Children & Families
Religious Education
Religious Education helps children grow in knowledge of the Catholic faith, prayer, virtue, and love for Christ and His Church.
Faith Formation
Faith Formation
Catholic formation helps children, adults, and families know Christ, love His Church, receive the Sacraments faithfully, and live the faith at home.
Preparation
Sacramental Preparation
Preparation for First Confession, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Baptism, and other sacramental needs is arranged through the parish.
Domestic Church
Parents as First Teachers
Parents are the first teachers of the faith. Parish formation supports what is lived first in the home through prayer, Mass, Scripture, and Catholic family life.
Regular Programs
Religious Education, Confirmation & OCIA
These regular programs are listed from one shared parish record. Current registration, seasonal changes, and special announcements are confirmed through the parish office and current notices.
Mother of Sorrows
Religious Education
Saturdays at 6:00 PM
Serves children and families at Mother of Sorrows in Apache.
Religious Education helps children grow in knowledge of the Catholic faith, prayer, virtue, and love for Christ and His Church.
Program contact: Mike Farrell
St. Ann
Religious Education
Sundays at 9:30 AM
Serves children and families at St. Ann in Elgin.
Religious Education helps children grow in knowledge of the Catholic faith, prayer, virtue, and love for Christ and His Church.
Program contact: Sarah Sminkey
OLPH
Religious Education
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
Serves children and families at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sterling.
Religious Education helps children grow in knowledge of the Catholic faith, prayer, virtue, and love for Christ and His Church.
Program contact: Janet Hanza or Mallory Geiger
All Three Parishes
Confirmation
Wednesdays from 6:30 PM–8:30 PM
Serves the whole tri-parish community and is hosted at St. Ann in Elgin.
Confirmation preparation helps young Catholics deepen baptismal faith, grow in discipleship, and prepare to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Program contact: Sarah Sminkey
All Three Parishes
OCIA
Wednesdays during the school year at 7:00 PM
Serves the whole tri-parish community and is hosted at St. Ann in Elgin.
OCIA is for adults inquiring into the Catholic faith, preparing to enter the Church, or completing the Sacraments of Initiation.
Program contact: Tom Biles
At Home
Prepare for Sunday Mass Together.
These family-friendly Catholic resources can help children listen to the Sunday readings, ask good questions, and arrive at Mass ready to pray.
Weekly Listening
Family Mass Prep with Katie McGrady
Short weekly reflections on the Sunday Mass readings for families to hear on the way to church or while getting ready at home. Hallow is an app-based resource and may require a subscription.
Sunday Activities
Holy Heroes Sunday Mass Prep
Free Catholic activities and preparation for children and families to use before Sunday Mass.
Practical Details
What Families Should Know.
Specific class times, registration windows, and sacramental requirements are confirmed through the parish office and current parish notices.
Who should contact the parish?
Families seeking Religious Education, sacramental preparation, Baptism for a child, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, or help returning to formation should contact the parish office.
What information should families be ready to share?
The parish may need the child’s name, age or grade, parish connection, sacramental history, parent contact information, and any preparation already completed.
Where are current schedules and deadlines posted?
Current parish notices, volunteer needs, registration updates, and schedule changes are shared through the weekly bulletin and parish office.
Next Step
Contact the Parish Office.
The office can help with Religious Education, sacramental preparation, registration questions, volunteer needs, and current schedules.
Forms
Need Religious Education or Youth Forms?
Registration, consent, waiver, and off-site youth forms are available on the Forms page. The parish office can help confirm what is needed for the current year.