2026-2027 CCD Religious Education: Pre-K - 12

Registration begins July 19, 2026! There are no fees, but if you would like to make a donation to the general offertory to support expenses such as books and retreats for our religious education programs, we are very grateful!

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Welcome

I welcome you and your family to a new year of catechesis at Holy Rosary Church with great joy and heartfelt hope. Each year starts a new chapter, and we once again entrust our children to the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit as they grow in faith and readiness to receive the sacraments.

Religious Education (CCD) is one of the most important ministries of our parish. It is far more than a classroom where children prepare to receive First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation. It is where they learn the truths of the Catholic faith, encounter Jesus Christ more deeply, develop friendships with other Catholic families, and grow within the life of the Church. At Holy Rosary, our CCD program is rooted in the rich Dominican tradition of prayer, study, community, and preaching in word and deed, seeking to form not only knowledgeable Catholics but missionary disciples whose minds and hearts are centered on Christ.

The sacred journey toward Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation is therefore not simply a catechetical program but a profoundly spiritual journey. We desire that every child and family be formed in faith—not merely informed—and conformed to Christ through regular prayer, sacramental participation, and active involvement in parish life.

I. Who Can Enroll in CCD at Holy Rosary?

Because parents rightly desire the strongest possible formation for their children, many families inquire about participating in Holy Rosary's CCD program. While I firmly believe that catechetical instruction is ordinarily best received in one's home parish, I also recognize that not every parish is able to offer the same opportunities for faith formation.

During non-sacramental years, non-parishioners may request enrollment if the student's pastor gives written permission each year and actively supports the child's formation. The pastor should provide a letter requesting that the student attend Holy Rosary's CCD program and indicating his willingness to remain responsible for the student's pastoral care, including signing Mass booklets and assisting with questions that arise throughout the year.

This collaboration among parishes promotes unity within the Church while ensuring that every child remains connected to the pastoral care of their own parish community.

Under Canon Law, as a pastor, I have particular responsibility for the formation of parishioners preparing for the sacraments, including getting to know the family, encouraging faithful participation in Sunday Mass, and accompanying them in the life of the parish. For this reason, children should ordinarily receive their religious education and sacramental preparation in their own parish.

II. Sacramental Preparation Program

The preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation is deeply rooted in the life of the parish community. Receiving a sacrament is not simply completing a curriculum or reaching a milestone. It is becoming more fully incorporated into the Body of Christ through the parish's worship, prayer, and communal life.

Children preparing for the sacraments should know the priests, religious, catechists, fellow parishioners, and other children with whom they worship each Sunday. Conversely, the pastor should know them and accompany them in their growth in holiness. This ongoing relationship cannot be built through classroom instruction alone.

Therefore, during Sacramental Preparation Years, enrollment is reserved for registered, participating members of Holy Rosary Parish. Families preparing for First Communion or Confirmation are expected to be active members of the parish community through regular Sunday Mass attendance, participation in and support of the parish, and ongoing commitment to the practice of the Catholic faith. This ensures that sacramental preparation takes place within the context intended by the Church: the life of one's parish family.

Sacramental preparation for both First Communion and Confirmation remains a two-year process.

III. Requirements for Sacramental Preparation

  • Be a registered and participating parishioner of Holy Rosary Parish.

  • Complete the official online registration through Flocknote.

  • Submit a copy of the Baptismal Certificate at registration and, for Confirmation I, a copy of the First Holy Communion Certificate.

  • Attend weekly sacramental preparation classes.

  • Participate faithfully in Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation at Holy Rosary.

IV. CCD Class Participation

All students enrolled in CCD are expected to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation, faithfully participate in class, complete assigned work, and grow in the practice of the Catholic faith. Parents remain the primary educators of their children in the faith and are encouraged to work closely with our catechists throughout the year.

Our hope is that every child comes to know not only the teachings of the Church but also the joy of belonging to a vibrant Catholic community where lifelong friendships and enduring faith can flourish.

V. Our Dominican Identity

As a parish entrusted to the care of the Order of Preachers, everything we do is shaped by the Dominican charisms of prayer, study, community, and preaching. These four pillars guide our entire catechetical program.

Our goal is not merely to prepare children to receive a sacrament, but to cultivate a lifelong love for Jesus Christ and His Church. Through faithful teaching, reverent liturgy, joyful community life, and the witness of our Dominican friars, sisters, and dedicated lay catechists, we strive to hand on the Catholic faith in a way that forms both the mind and the heart.

We invite parents to embrace these same Dominican values within the home by praying together, studying the faith together, participating actively in parish life, and witnessing the Gospel through everyday charity. In this way, the formation begun in the classroom continues within the domestic church at home.

We are grateful for the trust you place in Holy Rosary's CCD program. These policies are intended to preserve the integrity of parish-based sacramental preparation, serve our registered parish families well, and, whenever possible, extend the richness of our Dominican catechetical tradition to others whose pastors request our assistance.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our parish office.

With prayers and blessings in Christ Jesus, 

Fr. Peter Do, OP, Pastor

Overview

At Holy Rosary, CCD (Catechism) Classes for children ages 3-18 are taught on Wednesdays, 4:30 - 6:00 PM in Aquinas Hall. We study through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the Baltimore Catechism, and the Faith and Life Series.

Please contact Mrs. Cary Schmidgall with any questions – cary@holyrosarypdx.org

  •  Ages 3 - 5: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Level I

    • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori-based approach to faith formation. The heart of catechesis for children under 6 revolves around the Parable of the Good Shepherd. Jesus announces that he is the Good Shepherd who calls each one by name. 

  • Ages 6: First Confession/First Communion I: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Level II

  • Ages 7: First Confession/First Communion II (must have completed First Confession/First Communion I): Faith and Life Series, Come to Mass, and St. Joseph’s First Communion Catechism

  • Ages 8 - 10: Faith and Life Series and Baltimore Catechism I

  • Ages 11: Confirmation I: Faith and Life Series and Baltimore Catechism II

  • Ages 12: Confirmation II (must have completed Confirmation I): Faith and Life Series and Baltimore Catechism II

  • Ages 13: Post Confirmation I: Faith and Life Series and Baltimore Catechism II

  • Ages 14 - 18: Post Confirmation II: 4-Year Rotation on Catholic Philosophy and Moral Topics

If your child is older than 9 and has not received the Sacrament of the Eucharist, or if your child is older than 12 and would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, please contact cary@holyrosarypdx.org to discuss your situation and determine class placement.