Information Religious Education

If you would like to volunteer to teach or assist with teaching a religious education class in the coming year, please contact Linda Budney LaRoche at lbudneylaroche@olom.org
or 301-365-1415 x206. 
Sharing your faith with children is one of the greatest blessings you can imagine.  No theology degrees required - all you need is a desire to share your Catholic faith! 

Students in Grades K-6 will participate in Mercy’s Fast Pass Whole-Family catechesis.  Faith is "caught," not "taught."  Abundant research shows that children learn about faith and develop Catholic identity when it's being practiced in their homes and communities.  Conversely, if faith is not part of their everyday home life, attending a 45-minute class once a week will do little to help them develop it.  It's time to help parents reclaim their primary role in their children's religious education and be partners with the parish in that endeavor!  We’re excited to be in the forefront of this important trend that honors the partnership of family and parish in Whole-Family catechesis.

Here’s how it works.  Through nine fun and easy class sessions, Mercy Fast Pass leaders will coach and empower parents to share their faith with their children and to be partners in their faith education. 

Students, Parents, Coaches & Mentors

• Students in Grades K-6 and their parents will participate in the program together.
• Classes will be led by veteran catechist, Shannon Lindstrom, Fast Pass parents, a team of Mercy staff.
• Mercy Fast Pass leaders will mentor parents and help them to teach their children.

• Fast Pass classes will meet in-person one Sunday per month from 10-11am, from September - May.  Attend the 9am Mass before class, or the 11am Mass after class – whichever works best for your family!
• Classes will meet outside on the Fast Pass Plaza or in the Mercy Gym, depending on weather.     

• Throughout the rest of the month, parents and children will complete the remainder of the month's lessons at their own pace in the comfort of their own home!
• In addition, we will have a monthly 15-minute Zoom meeting for parents.  The Zoom session will reinforce for parents the topics they’ll be teaching their children that month. 

That’s it!  Magical, right?
We’ll provide additional resources throughout the year, and of course we’ll have opportunities to gather together for holiday celebrations, community service, and other special occasions.  Students seeking to receive the Sacrament of First Communion will also participate in a supplemental Sacramental Program.  Details of this program can be found here https://olom.org/first-communion.  

Come and join us for a ride in the real Magic Kingdom . . . God’s Kingdom! 

At Mercy, students in Grades 7 and 8 begin to transition to a more adult model of faith formation.  While family involvement is still critical, student ownership of the process becomes paramount as the important Sacrament of Confirmation is approached.  Students attend classes on their own, without parents, and are taught by a team of Mercy staff and volunteer catechists.  If you would like to become a volunteer catechist, please contact Linda Budney LaRoche for more information!
Seventh Grade
Seventh Grade classes meet twice a month, on Wednesday evenings from 5-6pm, from September to May.  Emphasis is placed on the central tenets of the Catholic faith, in preparation for a focus on the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Eighth Grade year.  Classes will be led by a team of Mercy staff and volunteer catechists.
Eighth Grade
Eighth Grade classes meet twice a month, on Wednesday evenings from 5-6pm, from September to May.  Eighth grade classes focus on preparation for Confirmation, and consist of a combination of lectures, small-group activities, service projects, and other activities.  Classes will be led by a team of Mercy staff and volunteer catechists.   

First Communion
For students who do not attend Catholic schools, First Communion is a two-year program at Our Lady of Mercy, beginning in First Grade and ending in Second Grade.

• First Grade students will attend the Fast Pass Program classes with their families.
• Second Grade students will attend the Fast Pass Program classes with their families.  In addition, Second Grade students will participate in additional classes specifically designed to address key concepts of the Sacraments of First Communion and Reconciliation.

• Seventh Grade students will attend twice-monthly classes from September - May.
• Eighth Grade students will attend twice-monthly classes from September - May.  In addition, Eighth Grade students will choose Saints and Sponsors, perform community service, and participate in a number of faith-building activities.

If a student is seeking Confirmation after Eighth Grade, please contact Anna LaNave, Pastoral Associate for Adult Faith Formation, at alanave@olom.org or 301-365-1415 for assistance.

To register for Religious Education Classes and Sacraments at Our Lady of Mercy, please click here https://olom.org/register-online.