There will be a mandatory parent information meeting in the church on the first day of classes in August-- either Tuesday, August 26 or Wednesday, August 27-- covering communications, disciplinary rules, and attendance expectations. Parents must attend this first-day meeting! Arrive no later than 6pm to the church with your child. Students will go to class with their catechists, and parents will remain in the church for the meeting. Students will be dismissed at the normal time and place: 7:15pm, from Door 1-- the main school door under the canopy.
For more information or questions, the RE Team can be contacted at 703-451-8576. Or through email, Lynn Jones, Director of Religious Education at ljones@stbernpar.org or Arlyn Agasen, Coordinator of Religious Education at aagasen@stbernpar.org. For help in Spanish, call Victor Mendez, RE Admin Assistant, 703-451-8576 or email vmendez@stbernpar.org.
Registration is now closed for the 2025-26 Religious Education Year.
Families moving into the area should contact the Religious Education Team for registration of children. Please call the Relgious Education staff, Mrs. Jones, Ms. Agasen, or Mr. Mendez, at 703-451-8576 or email Ljones@stbernpar.org for assistance.
NEW THIS YEAR: FAMILY MASS LEARNING SUNDAYS! The purpose of Family Mass Learning Sundays is to provide both students and parents in the Religious Education program an opportunity to intentionally learn about the Mass.
The six-part series will focus on a specific part of the Mass each month to help families better know and understand the Mass to enhance their worship, their faith journey, and their willingness to always be at Mass! Religious Education families will be instructed to attend the 9am, 11am, or 1pm Mass on the specific Sunday. Beginning at five minutes past the end of Mass, a 15-20 minute catechesis focusing on the Mass Topic of the Day will be given by the priest or a catechist. Attendance will be tracked.
These sessions will be in addition to regularly scheduled Religious Education classes.
Family Mass Learning dates for this School Year: September 7, October 5, November 9, January 11, February 8, March 8, April 19 (special session for First Communion students and Families)
We offer catechetical instruction and sacramental preparation for all students from kindergarten through high school.
Special note for Fall 2025 Confirmation students: Students who are on track for Fall 2025 Confirmation MUST register and pay tuition for the 2025-26 school year-- your tuition fee pays for the materials for the meetings until Confirmation, the retreat fee, and the Confirmation Robe. Fall 2025 Confirmation is Saturday, October 25, 2025. Fall 2025 Confirmation students will NOT attend classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; there will be two seminar learning evenings on Sundays, a Penance service, the Confirmation interviews, and the rehearsal prior to the Confirmation. Full schedule will be available by the end of June.
Special note on sponsor forms for Confirmation: The sponsor must request a sponsor letter directly from their home parish office. It needs to be signed and sealed with the parish seal. The requirements for sponsors state they must be a Catholic who has received Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation; if married, have a valid Catholic marriage; be a practicing Catholic; intend to fulfill responsibilities of the role of sponsor; be age 16 or older. If the sponsor attends Saint Bernadette, they should contact the parish office to complete the form as their signature must be witnessed by a member of the parish staff.
Why should we register if it's not a sacramental year? Receiving the sacraments is a very important part of your child's religious journey, but the years in between First Communion and Confirmation are just as important. Just as children would struggle with math if they completed second-grade math and did not take another math class until sixth grade, the middle years of religious education give the children a stronger knowledge of the practices and reasons for the faith. Help them strengthen their faith throughout childhood by registering them every year!
*Special class placements:
- Family Faith Formation: Students in grades K-5 may choose the Family Faith Formation Option with one class monthly with a catechist and three home lessons per month led by the parent.
- SPRED: Students with special learning needs that cannot be met in a typical religious education classroom may choose the Special Religious Development (SPRED) Option, which meets two Saturday mornings a month.
- If interested in these programs, please click on the highlighted options to get to the Family Faith Formation and SPRED Information pages.
DO NOT USE THE PAYMENT BUTTON BELOW UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED YOUR CHILD! Please contact the Religious Education staff, listed above, for assistance.