Sunday School: Grades 4K-5th

2025-2026

 

Child Ministry Staff

Joyce Swietlik, Director of Religious Education - jswietlik@stme.church

Jeanette Lambrecht, Associate Director of Child & Family Ministry - jlambrecht@stme.church

Juliette Anderson, Administrative Assistant - janderson@stme.church

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Who: Students in 4K– 5th grade - Students attend classes taught by volunteer catechists.

When: 9:00-10:00am Sundays - Classes usually meet three out of four Sundays a month. 

Where: St. Monica School, 5635 N. Santa Monica Boulevard, Whitefish Bay  

Important Dates:

September 14 – Catechist Meeting

9:00-10:00am in St. Monica Ministry Center followed by 10:15am Mass

September 21 – Sunday School Kickoff!

9:00-10:00am in St. Monica Donovan Hall

Parent Meeting at 9:15am

September 28 – First Class

April 19 - Last Class

DO SUNDAY MORNING CLASSES NOT WORK FOR YOUR FAMILY?

We really want your child involved! Please contact Jeanette Lambrecht at jlambrecht@stme.church or 414-420-6164. Let’s work together to come up with other options such as a different time or program.

CURRICULUM

Our Sunday School Program uses materials from Loyola Press (www.loyolapress.com).

  • 4K: God Made the World

  • 5K-1st grade: Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts

  • 2nd grade / Sacraments: God’s Gift: Reconciliation and God’s Gift: Eucharist. Students also use the Blessed series of videos with workbooks (www.dynamiccatholic.com) at home.

  •  3rd-5th grade: Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts

In class, students will study a chapter from the workbook which we send home. The final page of each lesson has a review, suggestions on activities to live what they learn and a closing prayer. We ask parents to review this at home. We offer an optional review and fun “test” with games online for families who want to go a step further.

MASS ATTENDANCE

Regular Sunday Mass attendance is an essential part of being Catholic and thus is expected of our Child Ministry families. Parish Mass Times are:

  • St Eugene: Sat 4:30 PM; Sun 8:30 & 11:00 AM                          

  • St Monica: Sat 5:00 PM; Sun 8:00 & 10:15 AM

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We ask all parents to prayerfully consider becoming part of our Child Ministry team. We can’t do this without you! Opportunities are below or let us know if you have other ideas.

Catechists

Materials, orientation and training are provided. The curriculum is very user-friendly - you don’t need to know everything! We encourage you to talk to your friends and to parents of your children's friends. Consider team-teaching. You can take turns leading the lesson and assisting. Being a catechist is a great way to refresh your faith, form new relationships at church, be a role model for your child and serve God.

**We are pleased to offer a full tuition waiver (just pay sacrament and retreat fees) for ALL children (K4-Confirmation) of a catechist who commits to teaching weekly!

In addition to Full-time Catechists, we need . . .

  • Substitute Catechists (teach when you are available)

  • Aides in all classrooms.  (weekly and substitute)

  • Hall Monitors arrive at 8:30 to assist with set up of classes. Patrol halls during class. Assist with clean-up after class. Leave at 10:15. Sign up for the days that fit your availability.

  • Lesson preparation and clerical help in the office during the week.  

  • Assistance with occasional crafts or service projects.  

  • Sunday School Assistant: We are looking for another person who can assist us on Sunday mornings with managing the miscellaneous things that come up. Some of these things might be: Making photocopies. Subbing for a catechist or aide. Gathering materials for and assisting with a craft. Helping in a classroom with an enthusiastic group of kids. Escorting a class to the church and back. Replenishing classroom supplies. We work together to divide and conquer these tasks as they arise!

  • Do you want to help occasionally, but not in the role of teaching?

    • Refreshments Angel – coordinate donations of refreshments for gatherings such as beginning or end of year or family times during the year. Might include shopping or set-up and clean-up as you are able.

    • Service Project Angel – Coordinate a service project for a charity. Promote. Organize. Deliver goods. (example: Advent

      Sock Drive last year)

    • Craft Angel - Assistance with planning and/or helping with crafts

    • Let us know your ideas!!

  • Middle and High School students may volunteer for service hours.

