During the COVID-19 pandemic, classes for 2020-2021 were conducted remotely.
Classes have been mainly in-person for 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, though a few weeks of classes
were conducted remotely in January 2022 during the omicron variant surge.
We are excited to offer in-person classes in 2024-2025!
Registration for 2024-2025 has now closed (10/1/2024).
All classes have begun for the 2024-2025 year and it would be
challenging for new students to catch up after missing so much.
Sunday K-7 CCD Classes
Please contact Ms. Rachel Hohner if you are transferring your
student into our program at mid-year, or if your student is
already attending our classes but needs to be formally registered.
including First Communion Preparation and 1st Year Confirmation Preparation
intended for students in Kindergarten through 7th Grade,
or students in 8th Grade and High School beginning their Confirmation Preparation
Registration Fees (per Family): $25 early registration until July 1st ($50 late registration after July 1st)
CCD Tuition (per Child): $150 for the first or only child, $75 for each additional child
Fees & Tuition Payable Online via GiveCentral * Calendar of Classes
Classes began Sunday, September 8, 2024 and continue through Sunday, May 4, 2025
10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Sundays in Queen of Angels School, 4520 N. Western Ave.
Mandatory Parent Meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 1 at Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside
Monday (2nd Year) Confirmation Prep
Please contact Ms. Rachel Hohner if you are transferring
your 2nd Year Confirmation student into our program
at mid-year, or if your student is already attending
our Monday classes but needs to be formally registered.
the 2nd year of Confirmation Preparation
for qualifying students in 8th Grade and above
Sacrament Fee $125 per child, no other registration fees or tuition
Fees Payable Online via GiveCentral
Detailed calendars: Religious Education students (Track A)
* Students in St. Matthias School & Queen of Angels School (Track B)
Christian Service component: Ideas for Service
Classes began in September and continue until the Masses of Confirmation on Saturday, April 5, 2025
Initial Class for Students with their Parents 6:45 p.m. Monday September 23 at Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside
Thank you for your cooperation in making this a wonderful year of growing in discipleship for our students.
We offer comprehensive Religious Education for students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade. Each year builds upon one another in a spiral curriculum with different themes carried throughout the year.
- Kindergarten: God Loves Us – Catholic basics, the Church year
- Level 1: God Is Good – Jesus is God’s best gift to us
- Level 2: God Cares for Us – sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Level 3: We Believe – the Creed, the Paschal Mystery, and Catholic devotions
- Level 4: God Guides Us – moral life in the Ten Commandments and Beatitudes
- Level 5: We Worship – liturgy and the seven sacraments
- Level 6: God Calls a People – Old Testament Scripture and the roots of the sacraments
- Level 7 (First Year Confirmation Prep): Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life – New Testament Scripture and teachings of Jesus for Christian moral life
- Level 8 (Second Year Confirmation Prep): Confirmed in the Spirit – sacrament of Confirmation and spiritual life in the Church
While we expect that children will return consistently year after year to build upon what they have already learned, we realize that this is not always possible. Within the framework of our Religious Education program are options for sacrament-only preparation according to the needs of each individual family.
The Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion (Eucharist) involve 2 years of study and preparation. We understand that families may begin Religious Education classes for their children at different ages, and so we offer several different tracks for preparing for these sacraments.
- If entering in 1st or 2nd Grade, or returning after Kindergarten:
- First Year: Level 1 CCD
- Second Year: Level 2 CCD, with First Reconciliation (February) and First Holy Communion (May)
- If entering in 3rd or 4th Grade:
- First Year: Level 3 CCD
- Second Year: Level 4 CCD, with First Reconciliation (February) and First Holy Communion (May)
- If entering in 5th or 6th Grade:
- First Year: Level 5 CCD or Level 6 CCD, depending on the age/grade
- Second Year: Level 6 CCD or Level 7 CCD, depending on the age/grade, plus an additional class until 12:30 p.m. on 8 Sundays, February through March/April (“Special Sacraments”), with First Reconciliation (late March or April) and First Communion (late April or early May)
- If entering in 7th Grade or above: see below and speak with the Coordinator for details.
