Religious Education Program (REP)

Thank you for your interest in Our Lady of the Wayside’s Religious Education Program (REP).  REP partners with parents to develop their children’s faith and to foster their personal relationship with Jesus. We serve families with children in 1^st through 8^th grades who are not attending Catholic School. 

In Person Class Meetings:

Grades 1-4 meet in person weekly on Tuesdays from 5:00 – 6:10 p.m. in the Elementary Building

Grades 5 and 6 meet in person 3 times per month on Tuesdays from 6:00 -7:15 p.m. in the Middle School Building; (note this is the 2023-2024 schedule only)

Grades 7 and 8 meet in person two times per month from 6:00-7:15 p.m., plus h; in the Middle School Building; (note this is the 2023-2024 schedule only) 

There are two additional options if in-person class schedules do not work for your family: 

Family Home Study: 

Open to Grades 1-6. Parents and students study together at home 3 weeks out of 4 each month. Parents and students meet as a group 1 Sunday per month for enrichment activities, to play games, do crafts, and to share the joy of learning about Jesus with a larger group. The grade level text and assignment calendar is sent home at the beginning of the REP year. Lesson assignments are sent home monthly. 

Online Self-Study: 

Open to Grades 7 and 8 for Confirmation preparation only. Students complete lessons and lesson quizzes online 3 weeks out of 4 each month. Students meet with their catechist in person one weekday evening or weekend day for 1 hour once per month for enrichment lessons and reinforcement of important tenets of our Catholic faith. Due to the limited nature of the meetings attendance is mandatory. This is in addition to the Encounter Sundays once every other month.

 NEW! Encounter Sundays (for 7^th and 8^th Grades):

The religious ed format is excellent for teaching your student facts about our faith, but we generally don’t have the extended time to encourage them to experience God’s love hidden in these facts. Encounter Sundays are designed to provide our students with opportunities to experience God’s love and deepen their faith in a fun and relaxed youth ministry environment. Your student will meet their peers in both large and small groups, led by our OLW high school peer ministers with the guidance of our youth minister Arielle Joaquin and adult volunteers. Each grade will meet 4 times during the school year on Sundays from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. (Note this is the 2023-2024 schedule only).

Sacrament Catch-Up Opportunities:

Contact Danielle Pitzer to discuss your student’s needs. We work with you and your student to find the best option based on your student’s and family’s needs.

REP Classes weave together Catholic doctrine, Scripture, Christian living, and prayer in an integrated approach. Volunteer catechists use a variety of age appropriate methods (using a grade-appropriate textbook, discussion, role playing, audio visuals, and group projects) to encourage their students to explore religious truths and invite a close relationship with Jesus. Various forms of prayer experiences are incorporated into the curriculum to help children develop their relationship with God.

Service opportunities Our students participate in service opportunities to encourage their care of others and a greater awareness of Catholic social justice themes. Parent are also asked to serve with activities including: assistance with homework, volunteering to help with traffic management and as hall monitors, teaching REP classes as catechists, and helping with special events.

Registration:

To register your child/children for the upcoming year, please CLICK HERE.

If you have questions, or require additional information regarding Our Lady of the Wayside’s Religious Education Program, please contact:

Danielle Pitzer
Director of Lifelong Faith Formation
(phone) 847-398-5043
(email) dpitzer@olwparish.org

Families registering for REP are encouraged to register with Our Lady of the Wayside but it is not required. We accept students from outside the parish, too.

Please submit copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate (if new to our parish), and pay for the classes at the time of online registration.

Thank you for choosing the REP program at Our Lady of the Wayside. We look forward to assisting your child on his/her faith journey.