Our Religious Education program is open to all children of the parish in grades 1 to 8. We offer two-year Sacrament Preparation classes for First Penance/First Communion and Confirmation. As we minister to our Ascension families, it is the mission of the Religious Education Program to support and assist parents in the formation of their children in their Catholic Faith along with striving to instill an abiding love of God and neighbor.
Each Sunday in September through May starting on September 8th, we will begin with the 9:00 AM Religious Education Mass, which students are encouraged to attend with their families (the 12:00 Noon Mass after class is also an option). After Mass, students in grades 1-8 will attend class from 10:15 to 11:45 AM.
Classes are taught by parish volunteers who are VIRTUS compliant, per the Archdiocese of Washington Child Protection guidelines.
The following resources are used in our curriculum:
Christ our Life by Loyola Press (grades 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Signs of Grace by the Augustine Institute (grade 2)
Chosen: Your Journey to Confirmation (grade 8)
Forming Disciples Religion Curriculum Guide (Archdiocese of Washington)
Registration fees are as follows:
$65 - Each student in grades 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 who will be attending weekly classes
$85 - Each student in grades 2 and 8 (the sacramental years) who will be attending weekly classes. This includes public school, non-Catholic private school, and Catholic school students.
$40 - Each student in second grade who is in Catholic school or homeschooled and chooses not to attend weekly classes at Ascension (all sacramental prep sessions and rehearsals are still required).
$40 - Each student in eighth grade who is homeschooled and chooses not to attend weekly classes at Ascension (attendance is still required at the special sessions and required meetings listed on the calendar).
$195 cap per family -- If you estimate your cost to exceed $195, please contact Emma Bigony ([email protected]) for a discount code prior to completing registration.
Payment options: credit/debit card (2.5% processing fee) or ACH bank transfer/direct debit from your bank account. If you would like to pay by cash, please email [email protected] for instructions prior to completing registration.
1.Public/Private Non-Catholic School Students: Our weekly Religious Education classes serve students attending public school and non-Catholic private school in grades 1-8, as well as Catholic school students in eighth grade who are preparing to receive Confirmation. Both First Holy Communion and Confirmation require two years of sacramental preparation, so please plan accordingly. Communion: 1st and 2nd grades. Confirmation: 7th and 8th grades.
2. Catholic School Students: Students attending St. Pius X Regional School or another Catholic school receive religious formation training for each grade within the programs of their school and therefore do not need to attend weekly Religious Education classes. The exception to this is the 8th grade, in which Catholic school students must attend the weekly classes at Ascension for specific Confirmation prep. Also, registration forms must be submitted for Catholic school students in grades 2 and 8.
3. Homeschoolers: Families with students attending full-time homeschooling classes must submit a registration form in the sacramental years of grades 2 and 8. For second graders preparing to receive First Penance and First Communion, attendance is mandatory at the sacramental prep sessions and rehearsals scheduled in January and May. Eighth graders preparing to receive Confirmation must attend the special sessions and required meetings scheduled throughout the school year, including the student/parent meeting, Sponsor Night, one-day retreat in the fall, class service project sessions, and Confirmation rehearsal (see calendar for dates). We encourage, but do not require, homeschool students who are preparing for Confirmation to attend our weekly sacramental prep classes. Since we must ensure that any child approaching the sacraments be properly formed and well disposed, the pastor may interview the homeschooling student early in the year to determine readiness for admittance to the sacraments.
4. RCIC Candidates: We also welcome students into our RCIC program! RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) is a program for children ages 8 to 14 who have completed second grade and who have not been baptized or who are baptized in another Christian denomination, or who are baptized in the Catholic faith but were never prepared for Reconciliation or Eucharist. The program provides a comprehensive review of the essentials and key teachings of the Catholic faith and prepares the children for these sacraments.