- The earliest a student can receive these sacraments is in Level 2 CCD after completing Level 1 CCD. Therefore, Kindergarten CCD can be a great experience for your child, but it is not a class which counts toward sacrament preparation.
- Summer enrichment experiences such as Totus Tuus likewise do not normally count toward sacrament preparation, but may help to launch a student’s re-entry into faith formation after a gap in their religious education.
These tracks are a general path for guiding students toward sacramental readiness. Whether a student in these levels is sufficiently prepared to receive these sacraments at the aimed-for time will depend on class attendance and demonstrating an appropriate understanding of the concepts involved. If you have concerns about class attendance due to a custody situation, health issue, learning needs, or ongoing schedule conflicts, please contact the Coordinator or your child’s teacher as soon as possible so that alternate arrangements can be made for instruction.
The Sacrament of Confirmation also involves 2 years of study and preparation.
- The first required year is Level 7 CCD on Sundays, or 7th Grade Religion instruction in our parish school. The curriculum centers on building a relationship with Jesus and exploring New Testament Scripture as well as moral education for living in Christ.
- The second year, called Confirmation Prep, is held on Monday evenings for approximately 6-7 months, September through March. It is open to students who have completed Level 7 CCD or are in 8th Grade in the parish school. This final set of classes is the immediate preparation for the sacrament and involves Christian service, 2 retreats, parent and Sponsor evenings, discussion groups and guest speakers. Some class material is presented during Religion class within the school day for 8th Grade students in Queen of Angels School.
- Students are expected to already have prepared for and received their First Communion and First Reconciliation before entering 2nd Year classes for Confirmation on Monday evenings. There is not time during the Monday classes to prepare for additional sacraments. If there is a special circumstance where a student has somehow not received First Communion or First Reconciliation but is otherwise eligible for 2nd Year Confirmation Prep, please contact the coordinator to discuss making special arrangements.
- In the years when it is held, students from both years may participate in Holy Fire, an evangelization event and experience of the larger Church with music, witness talks, media presentations, different forms of prayer, and Mass.
- In Fall 2020, Holy Fire was not held. Instead, students participated locally in a virtual retreat to reflect on the meaning of the Mass.
- In Fall 2021, Holy Fire was a virtual experience only.
- In Fall 2022, Holy Fire was back in-person at Credit Union 1 Arena (formerly UIC Pavilion) on October 14 & 15, 2022. However, it was announced that in the future Holy Fire would only be held every 2 years, so that each 2-year Confirmation Prep group of students could experience it once.
- In Fall 2023, Holy Fire was not held. Instead, our students participated in a locally organized “Rise Up” retreat with students from both years of Confirmation Prep in attendance. “Rise Up” had small group activities, media presentations, guest speakers, music, living Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, and a closing Mass. “Rise Up” was on a weekday when Catholic Schools were in session but CPS happened to have a non-holiday, non-attendance day for students.
- In Fall 2024, Holy Fire will be held on only one day, Saturday, November 2, 2024, which is less convenient for parishes with Catholic Schools. We will again hold the “Rise Up” retreat in our own parish, with students from Religious Education and both Catholic schools.
Older students including those already in high school are invited to participate if they have not already received sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion (Eucharist), or Confirmation. Please contact the Religious Education staff for exact placement, which takes into account the student’s grade level and any previous enrollment at Queen of Apostles or another Catholic parish or school. We aim to respect the dignity of each student by permitting them to attend classes and Masses with their peer groups so they can experience age-appropriate instruction and sacramental liturgies.
Contact Ms. Rachel Hohner, Coordinator of Religious Education, at the remote Religious Education Office number 312-857-6782, or call the parish office at (773) 539-7510 for more information.