Registration for 2024-2025 Kids Faith Formation is open!

Registration closes on Sunday, August 25th!

We are pleased to offer fun and engaging in-person classes for our kiddos in grades K-8!

We have a couple of family-friendly options.

For those children that are on grade level with sacraments (baptized by age 7; if in 3rd grade or above, has received First Communion, parents may register their children for one of the following:

• Track A = in-person classes on Sundays from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm in the St. Mary of the Mills parish school. 2024-2025 Track A classes meet on the following dates: 9/8, 9/22, 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17, 12/8, 12/22, 1/12, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, 4/6, 5/4, and 5/18.

• Track B = in-person classes on Sundays from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm in the St. Mary of the Mills parish school. 2024-2025 Track B classes meet on the following dates: 9/15, 9/29, 10/13, 10/27, 11/10, 11/24, 12/15, 1/5, 1/19, 2/2, 2/16, 3/2, 3/16, 3/30, 4/27, 5/11, and 6/1.

  As of May 1st, Track B is offered for 2nd and 8th grades only. We will open up more grade levels for Track B as our volunteer commitment allows.

In addition to these classes, all children are asked to attend additional formation events throughout the year. These events provide an experience of life as a Catholic outside the traditional classroom setting and are a very important piece to our ministry.

*Children will prepare to receive First Communion (2nd grade) and Confirmation (8th grade) in both tracks. Excellent attendance (2 excused absences or less) is required of all of our children who are preparing for sacraments. 

If your child:

• is age 7 or older (2nd grade or above) and has never been baptized,

• is in grade 3 or above and has not received First Holy Communion,

we welcome your child into Special Sacramental Preparation (SSP)!

These in-person classes meet on Sundays from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm in the St. Mary of the Mills parish school on the following 2024-2025 dates: 9/8, 9/22, 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17, 12/8, 12/22, 1/12, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, 4/6, 5/4, and 5/18 (the same dates as Track A). 

There are several required events for Special Sacramental Preparation throughout the year. Excellent attendance (2 excused absences or less) is required of all of our children who are preparing for sacraments.

*High school-age children (grades 9th-12th) needing sacraments will also prepare on Sunday mornings. To learn more, go here.

Our Kids Ministry yearly faith formation fee is $100 per child or a maximum of $250 per family. There are no additional sacramental fees. Payment can be made online at the end of the registration form.

For more information about our ministry for kids, please see the answers to some "Frequently Asked Questions" below or contact:

Laura Doscher, Coordinator of Kids Ministry
301-725-3080 x216
kids@stmaryofthemills.org

*If your child is unable to attend our in-person catechesis, please email Laura Doscher, our Kids Ministry Coordinator, at kids@stmaryofthemills.org to learn about a home study option for faith formation.

Some registration tips:

• You will receive an email with a copy of your registration (one for each child) for you to keep for your records.

• You can make your payment online during the registration process or bring it to the parish office.

• Our required release forms are integrated right into our registration process.

• For those children preparing for First Communion or Confirmation, you will need your child’s baptism certificate (or an electronic copy). This certificate can be submitted with your registration or emailed to Leticia Hatfield, our sacramental admin, at sacraments@stmaryofthemills.org. Baptism certificates are due by October 1st.