**All adult volunteers are required to attend a Safe Environment Education Session, pass a Criminal Background Check and sign the Code of Ethical Standards.

Contact Jeanette at jlambrecht@stme.church to volunteer or for more information.

SAFEGUARDING ALL GOD'S FAMILY

St. Eugene and St. Monica Parishes are committed to providing a safe environment for all. In compliance with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, all volunteers over the age of 18 MUST attend a (free, one-time) Safe Environment Education Session, pass a criminal background check and read and sign the Code of Ethical Standards for Church Leaders. In addition, it is our goal to have ALL parents attend this class to increase awareness and safety. This would also qualify parents to chaperone field trips, work on service projects or assist in classrooms. To register for a class, please go to www.archmil.org/offices/safeguarding.htm. 

HOW TO REGISTER FOR CHILD AND YOUTH MINISTRY CLASSES

Child and Youth Ministry Registration will once again be completed online through ParishSoft (click to begin) our parish database. While registering for classes, please take the time to review your information and update any emails, phone numbers or anything else that may have changed.

PARISH REGISTRATION – If you are new to St. Eugene and St. Monica – welcome! Please begin the parish registration process by filling out the online form (links below). We will contact you to complete parish registration so you can then register for classes.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION 

FOR FIRST RECONCILIATION AND FIRST EUCHARIST

Sacraments Class is primarily for 2nd graders and some older children who have not yet received these sacraments.

 Requirements:

1. Regular Mass attendance.

2. Children should have one year of catechesis, as a foundation, prior to enrolling in the Sacraments Class. Typically that would be attending 1st grade in either a Catholic School or Sunday School program. If your 2nd grader does not have this, you may register them for 1st grade Sunday School this year and then they will enroll in the Sacraments Class in 3rd grade.  

If your 2nd grader or older child does not have one year of catechesis, contact Jeanette Lambrecht for information on how to prepare and register your child. We will work with you to develop a plan that is a combination of tutoring and home study to catch them up.

3. Children must attend one of these options this year:

  • Child Ministry Sacraments Class (Sunday morning at St. Monica) 

  • St Eugene School or St Monica School

4. Record of Baptism given to the Child Ministry office:

  • If baptized at St. Eugene or St. Monica Church, email the date and location to childministry@stme.church.

  • If baptized at another parish, send a copy of the Baptismal certificate to childministry@stme.church. (Let us know if you need assistance obtaining a copy.)

  • If your child has not been baptized, contact Jeanette Lambrecht as soon as possible. It is important to have your child baptized before preparation classes begin.

  • If your child attends St. Eugene or St. Monica School, we will get a copy from the school records.

5. Membership at St. Eugene or St. Monica Parish (if not parish members, contact Jeanette Lambrecht).

Important Dates: Parents may choose the First Reconciliation Service and First Eucharist Mass that is best for their family. 

  • First Reconciliation will be Wednesday, January 21 at 6:00pm at St. Monica and Saturday, January 24 at 10:00am at St. Eugene. 

  • First Eucharist will be celebrated Sunday, April 26 at 1:30pm at St. Monica and Sunday, May 3 at 1:30pm at St. Eugene.

TUITION

Registration  - $275 per student with a maximum of $825 per parish family (3 or more students). $375 per student for Non-Parish Families.

** Catechists receive free tuition for all children in their family!  No need to fill out the payment form. Jeanette Lambrecht will approve this.

SACRAMENT FEE - $100.00 per communicant - for St. Eugene parishioners only.

Parishioners of St. Monica Parish who enroll in Child Ministry should pay their fee along with their tuition at the time of registration.  Students at St. Monica School are billed the sacrament fee along with their other school fees at the beginning of the year.  Parishioners of St. Eugene have their Sacrament Fee paid by funds set aside by parishioners during the Faith In Our Future capital campaign in 2009.

Please do not let the inability to pay prevent you from participating. Payment plans are available on the online payment form. Email religiouseducation@stme.church with requests.

When you complete your registration, there is a link to the payment page. 

Both the registration and payment pages must be completed for your child’s enrollment to be accepted. Thank you!