☰



ST. JAMES
THE LESS
Roman Catholic Church
Religious Education: Parents' Page

Faith formation begins at home, and your guidance plays an essential role in helping your children grow in their relationship with God. By praying together and reflecting on the meaning of each prayer, you help your child connect their words to daily life and faith in action.

The prayers they learn now will become a foundation for their lifelong journey of faith.

As partners in our Religious Education Program, we kindly ask that you support your children at each grade level, by helping them learn and memorize the following prayers:


Empowering God’s Children Program



As part of our Saint James The Less' commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for all children, we implement Empowering God’s Children® program — a child safety initiative developed by VIRTUS® and required by the Metuchen Diocese for all children enrolled in religious education.

This program teaches children about personal boundaries, safety awareness, and how to seek help from trusted adults—all within the context of our Catholic faith and values. Your participation as parents is essential in fulfilling this important mission.


✅ What You Need to Do

1.
Watch the required "Empowering God's Children" video with your child:
  • Grades K–5:
  • Grades 6–8:
2.
Download and review the required lesson plans.
You and your child are required to complete two lessons that are age-appropriate and grounded in Catholic values. Description is below:
  • Lesson 5: Being A Safe Friend
    This lesson teaches children how to be a safe friend to themselves and others by recognizing unsafe or uncomfortable situations and knowing what to do. Children learn to say “no,” get away when possible, and tell a safe adult, including when they are concerned about a friend or something that happens online.

  • Lesson 6: Boundaries: Feelings and Facts
    This lesson teaches children how to recognize their feelings and body signals when a situation feels uncomfortable or unsafe and understand the importance of personal boundaries. It also teaches them to follow the safety plan: say “No,” try to get away, and tell a safe adult as soon as possible.

The lessons for download are as follows:
Overview – Instructions for Lesson Leaders Grades K–2 Grades 3–5 Grades 6–8


After watching the video and completing both lessons with your child, please sign and submit to the Religious Education Office the Parent/Guardian Signature Form to prove and confirm completion.

Due Date: January 7, 2027



The lessons are also available in Spanish:
Resumen – Guía para la enseñanza de los límites y la seguridad. Grados K, 1 y 2 Grados 3, 4 y 5 Grados 6, 7 y 8
Después de ver el video y completar ambas lecciones con su hijo(a), por favor firme y entregue en la Oficina de Educación Religiosa el Formulario de Firma del Padre/Madre o Tutor para confirmar la finalización.

Fecha límite: 7 de enero de 2026



Thank you for partnering with us to ensure the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of our children. If you have any questions, please contact the Religious Education Office.








36 Lincoln Ave., Jamesburg, NJ | Tel. 732-521-0100