Our Faith Formation team is comprised of Joan D'Argenis, our Director of Religious Education (DRE), and Maria Sciannameo who manages our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Programs (RCIA).
Contact Info Joan D'Argenis: D.R.E. Director
Email: joan_dargenis@yahoo.com
Phone: 508-753-5001
Maria Sciannameo: R.C.I.A. Director
Email: sciannameo352@gmail.com
Phone: 508-842-7604
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Joan D'Argenis D.R.E. Director
Joan is a professor at Quinsigamond College and has been a member of our parish family for over 20 years. She graduated from Worcester State College and has a graduate degree from Anna Maria. She has two daughters and five grandchildren.
We are very happy to have Joan lead our youth programs. She is very nurturing and patient with the kids who respond really well with her!
“The Mission of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto Religious Education program is to reach out to all members of the parish community. We commit ourselves to preserve the Catholic family and recognize parents as the primary religious educators of their children. Our goal is to foster spiritual growth by imparting to each child and adult the ability to make responsible decisions and come to know Jesus Christ through the Eucharist, Scripture and Church teaching.”
Joan’s programs include many different things during the year. For example, the kids in her program sponsor a Family Rosary Night, a Nativity Pageant in December, La Befana in January, Stations of the Cross during the season of Lent and much more.
The CYC have many trips, such as ice skating, movies, tubing, etc. In addition, we also have a very strong Family Program that involves the whole family with trips, and religious activities.
CYC (Catholic Youth Council) is a fun and social place for students grades 7 – 12 to come and meet other students in a Faith Based Environment. There are three parts to CYC; Social, Community and Spiritual.
We also usually have a strong Summer Bible Program.
Maria Sciannameo R.C.I.A.
Maria was an educator in the Worcester Public Schools K-12 since 1986 and recently retired. Her focus was Computer applications and Mathematics. She has a Masters of Education and Business Administration a Bachelor’s of Science and a Doctorate of Education. Maria also has a Master Catechist from the diocese of Worcester.
She has been an active member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Loreto her entire life. Maria is a very patient mentor to adults in RCIA who are looking to enhance their understanding of Catholicism. We are very happy to have Maria's experience and leadership at Loreto.
RCIA The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (often abbreviated RCIA) is the process (rather than program) through which interested adults and older children are gradually introduced to the Roman Catholic faith and way of life.
This process is open to any
ADULT who 1) is interested in becoming Catholic, 2) is in need of receiving any one or all of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, 3) wishes to enter into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, as well as those who have been away from the Church and want to return and/or just wants to learn more about the teaching of the Church.
The RCIA is a communal process and involves a number of stages punctuated by liturgical rites to aid and assist the potential convert toward the final rite, usually at the Easter Vigil at which time they will become full members of the Roman Catholic Church. The entire process takes several months, (ideally a minimum of one complete liturgical year), but participants are generally invited to proceed at a pace which suits them individually. The Church prefers to call this the process and not a program.
Pictured below, happy parishoners who were part of the RCIA process.