Navigators (Grades 7-8) 2019-2020
The Navigators (Grade 7-8) Religious Education program is based on a large group / small group discipleship model, where students are placed in smaller groups with Small Group Leaders for discussion and activities. Each session has one Presenter. We use the Pflaum Visions program – the Gospel Weeklies and What the Church Believes and Teaches. Also, each Navigator (Gr. 7-8) student is given a bible from St. Mary’s Press, which is used during most sessions. Additionally, we implement portions of the Created for Love Archdiocesan Chastity Education program from the Respect Life Education Office.
Our goal is to strengthen each teen’s relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church. We do this by learning about the Sunday Gospels, and using the content of the Gospels to learn about being a Catholic Christian in today’s world. The Gospels are tied to a variety of catechism lessons that rotate throughout the Pflaum Visions two-year cycle.
Class Openings and Volunteer Needs (link to chart) – Parents/Grandparents who assist with BCRE Navigators get priority registration for their child(ren)/grandchild(ren).
Link to Curriculum file (located in Dropbox) – updated throughout the year.
Parent Page from Pflaum Visions program – Gospel at home, weekly videos, and more!
Our Navigators (Gr. 7-8) Religious Education program serves teens and their families in Grades 7 and 8. Sessions meet approximately every other week, at the same times as the other teen program Pathfinders (Gr. 5-6), roughly on the same schedule as the High School / Confirmation program. We alternate using our spaces with the Elementary programs Young Disciples (K-1), Seekers (Gr. 2). and Explorers (Gr. 3-4).
Tony Carbrello is the Coordinator for Navigators (Gr. 7-8) and Assistant Director of Faith Formation.
Link to the 2018-2019 Webpage with video links, take home cards, and more!
More information about the Navigators (Grades 7-8) Coordinator, Tony Carbrello:
Although I have been blessed to serve the Church in a variety of occupational positions in different parts of the country, since 2008 I have worked for parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston. My wife (since 2009) and I, with our family, live nearby in Bedford and belong to St. Michael Parish, where we are active in Youth Ministry and I am a Lector. I attended St. Michael’s College in my home state of Vermont, focusing on high school education. In 2006, I earned a Masters of Theological Studies from St. Norbert College in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I have worked in retreat ministry, summer camp ministry, college campus ministry, teaching High School Religion, and for the Diocese of Burlington. My professional focus has frequently been concentrated on adolescent catechesis; my passion is to evangelize teenagers so they may enter into a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.
Additionally, in the Catholic Community of Billerica, my responsibilities as Assistant Director of Faith Formation include a variety of roles and responsibilities: 1) member of the Pastoral Leadership Team; 2) head of the collaborative Child Abuse Prevention Team (Virtus trainings); 3) BCRE representative and member of the Facilities’ Safety Ministry; 4) some of the maintenance of the BCRE and CCB websites; 5) computer support around the collaborative.
Professionally, I am a co-moderator for a regional DRE/Youth Ministers Group named The Gathering, occasionally consult on matters of faith formation (working with Luke Hill Media among others), I belong to NCCL, and occasionally give retreats for teens.