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  • 2025 - 2026

    Parish Religious Education Program Grades K-8

     

    Please read the following important information before continuing with your child's registration.


    Parents are the primary catechists of their children.
    • At your child’s baptism, you promised to raise him/her in the faith. Our parish religious education program is here to assist you in that responsibility. Families should be praying together at home and practicing their faith together throughout the week.
    • In addition to the regular religious education curriculum covered on Sunday mornings, sacramental preparation involves the entire family. Material is sent home during sacramental years, and participation in family faith formation events throughout the year is expected.

    Family participation in Sunday Eucharist is essential.
    • The Eucharist, celebrated on the Christian Sabbath, is THE central action of the Catholic Church. Families lead busy lives, but Sunday mass (or Saturday evening) should be a part of each family’s intentional weekly scheduling. It is that important! It is also the single most important part of preparation for sacraments.
    • By first grade, children should be expected to be attentive at mass, and with guidance from their parents and older siblings, be learning parts of the mass, prayer responses, and prayer postures (sitting, standing, kneeling). They learn these by imitating the participation of their family members at mass, and by listening attentively to the prayers and readings. Singing is also an important part of communal prayer, and children often learn songs before they learn spoken prayers.

    Children’s Liturgy of the Word will be offered during the 10 AM family-friendly sunday mass.
    • Children ages three to seven will begin mass with their families as usual. Prior to the First Reading, they will be sent forth with their catechists for an age-appropriate Liturgy of the Word Celebration in the parish hall. Following the Prayers of the Faithful, they will be brought back upstairs and sent back to their families for the remainder of Mass.

    Religious education sessions are on Sunday mornings, between the 10 AM mass and the 12:00 PM noon mass.
    • Sessions will be held in person, live, in the parish center (406 E 80th Street), beginning at 11:10 AM and ending at 11:55 AM. We will utilize Zoom for Religious Education only if necessary (e.g. pandemic resurgence or snow days.)
    • The brevity of sessions is to allow for participation in any Saturday evening or Sunday Eucharist. Please be on time when possible.
    • Regular attendance is important, and it is considered for readiness for the reception of sacraments. If your child is ill, or for some other reason unable to join us, please let us know so that we can help your child stay caught up on the material.
    • Family Faith Formation will be held six times a year, usually on a Saturday afternoon. On those weekends, there will be no Sunday morning sessions.

    Adult Faith Formation opportunities are offered throughout the year.
    • Faith formation is a life-long journey, and our parish offers many different events and programs for adults to learn about, discuss, and grow in their own faith. Look for such opportunities on our website or parish bulletin.

  • Church of St. Monica, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Stephen of Hungary
    St. Stephen of Hungary School 


    Preparation for Sacraments of Initiation  
    First Communion (and First Penance) 2025-2026

    Please read the following important information before submitting your child's name. 

    Christian Baptism is a pre-requisite for all other sacraments.

    • Regular participation in Sunday Eucharist, Grades K-8 religious education or Catholic school, and involvement in parish life provide the context for sacramental preparation. The minimal requirement is for one year prior to the year of celebrating the sacraments and the year of celebrating the sacraments (normally first and second grade.) The minimum age for first communion is age seven.


    • Parents must complete registration and provide a baptismal certificate for their children by the October prior to the reception of First Penance and First Communion. (For St. Stephen’s School students, the school handles the registration and baptismal certificates.) If the child’s baptism was in a denomination/rite other than Roman Catholic, a Profession of Faith and Reception into the Roman Catholic Church will need to be celebrated prior to reception of First Penance. Parents will need to meet with the pastoral associate in early fall to discern what preparation may be needed for this celebration.


    • First penance is usually celebrated in December of second grade. First communion is usually celebrated in April or May of second grade.


    • Those students enrolled in a Catholic School will receive their catechesis and the majority of their sacramental preparation in the school during their religion classes. Those who are older than second grade must contact the pastoral associate early in the school year to be included in sacramental preparation and reception.


    • Those students in The Caedmon School have the option of receiving catechesis and the majority of their sacramental preparation through their school.


    • Those students in any other schools are expected to be enrolled in, and regularly attending, the parish religious education program.


    • Parents are involved in the sacramental preparation of their children. Material will be sent home to assist parents in this responsibility, and opportunities for parent and family catechesis in a group setting will be provided. At least one parent is asked to participate with their child in the fall first penance family retreat, and the spring First Communion family retreat.

     

    2025-2026 Dates 


    o First Penance Family Retreat (fall)
    o First Penance Liturgy (December)
    o First Communion Family Retreat (spring)


    • Contact Maryann Tyrer, Pastoral Associate, at mtyrer@stelmo79.org if you have questions or concerns regarding specific dates.

  • Registration Instructions:

    •  A separate form must be submitted for each child, though payment should be combined. 
    • Health Form and/or Special Needs Form – only needed if the child has serious health issues or allergies, and/or special needs that would impact his/her participation in Religious Education
    • For new registrations, we need a copy of each child’s baptismal certificate.
    • If registered and paid by September 1, 2025, fees are as follows: 1 Child: $255. 2 Children: $405. 3+ Children: $580. Please note after 9/1/25, new increased fees will apply.
    • For each child celebrating a sacrament this year, there is an additional $80 fee due at the time of registration.
    • Fees should be paid at the time of registration (credit card online, cash, or check to “St. Monica Church.”)
    • If the family is experiencing financial difficulty, please contact Maryann Tyrer to set up a deposit to be paid, and a payment plan for the balance due.
    • We encourage (but do not require) all families to register in the parish when registering their child(ren) for Religious Education.
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  • Catholic Sacraments received:

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  • If yes, please complete the health form by clicking here!

  • If yes, please complete the special needs form by clicking here!

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  • I understand that weekly family participation in Sunday (or Saturday evening) mass is an essential component of my child’s religious education, and will make every effort to make this a priority in our family’s schedule.

    I understand that religious education this year will be delivered primarily in person, but that Zoom may be utilized on occasion (such as snow days), and I give permission for my child to participate in online classes and forums hosted by the parish, parish staff, and trained parish program volunteers. As parent/guardian, I will provide supervision of my child while he/she is online. I will provide an internet-enabled device by which my child may participate in this parish religious education program.

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