Religious Ed at St. Columba
-
-
Registration for religious ed 2025-2026 is now open! Click here to register
The Religious Education Office is now open!
PHONE NUMBER IS 845-221-4900
-
-
-
Let us guess: As a parent, you ask the question, "How do I _____?" a lot when it comes to raising kids. If you've asked, "How do I raise my kids in the faith?" we can help with that!
At your child's baptism, you weren't the only ones taking on the responsibility of raising your child in the faith - the Church promised to support you in that role as well. Religious Education is our way of coming alongside you as parents to do just that: help you in teaching your child about God, the Bible, and what it means to be a Christian.
Our ultimate goal? To allow your student to have an encounter with Jesus. Of course we teach the factual information like how to say certain prayers and knowing the 10 Commandments, but more importantly, we want each student who walks out of our building to have gotten to know Jesus personally.
-
-
-
OUR MISSION
Like Jesus, receive and give the gift of love! Help others do the same.
Religious Education is a life-long endeavor: learning how to receive and give the gift of love according to the example and teaching of Jesus Christ. The catechist who serves our students is a parishioner who has an abiding personal, sacramental relationship with Jesus and strives to model Him daily in word and action. Our students will be empowered to do the same.
-
-
-
our program
We offer religious education instruction (sometimes called Faith Formation, formerly called CCD) for children in our parish from Grades 1-8. Children are instructed by volunteer parishioner catechists, who follow a curriculum that goes through the basic tenets of the faith: who is God, what do we believe as Catholics, what is our history as a Church, and how do we fit into that story today? With a focus on the Old and New Testaments, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and Catholic social teaching, we strive to give our students the foundations of the knowledge of their faith so they are prepared to enter into the world with a solid understanding of what they believe and why.
Even more importantly, we focus on the development of a personal relationship with Christ through an emphasis on the Mass and Sacraments, including preparing students for the reception of First Penance, First Communion, and Confirmation.
-
-
our staff
-
-
-
Additionally, we are served by more than 70 catechists, volunteer parishioners who are passionate about their faith and sharing it with your child. Our catechists have all received basic training, have had background checks and gone through the Archdiocesan Safe Environment program, and some have even completed specialized catechist training through the Archdiocese. We thank them for their service, and we know that you and your child will love having their help in learning more about the faith.
-
-
frequently asked questions
-
-
Religious Ed at St. Columba starts in Grade 1.
-
-
-
The Sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion are received in Grade 2. The Sacrament of Confirmation is received in Grade 8.
-
-
-
We get it! Life happens. If your child is older than Grade 2 and has not yet made First Communion, we will work with you to catch them up using our OSS classes (Out of Sequence Sacraments). Contact us to get started.
-
-
-
Our program runs from September to May each year. We follow the Wappingers Central School District schedule for closings due to weather; see our Closings page for more information.
-
-
-
Yes! If your child already completed some religious instruction at another parish, we will need their records from your previous parish; please contact us for more information.
-
-
-
Let's get the little children to Jesus.Join our Religious Ed family!
-
-
SIGN UP FOR parish UPDATES
-
