Religious Education
Passport to Faith Program
Overview
Being Catholic encompasses much more than just attending Sunday Mass and taking Religious Education classes; our Catholic faith encompasses every aspect of our lives. The Passport program provides opportunities to explore what it means to live out our Catholic identity through participation in a variety of activities at the Parish.
All students in the Religious Education program are required to complete five Passport activities during the year, from September 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
Passport Activities
Passport activities fall into the following four categories:
Liturgy/Sacraments
Catholic Devotion
Family Catechesis
Community
A second activity from any of the above categories.
FAQ's
How do I find Passport activities
Click here to view the Religious Education calendar. Passport activities are marked with a passport icon. Click the activity on the calendar for more details. Not all Passport activities are listed on the calendar. Click on the FAQ’s below for more examples of Passport activities in each category.
What are some examples of Liturgy/Sacrament activities?
Some examples of Liturgy/Sacrament activities include:
Attending a daily Mass at Our Lady of Mercy (Monday-Friday at 8:30AM) on days off from school.
Going to Confession at St. Thomas More (Saturdays from 3:30-4:15)
Attending a Baptism or Confirmation of a sibling.
Attending a Catholic Nuptial Mass
Participating in the Youth Choir (this includes attending rehearsals and singing at at least two Sunday Masses or on Christmas Eve or Easter for the Christmas/Easter choirs). For more information about Youth Choir please contact the Music Director, Anna Gugliotta via email to music@moremercy.org. (NB: This can also be used as a Community Activity)
Join the Altar Servers. In order to receive a stamp for being an Altar Server you must serve at least 2 Sunday Masses during the year.
What are some examples of Catholic Devotion activities?
Some examples of Catholic Devotion activities include:
Attending the Blessing of the Animals (October)
Attending the Stations of the Cross during Lent
Participating in the May Crowning (May)
Participating in the Corpus Christi procession (June)
Spend 15 minutes in prayer in our Eucharistic Adoration chapel (the chapel can be accessed 24/7 via the entrance in the Prayer Garden). To receive a stamp for Eucharistic Adoration, students must complete the attached Adoration Journal “My Time With Jesus” and drop it off at the RE Office.
What are some examples of Family Catechesis activities?
Some examples of Family Catechesis activities include:
Attending Lessons and Carols (December)
Attending the 7 Last Words of Christ (April)
Watching the monthly saint movie on www.formed.org. The movie may be watched anytime throughout the month. To receive a stamp for the monthly saint movie, students must complete the attached movie review and drop it off at the RE Office.
What are some examples of Community Activities?
Some examples of Community Activities include:
Participating in the Youth Choir (this includes attending rehearsals and singing at at least two Sunday Masses or on Christmas Eve or Easter for the Christmas/Easter choirs). For more information about Youth Choir please contact the Music Director, Anna Gugliotta via email to music@moremercy.org. NB: This can also be used as a Liturgy/Sacrament activity.
Attending the Christmas Movie
Collecting food and other donations for the Naval Weapons Stations at Earle Naval Base.
Donations may be dropped off at the Parish Office.
Donating to the Giving Tree during Christmas
Can I get a Passport Stamp for going to Sunday Mass?
No, you cannot get a Passport stamp for going to Sunday Mass.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church #2192 teaches that “Sunday ... is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church. On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.” Since attending Mass on Sunday is a requirement of all Catholics, no stamp will give given for it.
What if I cannot find someone to stamp my Passport?
At most Passport events, a representative from the Parish or Religious Education office will be available to stamp student’s Passports. There are a few exceptions:
Priests will not be stamping passports during Confession.
Off-site events, such as the movie “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” will require that you provide your ticket stub to the office to receive a Passport stamp.
For those events or activities where you are unable to get a stamp at the activity, please bring your Passport to the office. We will rely on the honor system for this.
What happens if I lose my Passport?
New passports are available at the Religious Education office.
What are the office hours for Religious Education?
The Religious Education office is open Tuesday – Thursday from 8:00AM-4:00PM. We are also open on nights where there are in-person classes.
The office is closed on Mondays and Fridays.
Who do I contact with Passport questions?
The best way to reach us is via email to re@moremercy.org.