If you would like your child to receive First Holy Communion, please contact Patrice Fitzpatrick, our Pastoral Associate, to register him/her for Religious Education. Preparation for First Communion is a two-year program, beginning in grade 1.

The goal of catechesis (that is, Adult Faith Formation or Religious Education) is to facilitate an encounter with Jesus Christ, and to encourage and support a life-long, ever-deepening relationship with our Lord and savior which flows from that meeting of hearts.  It is a process of sharing and explaining the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic faith with the goal of forming disciples of Christ who choose to follow Jesus by living the profound encounter of his love and sharing in the mission of the Church.

The OLV Religious Education program for this year (2021-2022) includes children in grades 1 through 8.  It is a home-based program in which children work at home with family members to complete the work in their Religious Education book, participate in Sunday Mass, and attend a Family Catechesis gathering at the parish one Sunday a month.  In order to receive credit for the work completed at home, the children submit the results of on-line Chapter Reviews to the Pastoral Associate via email. 

For more information about our Religious Education program or to register your child, please contact Patrice Fitzpatrick, our Pastoral Associate, at [email protected] or 202-337-4835, ext. 105.