Religious Education Program
(845) 753-5193
[email protected]

Rev. Niranjan Rodrigo, Administrator
Mrs. Lisa Adams, Coordinator of Religious Education
Ms. Abby Adams, Secretary

Class Schedule:
Grades 1-8: Sun. – 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. + Mass
Grades 1-5: Thurs. – 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Grades 6, 7, and 8: Thurs. – 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Calendar:
A calendar of all class dates, Family Programs, Parent Meetings, Sacramental Retreats, and school holidays, will be published and distributed to all children and families at the beginning of the school year.

2014-2015 Religious Education Calendar (PDF)

Parental Role:
The parent has the primary and sacred responsibility to educate his/her children in the Catholic faith. The St. Joan of Arc Parish Religious Education Program is established to assist parents and families in fulfilling this responsibility.

Attendance at Mass:
An integral part of our Religious Education Program is that the children are expected to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church.

Class Placement:
Parish Religious Education Programs are preparation for life. Children are expected to attend Religious Education classes continuously from grade 1 through 8. In almost all cases, children must have completed the first two years of the Religious Education program and received the sacrament of Reconciliation in order to receive the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

A parent/guardian who would like to enroll an older child in the program who has had no previous formal religious education classes should plan to meet with the Coordinator so an individual plan of study can be drawn up. This is especially important if the parent/guardian would like the child to eventually prepare to receive one or more of the sacraments.

Any child who leaves the Religious Education Program after receiving First Communion will (upon reentering the program) be required to complete the grade level(s) of curriculum missed. The placement of the child is determined by the Coordinator after consultation with Fr. Rodrigo and the parent.

Components of the Confirmation Program at the end of 8th Grade:

• Regular attendance at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
• Fulfilling the Religious Education class requirements.
• Proper preparation for class instruction and completed homework assignments.
• Saint Report and Confirmation Name.
• Christian Community Service hours.
• Sponsor’s Certificate (testimonial).
• Candidate demonstrates an adequate grasp of the content of the Catholic faith.
• Reception of the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.
• Participation in a Confirmation retreat.

Tuition & Other Costs:
For the St. Joan of Arc catechetical year, the basic yearly tuition for one child (Grades 1 - 8) is $150; for two children the tuition is $195, and for three or more children the tuition is $245. A sacramental fee for First Holy Communion is $50 and for Confirmation is $100. A late fee may be added to returning registrations submitted after the regular registration deadline.

The tuition fees are used for salaries, the purchase of books and pamphlets, classroom and craft supplies, professional enrichment of the director and the catechists, audiovisual resources, postage and copier expenses, etc. Having these resources contributes to the quality of the program. The balance of the ongoing Religious Education budget, not covered by tuition, is subsidized by the parish.