About Our Program

The St. Julia Religious Education program offers faith-sharing classes for grades 1 through high school, based on Archdiocesan curriculum guidelines. The mission of the St. Julia program is to support family faith formation within the parish community, based on the belief that parents are the primary educators in the faith formation of each child.

As Catholic parents, we are encouraged to bring our children to Mass every Sunday, to pray regularly with them at home, to marvel at all of God's creation, to care for it, and to model Christian living. When we bring our children to religious education classes we offer yet another way of bringing about Christian community as we learn together about our faith, pray together and rejoice in the good news of Christ as a family of God. Sunday classes are scheduled around the Mass times so that families may attend the Sunday liturgy together. Religious education classes can never replace the grace and nourishment we receive at the celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays.

Approximately 400 students are enrolled in the St. Julia Religious Education program this year, under the direction of Anne Marie Mahoney, Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation, and Cathy Capizzi, Religious Education Assistant.

Each year, 50-60 volunteer catechists from the parish, including some high school assistant catechists, come forward to teach classes. Many have come back year after year to serve in the program. This year, two seminarians are assisting in the program. These catechists form the backbone of the religious education program. We are truly grateful for the gift of their time and talent in this important ministry of passing on the Faith to the next generation. Anyone in the parish, over 18 years of age, can become a catechist. High school juniors and seniors are encouraged to serve as assistant catechists in the program. Please click on the link to learn more, How to Become a Catechist.

Classes meet once per week, with the exception of holiday weekends, for a total of 19-22 sessions from September through April. For grades 1-6 and Confirmation preparation, classes are held in the ten classrooms located on the first floor of the St. Julia Parish Center. Classes are also held at St. Joseph House in Lincoln on Monday afternoons. The 7th and 8th grade students enjoy a slightly different program of instruction. They are combined for a large-group gathering, with small-group discussion and activities. These sessions are held upstairs in the Parish Hall at St. Julia on Sunday evenings.

Second-grade students are prepared for First Reconciliation, held in February, and for First Eucharist, in May. Students in high School will enter the Confirmation program that will take a minimum of two years but may take more time to complete. An overview of the Confirmation Program shows the different components that comprise the candidate's preparation. The Confirmation liturgy takes place in the fall. The exact dates for these sacraments can be found in the Calendar and Classes.

Please follow the links to the Parent Handbook, Religious Education Calendar, Confirmation Brochure, and Confirmation Calendar for details of the St. Julia Religious Education Program.