Saint Jerome Church
254 Wall Street
| West Long Branch, NJ 07764-1123
| 732-222-1424
Rev. Fr. Harold Cullen, Ph.D., Pastor
Fr. Erin Brown,
Parochial Vicar
Anthony DiCesare, D.D.S., Permanent Deacon
Sacraments
Liturgical Ministries
Faith Formation
Devotions
Ministerial Communities
Social Concerns
Parish Activities
General Information
Religious Education Program for Public School Students
Religious education classes for public elementary school students whose families are registered members of this parish are held on Tuesday in the school building. Grades 1 to 5 meet from 3:45PM to 4:45PM, and grades 6 to 8 meet from 6:30PM to 7:30PM. Students need to register in the program each year. Tuition is ---. A calendar of classes is sent to all who have registered in the spring before classes resume in the month of September. Anyone who wishes to home school their child in religion must be registered in the program and receive materials from the parish program. The Director of Religious Education must approve any other supplemental materials used. Important, any student preparing for First Communion or Confirmation may not be home schooled that year. If a student has not yet received First Communion or Reconciliation and is past the age of a second grade, they will be included in the religious education program in the grade of their peers. They will also receive special instruction to prepare them to celebrate and receive these sacraments. If your child has special needs, please inform the school office at the time of registration.
Adult Faith Formation
Faith formation is a lifetime process which should not end upon being Confirmed. Throughout the year, the Director of Religious Education provides parishioners with several ways in which to enrich their faith and spiritual life. Participants in the studies and faith sharing communities have commented on how much they have enjoyed learning about their Catholic faith, and find themselves becoming closer to Jesus. These activities also provide a wonderful opportunity to get to know fellow parishioners and to start new friendships.
SCRIPTURE STUDY. According to our parish’s patron saint, St. Jerome, “Not to know the Scriptures, is not to know Christ”. To help us understand Scripture, a study of one of the books of the bible is offered at least once a year. This Scripture study group usually meets once a week for 90 minutes over a period of 4 to 7 weeks, depending on the length of the topic. Anyone interested may sign up when the study is announced in the bulletin. There is usually a nominal fee to cover the cost of the materials used.
THE DE SALES PROGRAM is a video education series designed specifically for adult Catholics. Some of the topics covered by this series include: understanding the Mass, how to read the Bible, and our Catholic beliefs. There is usually a nominal fee to cover the cost of the materials used.
Several SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES meet regularly to share their faith experiences, pray, learn about their faith, and enjoy each other’s company. A community consists of 8–10 people and meets weekly, monthly or seasonally (e.g. Lent, Advent, Easter) depending on the needs and schedules of the individual communities. Participants in these communities have expressed a deeply satisfying and wonderful experience of support and friendship with fellow parishioners who try to live the values of their faith in today’s world. If you would like to be part of a small Christian community, or form one with your own friends and/or neighbors, please contact the Director Of Religious Education.
Refer to the weekly bulletin for these and other Adult Faith Formation activities and programs.
Christian Initiation of Adults
Anyone past the age of reason who would like to become a member of the Catholic Church can request to be a participant in the process of the Rites of Christian Initiation. The Director of Religious Education, following Church regulations and guidelines, directs this process of initiation into the Church. Participants meet together with a catechist and the church community receiving formation and information as they seek to become new members of the Catholic Church. This process usually takes one year, but may take up to three years. Participants receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism if necessary, Holy Communion and Confirmation) during the Easter Vigil Mass.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, RCIA, is the process by which interested persons gradually become fully initiated members of the Catholic Church. RCIA is a journey of faith. It is a formation process where an individual can seek inner transformation by responding to God’s call. It is a process where an individual can become aware of the beauty of the Catholic faith. It is a process where an individual hears the word of God and has an opportunity to respond to this Word in prayer and worship. RCIA is a process where an individual can discern God’s call to faith in the Catholic environment of prayer, worship, service and community.
Those eligible are:
* unbaptized, those who have no religious affiliation, Jews, Muslims, etc.
* baptized Catholics who have never received Holy Communion or Confirmation
* baptized Christians of another Christian denomination.
Anyone interested in becoming a fully initiated member of our Catholic faith can seek information on RCIA sessions by calling Sr. Elizabeth at the school 732-222-8686.
CONFIRMATION FOR ADULTS
A program for adults who are baptized and have made First Holy Communion but have never received the Sacrament of Confirmation is available. Any adult wishing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation should contact Sr. Elizabeth at the school at 732-222-8686. Every effort will be made to schedule classes to accommodate work schedules.