The Center for Family Discipleship
A Family-Based Religious Education
Enrollment is Open for the 2026 - 2027 Program
The Center for Family Discipleship:
A Family-Based Education Model
Immaculate Conception offers a Family Based model for Religious Education.
Twice a month, from October to May, on a Monday evening from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, parents and children gather together for 2 hours over pizza and salad to learn together about our Catholic Faith.
The first and last 30 minutes are intergenerational and the middle 60 minutes are spent in break out groups with Catechists teaching an age-appropriate lesson on the monthly topic.
4 Advantages of a
Family-Based Education Model
Parents are not picking up children whose response to “what did you learn today,” is “nothing.” Parents will be learning with them.
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Parents with multiple children are not dropping their children off once a week on different days to learn in a classroom and tax the busy schedules already in existence for today’s family.
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Families can incorporate foundations of Catholicism (kindness, love, forgiveness, sacrifice, non-judgement, etc.) into the family system to bring a greater sense of joy to the home.
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When you live in NJ who doesn’t like pizza?
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About Family-Based Religious Education
This model of faith formation was featured in America Magazine on “Repairing Religious Education with Family Based Approach.”
Receiving Sacraments
Another advantage of a family-based model is that sacraments don’t have to be celebrated with a grade or class so no one feels they “missed” a Sacrament.
Sacraments are always about what God is doing in our lives so we should be open to “God’s time.”
Immaculate Conception is not a one-size-fits-all community. We are small and very open to the Holy Spirit working in your family and will do our best to stay out of the way of the Holy Spirit and instead work with that Spirit.
First Reconciliation & Eucharist
Preparation for First Reconciliation (Confession), First Eucharist (Communion) and Confirmation are done within the household family and the parish family – in community. There is extra time that needs to be given in the immediate year of celebration by way of a child-friendly, gentle curriculum.
In order for a child to have context for their First Reconciliation and Eucharist and understand the beauty of the sacraments, several months (approximately 2 years) of preparation are required prior to receiving a sacrament.
Confirmation
Immaculate Conception hosts a comprehensive 2-year Confirmation preparation offered to youth in grades 7 and up. Confirmation is offered in the springtime of the child's second year of the program, or when the Pastor determines they are ready.
Closer to Christ through Holy Mass
Mass Attendance
Mass is where the disciple “strength trains.” Therefore, Mass attendance is a crucial aspect of faith formation at Immaculate Conception Church, and we invite families to make this encounter with the living Lord a priority.
It is also one of our most important measures for sacramental readiness for young ladies and gentlemen preparing for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Without the context of Mass, children will not fully understand what they’re doing when it comes to the Sacraments, and the experience will not be as fully authentic as it can be.
Mass Offering Cards
We will gauge Mass attendance in a loving and gentle way that encourages participation in the liturgy! Children will be provided with “Mass Offering Cards”, upon which they may write their names, the date, and their prayer intentions, and they will be invited to drop their cards in a basket during the Offertory at Mass.
Required Documents
To be completed with enrollment
Please complete the following required documents by September 28 and return by email to:
Valerie Jahn at reled@iccmawah.org
or mail to:
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Valerie Jahn,
Immaculate Conception Church,
900 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah, NJ 007430