The Our Holy Faith Series
Many of you are already familiar with the Our Holy Faith series due to its having been republished in the 1990's by Neumann Press.
For the curious, here is a little more background information on the series
The Our Holy Faith series was produced in the late 1950s/early 1960s under the direction of Msgr. Clarence Elwell, who was then superintendent of schools for the diocese of Cleveland, Ohio. The volumes in the series were brought into being with the help of Msgr. Fuerst, Professor of Catechetics at St. Mary's Seminary in Cleveland, Msgr. Bernard Rattigan, head of the education department at Catholic University of America, and various teaching Sisters.
This series uses the Baltimore Catechism (as revised by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in the 1940s) as its core, presenting the contents of the Catechism in order, but doing so in a way that helps to explain the concepts before presenting the Question-and-Answer format for memorization.
Our reprinted editions of these books were created by going back to the original printing of these books (rather than reproducing the Neumann Press reproductions). This means that there have been NO CHANGES made to any of the original books as they were printed in the 1950s and 60s, and the First and Second Grade textbooks have full-color illustrations!
First Communion Catechism
Baltimore Catechism #1
Baltimore Catechism #2
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Eighth Grade
Fourth Grade
The Mass
The Liturgical Year
Seventh Grade
Bible History
Church History
The diagram here shows clearly how the series corresponds to the levels of the revised Baltimore Catechism.
The first two grades introduce the child gently to the basics found in the First Communion Catechism.
Then the Baltimore Catechism #1 is covered in two parts in the Third Grade and the Fifth Grade , with a year in between studying the Mass and the Liturgical Year.
This cycle is repeated in grades 6-8, with the Baltimore Catechism #2 being divided between 6th Grade and 8th Grade, with a year of studying Bible and Church History between .
First Grade:
My Father and Mother on Earth and in Heaven introduces children to the faith, using the concept of one's own father and mother, applied to our Father in heaven. Because most of the teaching at this level is done orally, the Teacher's Manual is indispensable for parents and teachers.
Second Grade:
Jesus Comes prepares children for First Communion. This teacher's manual differs from the others, presenting the lesson plans as a chart showing what to present on each day of the week. Many outside resources were recommended with this course, and can be found listed in the back. We are working to provide what we can from this list, where copyright allows.
Third Grade:
God's Truths Help us Live introduces children to the first half of the Baltimore Catechism #1.
Fourth Grade:
The Vine and the Branches studies the Mass and the many feasts of the Liturgical year.
Fifth Grade:
Living Like Christ, In Christ returns to the Baltimore Catechism #1 and teaches the second half.
Sixth Grade:
Our Faith: God's Great Gift With this book begins the second cycle of studying the Baltimore Catechism. We return to the first half, this time studying the #2 Catechism.
Seventh Grade:
Christ in Promise, in Person and in His Church studies the history of God's people, beginning with the Old Testament and continuing through the New Testament and after.
Eighth Grade:
To Live is Christ returns to the second half of Baltimore Catechism #2.