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 3: Physical Boundaries – Safe and Unsafe Touching Rules
    This lesson helps children understand physical boundaries and teaches them how to recognize unsafe touches. It empowers them to say “no,” walk away, and seek help from a trusted adult.

  • Lesson 4: Safe Adults, Safe Touches, and Special Safe Adults
    This lesson helps children identify the safe adults in their lives and understand when and how to ask for help. It also encourages them to build a personal safety plan with a trusted grown-up.

The lessons for download are as follows:

The lessons are also available in Spanish:
3. Sign and Submit the Completion Form. 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, 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