The icon Christ Blesses the Children courtesy of Fr. Theodore Jurewicz, Master Iconographer.

“With us everything should be secondary compared to our concern with children, and their upbringing in the instruction and teaching of the Lord.”

~ Saint John Chrysostom

The purpose of St. Mary’s Sunday School program is to teach our children how to live their Orthodox faith. In Sunday School, children are taught about the Holy Bible and Tradition, which provides a strong Christian foundation for them to go out into the world and share their faith and do good works. Children are taught to witness to their Lord and Savior in thought, word, and deed. They are taught about charity and participation in the life of the Holy Church. They are taught to make decisions based on what God has commanded.

Below is a helpful list of tips for Sunday School parents. This will help ensure our children get the most out of their Sunday School Experience.

1. Encourage your child to develop friendships at Sunday School. One of the strongest benefits the church provides your family is an extended "family" of both adult and childhood friends who support positive Christian values.
2. Be consistent in bringing your child to Sunday School so that he or she will benefit from the Orthodox instruction. Children are surrounded by influences which are often in conflict with the real truth of life. Sunday School is the place and time where the good values and understandings you want your kids to have are reinforced.
3. Cultivate friendships with your child's teachers. Your support helps teachers do an even better job!
4. Watch for and talk with your child about any take-home materials provided. Just a few minutes of informal conversation at home can help tremendously to reinforce and apply the Truths your child has studied. And we parents usually learn something from these as well!
5. Ask a few questions about the Sunday School lesson to see what your child remembers and understands and talk about how the lesson might apply to experiences at home or in the neighborhood. During the week, look for ways to connect a recent lesson or story to specific situations.

September 21st - First Day of Sunday School and Blessing of backpacks & classrooms
October 12th - Godparents Sunday/Fall Harvest

November 30th - Thanksgiving Break (NO CLASS)
December 6th - St. Nicholas Vespers and Dinner
December 28th - Christmas Break (NO CLASS)
January 4th - New Year's Break (NO CLASS)

March 1st - Sunday of Orthodoxy
April 4th - Lazarus Retreat
April 5th - Palm Sunday (NO CLASS)
April 12th - Easter (NO CLASS)