Religious Education Overview

PLEASE NOTE: Registration for the 2026-2027 Religious Education School Year is now OPEN.

The mission of Our Lady’s Religious Education Program is to help our children become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ as members of His Church, learning about the Eucharist and Mass, as well as of God’s Mercy through the Sacrament of Confession. This includes helping our students live and learn the Ten Commandments and Sacraments, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, as well as understanding the importance of the Blessed Mother and so many other things to help us live God’s word in our everyday lives.

An essential parish ministry, Religious Education classes are held on Sunday mornings at Our Lady’s Academy. We meet weekly for one hour at 10:00am. This offers families the opportunity to attend the 9:00am Mass prior to class or the 11:00am Mass after class. Attending Mass is an important piece of the program and students are expected to attend each week. We are blessed with a large school building to safely and conveniently accommodate all classes. Our goal is to make Religious Education classes as safe, appropriate, formative, and welcoming as possible.

As always, your input, help and volunteerism are valued and appreciated in order to meet expectations and needs. Our program is volunteer-based, and we are grateful for the parents, teachers and aides who give of their time and talent each year to help our students learn and live their faith.

May our Blessed Mother keep us all in Her loving care.

Program Overview

As our parish life is centered upon the celebration of the Eucharist, so is our Religious Education Program. We historically provide classroom instruction, service projects, field trips, and celebration of the sacraments for youth in grades 1 – 9. We take pride in providing a welcoming, active and caring environment. Father DiPerri holds monthly Conference and Adoration services in the church for each grade during class time. Parents are encouraged to attend. Classes begin in early fall and end in late spring. We follow the secular school calendar, and do not hold classes on holiday weekends or over school vacation weeks.

Grades 1-6: The Sadlier Publishing Program “We Believe” is the catechesis syllabus used for Grades 1 and 2. First Communion preparation and celebration are integrated into Grade Two curriculum, as is First Penance. Grades 3 - 6 utilize Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, “Good News” and “Venture” and are based on the weekly Gospel readings.

The Confirmation Program is a two-year intensive course of study and service for Grades 8 and 9, with Confirmation prep also taking place in grade 7 as we work toward implementing the new regulation from the Archdiocese of Boston to Confirm students in the 8th grade. Classes are held on Sunday mornings from 10:00-11:00. We will once again be using the Chosen series for the Confirmation curriculum. It is a relevant, engaging and challenging curriculum for this age group. The program typically consists of classroom instruction and discussion, supplemental videos, service to the parish and community, field trips, retreat attendance, and written assignment.

Updated Confirmation Information

Grades 8 and 9 will be Confirmed on Monday, May 10, 2027, at 6:00pm. Students in Grade 8 at Our Lady’s Academy may receive the Sacrament of Confirmation with our Religious Education students.

Spring of 2028 (and moving forward) students in Grade 8 will be Confirmed.

Advent and Lenten Penance Services for Confirmation students are also scheduled, in addition to other field trips and special events.

First Penance

Children in the Religious Education Program and Our Lady’s Academy make their First Penance in Grade Two. The children learn that God wants us to stay close to Him and He will forgive our sins when we are truly sorry for them. They learn that through the Sacrament of Penance and God’s forgiveness, we are at peace with God, ourselves and others. First Penance will take place on Saturday, February 6th at 9:00am.

First Communion

Grade Two students and First Communicants of Our Lady’s Religious Education and Our Lady’s Academy will celebrate the Sacrament together. First Holy Communion will take place on Saturday, May 1st at 10:00am.

Volunteers

Opportunities to volunteer as a teacher/team teacher, classroom or hallway aide, are available. Many of our volunteers return each year, however spots are open. Religious Education volunteers receive waived or reduced tuition rates for their children in the program.

We are very flexible with our volunteers as we know how busy schedules are. Please contact Elizabeth Pettine at religiouseducation@olca.org to learn more about how you can join this essential, rewarding faith-formation ministry.

All volunteers who work with minors must attend a “VIRTUS: Protecting God’s Children” session once at the start of the school year and complete a CORI form yearly.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIRST COMMUNICANTS AND NEWLY CONFIRMED