General Information

Every Christian has the obligation to grow in the spiritual life and in the knowledge and love of the Lord and His Church. This responsibility falls upon parents, godparents and the whole of the parish community - young and old alike. The study of Divine Revelation through the Sacred Scripture and Holy Tradition of our Church is an absolute must for the spiritual growth of every member of our parish.
While parents and godparents have a special responsibility in fostering spiritual education within the family, the home being the "Domestic Church" and parents being the first and foremost teachers of the faith, at the same time the parish will always try to provide the best in religious formation and instruction for all age categories. It is hoped that all parishioners will take advantage of these programs. Our Parish School of Religion and the adult Religious Education Programs should have a strong priority in the life of our apish and in our individual lives. Not to take this obligation seriously is to weaken the entire Body of Christ.
Since our Eastern Catholic heritage and our mode of expressing and living out our Christian faith is unique and different, we have the most serious obligation to foster it, preserve it, fully understand it and pass it on intact to our young, to future generations. Our fidelity to this mission is imperative in a society where we are a minuscule minority and our faithfulness to it contributes to the universality of the Church.
Parents and godparents are again reminded of the necessity of seeing that their children are properly enrolled in the religious education programs of Holy Transfiguration.

1. All Children of our parish, those attending public, private, or parochial schools are required to take part in the religious education programs of this parish community.
2. The pastor will not grant permission for the enrollment of parish children in Roman Catholic Schools unless the parents agree to the enrollment of their children in our own parish School of Religion and will responsibly see to their regular attendance.
3. Parents who do not enroll their children in religious education classes or do not insure that the child maintains regular attendance cannot be considered "a practicing and active parishioner fulfilling his religious obligations."
4. A most important part of nurturing children in the faith is a regular participation in the Divine Worship of this parish community. Parents who fail to see the regular attendance of their children at the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and Holy Days, fail in one of the most rudimentary aspects of Christian parenting.

PASTOR'S LETTER FOR PARENTS

It is obvious that in every way you excel in devotion to your children and take an active part in their activities. One of those activities is directly related to the church as well as the home, that is, Religious Education. No one would ever deprive his child of food, love or secular education. How much more vital is Religious Education which prepares our children not only for life but for eternity. The primary place for education is with you in the home, you supplement this by bringing your children to Religious Education classes at the church.

Some parents may object by saying that their children attend church-run primary or secondary schools and therefore get all the training they need. Unfortunately, it has been our sad experience that while the young receive some faith information at such schools, they receive no information or experience in their own Melkite Greek-Catholic tradition. There is no other school in the metropolitan Washington area where your children can receive authentic Eastern Christian formation except here. No one of you would neglect the physical well-being of your child. Please do not neglect the commitment that will mean eternal life to your child.

The decision to participate or not in our .Religious Education program is not something that can be left up to the choice of children. They do not decide where to go to school, when to come home and whether or not to be obedient. Parents are there to make these important decisions for them until they are adults. Let me add another comment, Religious Education is not just for children. We have an entire program of education in the Faith aimed at every age group from Toddlers (Age 2 & 3) to Adult such as Bible Study , Liturgy, Church History and preparation for the Holy Mysteries as well as basic instruction in the faith.

Asking God’s blessing on our children as they begin the new academic year, I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ Our God,
Archimandrite Joseph Francavilla
Pastor