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Parish Religious Education Program (PREP)

- PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM (PREP)
  
  “Every baptized person, precisely by reason of being baptized, has the right to receive from the Church instruction and education enabling him or her to enter a truly Christian life.”
  (Saint John Paul II, Catechesis in Our Time)
  
  ICC PREP’s mission is to engage families with dynamic, Spirit-filled experiences, empowering them to proclaim the truth and love of our Lord Jesus Christ as life-long Roman Catholic disciples.
  
  We joyfully welcome the children of registered parishioners who attend public and private school in grades 1 through 8 to our Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) Ministry!
  
  In addition to weekly Mass attendance and active participation in the sacraments and the life of the Church and parish, an authentic Catholic family life outside our parish grounds is essential to every child’s faith foundation and personal relationship with Jesus. At PREP, we are here to help encourage and support you in that formation.
  
  Every grade level builds upon itself, and as such, children are required to successfully complete each grade level in our program, and all of its requirements, prior to promoting to the next grade level the following year. Preparation for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation, require a two-year preparation period; more info can be found below, and in our Parent Handbook.
  
  All of our programs rely fully on volunteer PREP ministers to run, and they cannot run without you. Won’t you prayerfully consider volunteering to grow in faith alongside our children?
  
  We offer two formation options for children:
  
  School Year Program:
  Our School Year Progam meets from September through May and is offered for children in
  grades 1 - 8. All grades meet weekly. Registration for our School Year Program takes
  place in the spring. For current session offerings, or to register, please contact our office
  for more information.
  
  Summer Program:
  Our Summer Program is a one-week condensed model program of intense study available by lottery for children of registered parishioners who have already completed at least one full year one year of formation in our School Year Program. The Summer Program is held in June for children entering Grades 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 in the upcoming fall. Registration for the Summer Program takes place in mid winter.
  
  Parochial School:
  While students who attend our parish’s school receive their religious instruction in their parochial school classrooms, the PREP office supports, and works with, our Immaculate Conception School’s religion teachers and Catholic students to provide supplemental sacramental preparation, so that we are able to come together joyfully, to celebrate the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation, as one big parish family. For more info about our Parochial School, check out their link through this website.
  
  We look forward to growing in faith with you!
  
  Click HERE for a copy of the PARENT HANDBOOK
  
  "If we don't teach our children who God is, someone else will teach them everything that He isn't." Darlene Schacht
- PROGRAM Information
  
  908-735-0478
  [email protected]
  
  Office Hours
  
  Monday - Thursday 9:30am - 4:00pm
  
  WHO WE ARE
  
  Catechetical Leader
  Coleen D'Amato
  [email protected]
  
  Assistant PREP Director & Confirmation
  Coordinator
  Jennifer Senkowski
  [email protected]
  
  Administrative Assistant
  Maryann Procopio
  [email protected]
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
- Youth Confirmation
First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
  
  Our  First Reconciliation  and  First Holy Communion program is a two-year preparation which begins in 1st grade and is completed at the end of 2nd grade.  The children receive these sacraments during the 2nd grade year.    In conjunction with their regular Religious Education sessions, there are additional preparation meetings in 2nd grade, for both PREP and ICS students, including a parent meeting, and a mini child/parent retreat. At ICC, traditionally,  First Reconciliation is celebrated in the winter months and  First Holy Communion is celebrated in the spring.
  
  Additionally, children are expected to re-register into 3rd grade and beyond, as they continue their journey toward Confirmation.
Youth Confirmation
- Youth Confirmation
  Confirmation is not an end, but rather an exciting new beginning as the Holy Spirit strengthens us and we start to discover Christ’s new mission for us in the Church and His creation beyond! Our Faith Formation never ends…the Holy Spirit transforms it in new ways.
  
  Our formation programs build upon one another, and as such, students must first complete grades 1 – 6, prior to entering our Confirmation preparation period. (Students who fall outside these parameters should contact our office for guidance and support.)
  
  Confirmation is a two-year preparation which begins in 7^th grade and is completed in 8th grade. In addition to their regular religious education studies, students of both the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) and Immaculate Conception School begin to explore the gifts the Holy Spirit will strengthen at Confirmation by choosing and fulfilling Confirmation Stewardship Service Hour requirements over two years, attending mini-retreats, and additional faith formation through PREP programs.
  At Immaculate Conception Parish, traditionally Confirmation is celebrated in the spring of 8^th grade, as the Bishop's schedule permits.
  
  Click HERE for Confirmation Service Form
  Click HERE for Service Hour Do's and Don'ts
  Click HERE for Clarifying Service Hours & corporal Works of Mercy
Registration
Overview
- All families must be registered in the Parish and in PREP in order to participate in our programs.
New Families
- Our registration begins in the winter months and concludes on September 1. Please contact our office for more information.
Transferring Families
- If you are currently enrolled in Religious Education in another parish, and are transferring from that parish during the school year, you are welcome to register and transfer into our Weekly PREP program at any time; please call our office. If the school year has concluded, you must register before September 1 for the upcoming year.
Returning Families
- For returning students, our registration occurs in two waves via email and begins in the winter months:
  
  Summer Prep Prorgam registration begins late January/early February. Firm closing deadline two weeks later.
  
  School Year Program registration begins in March and ends in April.
  
  * Dates subject to change. For exact dates, please check your email and watch the bulletin for information. After June 1st, $75. late fees go into effect; re-registration for the School Year Program is accepted only until mid-August.
PROGRAM OFFERINGS
- School Year Program
- Summer Program
School Year Program
- Our School Year Program meets from September through May as follows:
  
  All grades meet weekly
  All grades meet simultaneously
  
  School Year Program Session time options are:
  Monday Afternoons: 4:30-5:45PM
  Monday Evenings: 6:30-7:45PM
Summer Program
- Our Summer Religious Education program is a condensed model program which is an intensive two-week course of concentrated religious study which begins upon the completion of the school year in June.
  
  Important notes regarding this program:
  
  - Families must be registered parishoners who have recently completed one year of Religious Education in our School Year Program.
  - Children must be getting ready to enter grades 3 - 7 in the upcoming school year.
  - Classes are held from 9am - 12:30pm for ten consecutive week days.
  - Due to the condensed nature of this program, no absences are permitted; students must attend every day of the program for the full length of time in order to recieve credit for this program.
  - Each family must complete five assigned Family Spiritual Exercises by February 1 to receive credit for this program.
  - Space is extremely limited and every applicant is determined via a lottery each year.
  
  Click HERE for Family Spiritual Summer Exercises 2024/2025 Exercise Directions
  Click HERE for Family Spiritual Exercise Review Form

Immaculate Conception Church 316 Old Allerton Rd. Annandale, NJ 08801 Phone: 908-735-7319 \| Fax: 908-735-4552 [email protected]	Immaculate Conception School 314 Old Allerton Road, Annandale, NJ 08801 Phone: (908) 735-6334 \| Fax: (908) 238-0724 [email protected]