2026-2027 Religious Education Registration & Volunteer Sign-Up

• Catechist-Led Classes: St. Stephen the Martyr offers traditional,  classroom-style Religious Education classes to students in K-8th grade. Classes meet for one-hour each week and are led by volunteer Catechists who follow diocese-approved curriculums to help children grow in their relationship with God, learn about the Catholic faith, and receive the Sacraments.

• Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC)/Sacrament Preparation: This weekly class is for children between the ages of 7-14 who missed the traditional reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation (Confession), First Communion, or Confirmation. Upon registration, the Director will schedule a meeting with you and your child to discuss your family’s individual needs. This will be a multi-age group of children who will learn the core tenets of the Catholic Faith as well as prepare for and receive the sacraments. Upon completion of this class, students will be prepared to register the following year for their own grade-level Religious Education class and continue on with their peers through 8th grade in our Religious formation program.

• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: These classes are available for Pre-K children 3-5 years old and who are fully potty-trained. CGS is a Montessori-style learning environment. CGS Catechists undergo 90 hours of formation in order to help children develop a relationship with God. Feel free to request a tour of the Atrium (CGS learning environment)!
• Parent-Led Faith Formation: Home-school lessons are available for Kindergarten, 1st grade and 3rd through 7th grade Religious Education students. (Second grade and Eighth grade students must enroll in Catechist-led classes in order to prepare for the Sacraments with their church community.) Homeschooling families are provided the Sophia Institute “Family of Faith Curriculum” to provide a variety of weekly, age-appropriate lessons to their children throughout the month.
  • Homeschooling parents are required to attend monthly “Parent Gatherings” to discuss catechesis for the family’s home lessons.
  • Homeschooling families, parents and children, are required to attend monthly “Community Gatherings” to share experiences with the other home-schooling families and grow the body of Christ.

Tuition is:

• Catechist-Led Class: $185/student
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: $170/student 
• Parent-Led Faith Formation: $130/family
• OCIC/Sacrament Preparation Class: $185/student  (Sacrament Fee TBD)
• Family Tuition Cap: $450/family
  
  

Students receiving Sacraments will additionally be responsible for the following fees:

• First Reconciliation/First Communion: $50
• Confirmation: $55

Volunteers will receive discounted tuition. View volunteer opportunities below.

Tuition Assistance is also available to families with Financial Need.  Reach out to Sandy at s.kimmey@stephen.org for a request form.

With nearly 600 students enrolled, our Religious Education program relies on volunteers like you to lead or assist in the formation of our parish youth. You do NOT need to be a trained teacher or scholar of the faith! You need only possess a heart for Jesus and a desire to share His love with children. All materials and lesson plans are provided for you each week.

We have a variety of volunteer opportunities to serve the many needs of our program.

Please carefully read the expectations of each position and commit only to a position whose requirements you are able to fulfill.

Tuition discounts are listed for each volunteer position. Please note that sacrament fees are assessed for all children receiving Sacraments and are not waived with discounted tuition.  

Available Volunteer Positions:

• LEAD CATECHIST: (100% of tuition is waived for all immediate children.) You will be provided training, materials, and support so that you may lead the religious formation of the children in your class. We will accept two leads per class if you would like to share the teaching responsibilities with a co-catechist. Both will be responsible for the items listed below.
  Required Commitments:
  • Must attend two catechist meetings annually, in August and in January.
  • Arrive ten minutes early each week to prepare and teach the one-hour class.
  • Commit to one additional hour of weekly home preparation time to review lessons in advance and prepare a dynamic, interactive plan to engage students each week in class.
• FLOATING SUBSTITUTE CATECHIST: (100% of tuition is waived for all immediate children.) You will report to the RE office every week in order to fill in for an absent volunteer in any grade. You may be asked to lead, assist, or help in the office as needs arise.

  Required Commitments:

  • Must attend two catechist meetings annually, in August and in January.
  • Arrive ten minutes early each week to prepare for the assignment.
• CATECHIST ASSISTANT: (50% of tuition is waived for all immediate children.) You will assist the lead catechist with classroom management and presentation of lessons. This is a wonderful way for parents to be involved without the additional commitment of leading a class. This role functions more as a chaperone vs. instructor.

  Required Commitments:

  • Arrive 10 minutes early each week to assist with one-hour classes.
• OFFICE/SAFETY ASSISTANT: (100% of tuition is waived for all immediate children.) This is now a 90-minute volunteer shift!
  Required Commitments:
  • Arrive 15 minutes early each week to unlock classrooms for catechists as they arrive.
  • Stay up to 15 minutes after to assist with the safety of dismissal.
  • Collect attendance from all classrooms.
  • Assist with a variety of office tasks.
  • Serve as a crossing guard in the parking lot upon dismissal of students.
• CHILDCARE: (100% of tuition is waived for all immediate children.)
  Required Commitments:
  • Arrive 15 minutes early each week to set up and be present for the catechists’ children not enrolled in class.
  • Provide a safe environment for the children to play and interact.
  • If no childcare is needed at that time, you could be assigned to help in a class that might need assistance.
• GRADE-LEVEL COORDINATOR: (100% of tuition is waived for all immediate children.) This position will require the Director of Rel. Ed.’s approval. Contact Sandy Kimmey at 402-896-4510 before submitting the form.
  Required Commitments:
  • Work closely with the Rel. Ed. Staff to compile lesson plans over the summer for the Fall.
  • Must attend two catechist meetings annually, in August and in January.
  • Collect and fill Catechist folders with materials needed for class each week.
  • Communicate weekly with grade-level catechists to relay tips/changes with the lesson and to answer any questions.
• RE CAMPUS DAD: (100% of tuition is waived for all immediate children.) You will help with the protection of the children during class time by assisting staff with monitoring the doors and the children in the commons before class, helping catechists into their classrooms, monitoring the hallways during class, and occasional walks around the building. Required Commitments: 
  • Arrive 15 minutes early each week to monitor arrival and behavior in the school commons as students wait for the bell to ring.

Registration Instructions:

Choosing Class Times:

• Catechist-Led Classes are available at four different times: Tuesday at 4:30 PM, Wednesday at 4 PM, Wednesday at 5:30 PM and Wednesday at 7 PM. Spots in class times will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. When you register your child, you will first select their grade and then program options for that grade will appear. If you are choosing a Catechist-Led class, check your first choice for class times and then in the “Notes” field, you MUST list your second choice for class time.
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM. We may be able to add another class time if another trained catechist becomes available.
• Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC)/Sacrament Preparation: This weekly class will meet on Sunday mornings from 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM and will be taught by our Director of Religious Education.

Contact Info: If the parent registering the child for the class is not the parent in custody on the night that the child will be in class, please note that.

Sacrament Fees: First Communion/Reconciliation (typically 2nd Grade) and Confirmation (typically 8th Grade) families will be contacted later this Fall to pay Sacrament fees. See Tuition information above for fee information.