The Religious Education office at St. Alphonsus is dedicated to promoting the lifelong faith formation of its parish community. Your decision to give your child the opportunity to dive further into their faith is a great gift! As parents, you are your child's primary teacher of the faith. It is our role to assist your family in that catechesis! Our greatest successes will happen working together, with your involvement. We expect that you take your child to mass every Sunday and pray with them daily at home.

Tuesday Religious Education Program

2024-2025 RE Registration Now Open!

Please complete the Registration Form below to sign up your child for this coming year. You can find more information about our Classroom Policies, Fees, and Dates by reading our Parent Handbook.

Register Here

Pay Tuition Here

2024-2025 Parent Handbook

2024-2025 RE Calendar

Interested in volunteering to be a catechist, substitute catechist, or classroom aide? You can learn more here. Contact our Coordinator of Religious Education, Emily Ember at eember@stalphonsuschicago.church or 773-525-0709 ext. 2119

Classes held Tuesday Evenings 6:15pm-7:30pm, Sept thru May; Enrolling Children Grades 1-8

Where/When are classes held? Classes are held in our Parish School Building, 1439 W Wellington Ave, on Tuesday evenings from 6:15pm-7:30pm, September through May (with appropriate seasonal breaks). Our program serves students in 1st Grade through 8th Grade.

Transferring from another Catholic School or Parish? Please have your previous Program Director send a transfer letter and transcript directly to the Coordinator showing what class(es) your child previously completed.

Never attended Religious Education before? If your child is older than 2nd Grade and has never received formal Religious Education, please reach out to the Coordinator directly so that your child can complete make-up work to be caught up to an appropriate level of comprehension of our faith.

Who teaches the RE Classes? All catechists are volunteer teachers who desire to plant the seeds of faith in the hearts of the next generation. Our catechists receive support and resources from the Religious Education office and are required to comply with the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Protecting God’s Children Initiative. Volunteer catechists are the backbone of the program, giving hours of time, dedication, and zeal for the Lord. Please reach out if you are interested in contributing your time and talents to our parish in this capacity!

RE Parent Expectations

As parents, you are your child's primary teacher of the faith. It is our role to assist your family in that catechesis! Our greatest successes will happen working together, with your involvement. Your decision to give your child the opportunity to dive further into their faith is a great gift!

All Families enrolling in Religious Education are expected to:

Attend Mass Every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation – Missing Mass on Sunday without a grave reason is a grave sin (CCC 2180). (A sports game does not count as a grave reason to miss Mass).

Pray Daily Together as a Family – Your child’s faith is greatly influenced by how you practice your own! This simple lifting of the heart and mind to God can take various forms for each family: thanking God for blessings on the ride home from school, prayer before meals, family rosary, morning or bedtime prayers, giving your children a blessing before they go to school, reading the bible, looking at sacred art, watching a movie or short cartoon on a saint or bible story, etc.

Read All Correspondence Sent Home with Children & via Email - Through email you will be informed about upcoming events in the parish, religious opportunities, family masses, and parent meetings
If you are interested in becoming a catechist or registering for our program, contact Coordinator of Religious Education, Emily Ember..

Sacrament Preparation for Children

At St. Alphonsus, First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are received in the 2nd grade; Confirmation is received in the 8th grade. By Archdiocesan policy, all students receiving First Holy Communion and Confirmation will do so only after a consecutive two year preparation period. Any students wishing to receive First Communion older than 2nd grade, should contact the Coordinator of Religious Education directly.

Religious Education for Adults

We offer a variety of programs and special events to help the members of the parish grow in their faith and their spiritual lives. If you are an adult and are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith or in becoming Catholic…

Please contact Pastoral Associate, Brooks Robinson or 773-525-0709 ext. 2111. for more information on these programs.

Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts

Our Parish School, AACA, inspires and develops the whole child (Tots Program 2 year olds to 8th Grade) in an enriching environment combining academic excellence and an arts-integrated curriculum within a supportive Catholic community.

Please visit our parish school website at www.alphonsusacademy.org to learn more about our programs or contact Director of Admissions, Madeleine Durkin or 773-348-4629 ext. 3125.