K-5 Religious Education Program
About Our Program
For the 2021-2022 school year, our K-5 Religious Education classes will be in-person in our classrooms! Classes begin September 15 and will be on Wednesdays from 3:45 to 5:00p. We are arranging bus service from Southern Bluffs, State Road, Hintgen, and Harry Spence elementary schools directly to the entrance of our Religious Education Center. Meet our Catechists Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist usually occurs during a child's second grade year.
Participation in grade one classes is expected to set a foundation for learning about these sacraments. Participation in
parent meetings is also required. Typically, First Reconciliation is observed during the Advent Season and First Eucharist is celebrated
during the Easter Season. Parents as Primary Teachers of Faith
At MMOC we believe that attendance and participation in Sunday Mass is the primary distinguishing mark of being a Catholic and is the cornerstone of all
religious education. The Christian formation of families—homes that are rooted in the Catholic faith—doesn't just happen, but rather takes a
comprehensive, intentional effort that includes frequent Mass attendance and participation in the life of our faith community as well as personal
prayer and service. The Catholic Church also recognizes that the primary responsibility for religious education of children and adults
resides within the family. MMOC works in partnership with families to strengthen and provide well-rounded Catholic faith formation for our members of all ages. Diocese of La Crosse Guidelines for Reporting Instances of Child Abuse
The Diocese of La Crosse, through its
policies and procedures,
seeks to provide a prompt, appropriate and compassionate response to reporters of sexual abuse of a child by any
diocesan agent (bishop, priest, deacon, employee, religious, vendor or volunteer). Anyone
wishing to make a report of an allegation of sexual abuse should send that report to Ms.
Teresa Brown, Complaint Intake Agent, at the Diocese of La Crosse, P.O. Box 4004, La Crosse,
WI 54602-4004. Alternatively, you can contact Ms. Brown at 608.791.0179 or
intakeagent@diolc.org. The reporting form is available through the Diocese of La Crosse
Office of Safe Environment or on the diocesan website at:
diolc.org/safeenvironment/reporting.
Individuals are also encouraged to take their reports directly to civil
authorities. Copies of the diocesan policy are available through your local parish and on the
diocesan website.
If you have any questions about the Diocese of La Crosse and the
implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, please
contact Teresa Brown, Diocese of La Crosse, at 608.791.2679; or tbrown@diolc.org.
Updated 19 July 2021
Please watch the MMOC bulletin for latest news about registering your child (registration form) and the 2021-2022 calendar. The Director of our K-5 program is Therese van Oss. Please contact her with your questions.
We ask all K-5 parents to install our myParish app on your phone. This enables us to reach you in the event of weather problems. On your phone, go to the parish mobile site (mmoc.mobi) and touch "iPhone" or "Android". When you pick up your child after class, please use the Horton Street entrance and exit to Weston Street.
Kindergarten
Sheri Skelton
sskelton@mmoclacrosse.org
608-304-6569
Assisted by Shirley Storey
Grade 1
Mary Lawrence
mlawrence@mmoclacrosse.org
608-797-4688
Assisted by Patti Sherry
Grade 2
Patty Kirchner
pkirchner@mmoclacrosse.org
608-792-1960
Assisted by Christine Kainz
and Amelia Kainz
Grade 3
Natalie Solverson
nsolverson@mmoclacrosse.org
608-332-9275
Assisted by Kara Herlitzke
Grade 4
Jasmine Valentine
jvalentine@mmoclacrosse.org
608-406-0880
Assisted by Ellen Starkey
Grade 5
Lisa Doering
ldoering@mmoclacrosse.org
608-769-2894
Assisted by LuAnn Miller
For more background on your role in your child's faith, here is a free webinar
hosted by Julie Johnson. She has a BA in Elementary Education, is a certified Master Catechist and has a Master's Degree in Pastoral Theology from the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO.