The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)
In addition to being very young itself, The Oratory of Ss. Gregory & Augustine is particularly blessed with a great many young families whose children provide us with a joy and vibrancy that is one of our greatest treasures. Educating them in the faith and the practice of piety is the second highest priority of our community.
To this end, we have reestablished the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) to assist in the Catholic education and formation of the whole parish, and particularly the children of The Oratory of Ss. Gregory & Augustine.
The Confraternity itself was an association established in Rome in 1562 by Pope St. Pius V and Pope St. Pius X was one of its most enthusiastic supporters. In 1905, he mandated the establishment of CCD in every Catholic parish in the world. In its more modern usage, CCD is the religious teaching program of the Catholic Church. These classes are taught to school age children to learn the basic doctrines of their faith.
Sunday School
Although Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) Programs were originally set up for children attending public schools, in our time the decline of solid teaching and formation even in Catholic schools means that religious education must seek to combat the religious ignorance and sometimes religious illiteracy all too common today.
Growth in the knowledge and appreciation of the Catholic Faith is a task we all share, and which continues throughout our lifetime. As the primary educators of their children, parents are morally obligated to make certain that their children are provided with a foundation of systematic Catholic religious instruction. The Oratory has developed its CCD Program to assist parents in this vital task.
The Oratory CCD Program is made possible through the dedication of volunteer teachers who prepare the students for the Sacraments, and provide religious instruction intended to supplement the instruction provided by the parents at home. The CCD Program is organized and supervised by Jake and Terri Fowler.
Classes meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 7:30pm in the St. Joseph Room.
Registration typically occurs during the months of August and September. For 2023-24, enrollment is only open to students who are to receive Sacraments of Initiation in the spring of 2024. Classes begin on the first Wednesday in October and finish in May. Participation in the program is normally required for those who wish to receive the Sacraments of First Confession, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion at the Oratory of Saints Gregory & Augustine. Other arrangments require the approval of the Rector, Rev. Msgr. C. Eugene Morris.
Protecting God's Children
The Oratory of Ss. Gregory & Augustine follows the Archdiocese of St. Louis Safe Environment Program (Protecting God’s Children). The program is designed to help protect the youth, elderly, and vulnerable adults of our parish as they participate in activities within our community. This process also provides a layer of protection against the possibility of false accusations for those adults who are involved in our many ministries.
Learn more at the following links:
Schedules for workshops at other parishes and organizations can be found on the Prevent and Protect website.
For additional information related to reporting incidents of suspected abuse, please refer to:
Sandra Price
Executive Director
Office of Child & Youth Protection
(314) 792-7271
sandraprice@archstl.org
Missouri Department of Social Services
Children’s Division Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline
1-800-392-3738
Missouri Department of Heath & Senior Services
Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline
1-800-392-0210
I beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word and Mother of the Church, to support with her powerful intercession the catechetical work of the entire Church at every level, at this time, when she is called to a new effort of evangelization. May the light of the true Faith free humanity from the ignorance and slavery of sin in order to lead it to the only freedom worthy of the name, that of life in Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit here below and in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the fullness of the blessed vision of God, face to face.