will need to call the teacher for the assignment or to make arrangements for homework. Only when assignments are completed in a timely way, can we credit the child's grade.
So, too, if your child will be late for some reason, please call or send a note of explanation to the teacher. Students who are late must report to the office before going to their classrooms. If for some reason, you know that your child will miss several classes, contact the teacher to make alternative arrangements.
Safety Concerns for Grades K through 3
We ask the parents and guardians of children in K through 3 to drop their children off and pick them up promptly from their classrooms. If someone else is to pick up a child, the teacher need to have clear knowledge of this in advance or we cannot release that child. We have to hold the child until a parent of some other appropriate person can come and get him or her. This, of course, places a significant, unnecessary burden on the teacher and the office. Please be considerate. Realize that this is for your own child's safety.
Health Concerns
We only keep basic first aid materials on hand. We do not have any elaborate nursing facilities. Therefore, we ask that parents take special care in not bringing a sick child, who may be contagious to class. If a child appears to be coming sown with a cold or symptoms appear during class, we must call the parents to come and pick up the child as soon as possible.
Special Education Needs
Our School of Religion is a formal, classroom based program of instruction and faith formation. It is meant to augment and carry forward the work of parents, not to be a substitute. The sort of classroom education that we can offer, however, does not always fit every child's needs in the same way. There are definite limitations to what we can offer in our circumstances and approach. Never the less, we are very interested in trying to help meed the needs of all our families. If your child has special educational needs, we can discuss how we might best be able to help; and if a classroom setting is not appropriate, we can discuss other options.
Tuition
The suggested payment is usually paid the first week of class (checks payable to St. Thomas the Apostle Church). If you cannot make full payment, simply come to the school office, as soon as possible, to make arrangements. Certain volunteer work can be accepted in lieu of money payments. No one will be dined instruction!
| Kindergarten | One Child | Two Children | Three or more Children |
| $20.00 | $50.00 | $70.00 | $90.00 |
No child refused due to financial difficulties
In the case of withdrawal by September 30, a 2/3 refund may be claimed; 1/2 refund by December 31; 1/3 refund by February 28.
Visitors
Friends and visitors are welcome to attend as auditors. If they wish to come more regularly, they can buy books at cost.
