The Department of Christian Education"We want our children first and foremost to be converted to Christ, to know repentance, to know what it meant to offer themselves and the whole world to God at the Divine Liturgy, to win the struggle with evil, and to be wise with the wisdom of the saints, and then, yes, to articulate their faith. Their spiritual strength is what will count in the end," observed Department of Christian Education Director Carole Buleza at the beginning of the 2014-2015 Church School year.
Several noteworthy resources are worth highlighting as Sunday School commences across the Archdiocese. New materials, guidelines, and submission information for the 2015 Creative Festivals have been posted to Antiochian.org. Themed "The 100th Anniversary of the Falling Asleep of St. Raphael," the Festivals include art, photography, poetry and creative writing.
Additionally, the Department of Youth organizes the Bible Bowl and the Oratorical Festivals, and has a variety of new resources available for preparation for those events. The Festivals are hosted by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine. Topics are always developed and printed by the Department of Youth and Parish Ministry with the blessing of the Metropolitan.
This year's Orthodox Institute also promises to be an outstanding weekend of Christian Ed training and encouragement, featuring a stellar line up of speakers addressing the theme "Theosis: Your Life with God."
Other initiatives from the Dept. of Christian Education for highlighting are:
- The new Matthew 25 and the HUGS curriculum, intended to nurture in children the spirit of outreach and service.
- "The Path of Salvation" curriculum update describes the groundbreaking new catechetical program that guides instructors in teaching the foundations of the faith in an orderly sequence.
