Religious Education

At Holy Spirit, our goal is to complement and supplement you, as Catholic parents, to teach and raise your children in the faith. As parents, you are the primary educators of your children. Our desire is to provide support and encouragement as you seek to fulfill this responsibility. Two of the ways we do this is through weekly CCD classes and sacrament preparation classes during the school year.

We have a dedicated staff that is eager and willing to help find answers to all your questions. Please feel free to call or email us for answers to all your questions. We are located in the Holy Spirit School building, directly across from Holy Spirit Church. Contact information can be found in the column to the right.

Religious Education Classes

Registrations for the 2025-2026 year are open! Click here to register.

Children K-8 (Sundays or Mondays)

We accept children from all parishes and we are never out of space for any child.

For children from Kindergarten to grade 12, classes are held on Sundays. Classes for grades Kindergarten through grade 8 are also held on Mondays (choose which day works best).

All in-person classes are held from 4:30pm to 5:45pm. Online lessons are asynchronous working at your family’s schedule. Sunday classes are especially popular since there is Mass at 6:00pm. Online classes are an option for those who can not attend in-person classes.

High School Program (Sundays only)

Our Sunday high school program has an excellent line-up of teachers. Each teacher will cover a series on a particular topic that corresponds with the Adult Religious Education program. After class, your teenagers can attend the 6:00 pm Mass, and then immediately after they can attend the youth ministry evenings for additional food and fellowship.

Learning the faith at 4:30pm, praying the faith at 6:00pm, and living the faith at 7:00pm. We have the complete experience – Food, friends, and faith!

Homeschool Children

At Holy Spirit, we have a thriving and active homeschooling community. We are very supportive of the parents, who are the primary educators of their children, and we accept all home school children into our activities from all across the area.

We recommend registering your homeschool child with the parish, and we require it for sacramental preparation such as Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion, etc. By homeschooling your child, you are taking control of your rights as parents, but with that right comes responsibility; we are expecting you to fully catechize and prepare your child. We are here to support you with resources, guidance, and prayers. We will then contact you regarding any requirements to receive the sacraments (usually those that are stated in the Code of Canon Law). View the homeschool registration page here.

CCD Classes for Children Needing Special Education

All children are made in the image and likeness of God, and are entitled to all our support, our catechetical efforts, and assistance in receiving the sacraments, which is their right as baptized Catholics. Our special education classes are staffed by volunteers who are extremely dedicated to these children, some also work in these programs at Fairfax County Public Schools. We maintain a low student-teacher ratio. Please let us know how we can personally help you. Read more about our SPRED program here.

CCD Classes for Adults

During Sunday CCD classes for the children, the parents and all adults have the opportunity to learn about the faith too! If it’s been a long time since you were in CCD classes, and you feel like there is more to learn, this is the perfect one-hour-a-week for you!

Catechists and Volunteers

The religious education program runs on the dedicated work of many volunteers. The greatest talent they have is their love of Jesus Christ and His Holy Church, and the greatest skill they have is the desire to help the children encounter the mystery of Christ through the Church’s catechesis. Please consider volunteering as a Catechist, assistant catechist, substitute catechist, hall monitor, office assistant, or school service hour related volunteer. Click here to volunteer.

Sacramental Preparation

Sacraments for children

1) Baptism – If your child (or anyone) over the age of 7 is not baptized, we would love to help! Please contact the Office of Religious Education to make arrangements.

2) First Penance & Confession – Children in 2nd grade go to their first Confession during Lent in the 2nd grade year, as part of their preparation for receiving their first Holy Communion. Learn more about our program here. If your child is older than 2nd grade, and has not gone to Confession, please contact the Office of Religious Education to make arrangements.

3) First Holy Communion – A two year program that begins in the 1st grade. Children are prepared to receive their first Holy Communion in the Spring of their 2nd grade year. Learn more about our program and register your child here. If your child is older than 2nd grade, please contact the Office of Religious Education to make arrangements.

4) Confirmation – A two year program that begins in the 6th grade. Children are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation during the autumn of their 8th grade year. Learn more about our program and access the retreat permission form and registration page here. If your child is older than 8th grade, please contact the Office of Religious Education to make arrangements.

Sacraments for adults

It is our joy to assist all adults who want to receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church. At Holy Spirit, we offer:

OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) Classes – A eight-month program for those who want to become Catholic. All are welcome at any time as there is no commitment to inquire more about the Catholic Faith. Click here for more information.
Adult Confirmation Class – Classes taught by clergy members for those who were baptized Catholic but never Confirmed. Classes are offered on a seasonal basis, contact the parish office for more information.
Communion & Confession Class – Classes taught by clergy members for those who have not been to Communion or Confession for a long time and would like assistance. Classes are offered on a seasonal basis, contact the parish office for more information.
Marriage – Individualized preparation by a priest or deacon for those looking to be married in the Catholic Church, or have their civil marriage convalidated. Please contact the parish office to make arrangements no less than 6 months before your desired wedding date. Click here for more information on diocesan marriage preparation requirements.

Please contact the parish office for assistance with any of these sacraments or any of the clergy if you have more questions!

Other Programs and Information

Vacation Bible Camp

VBC is a fun, week-long program for rising Kindergarten through rising 5th grade students, with MS & HS youth volunteers serving as counselors. It is held the last week of June. Teen and adult leaders guide the children through a series of daily activities. Our next Vacation Bible Camp will be held in June 29-July 2, 2026. For more information, click here.

Military & Government Service Families

Thank you for your service to our country! We love our military and government families. We understand that frequent moves for your family can interfere with the usual sequence of sacraments for you and your child. We are here to help with all your sacramental needs. Please contact the Religious Education office for any sacraments for your young children, teenagers, and yourselves, especially if you anticipate a TDY or PCS in the near future.

Protection & Safety of Children at Holy Spirit Religious Education

Under the guidance of our Bishop, who teaches that we must “work tirelessly to protect all young people as a matter of respect for their precious dignity as beloved children of God” (read more here), and our pastor, we take seriously the effort to protect and nurture our children.

To read a letter from our pastor Father O’Donohue, please click here. For more information on what we do at Holy Spirit to protect children while teaching the holy Catholic faith, please click here.

For more information, contact our Child Protection Manager Alicia Steger at [email protected].