Registration for 2025-2026 Kids Faith Formation

is open until Sunday, August 24th!

Welcome to St. Mary of the Mills Kids Ministry!

We offer a fun, faith-filled environment for your child to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Our religious education classes are held on Sunday mornings in the St. Mary of the Mills parish school.

Parents can choose between a few family-friendly options.

Track A & Track B - For Those On-Grade Level with Sacraments

For those children who are on grade level with sacraments (baptized before 2nd grade; if in 3rd grade or above, has received First Communion), parents can choose between two tracks:

• Track A = in-person classes on Sundays from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm in the St. Mary of the Mills parish school. 2025-2026 Track A classes meet on the following dates: 9/7, 9/21, 10/5, 10/19, 11/2, 11/16, 12/7, 12/21, 1/11, 1/25, 2/8, 2/22, 3/8, 3/22, 4/19, 5/3, and 5/17.

• Track B = in-person classes on Sundays from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm in the St. Mary of the Mills parish school. 2025-2026 Track B classes meet on the following dates: 9/14, 9/28, 10/12, 10/26, 11/9, 11/23, 12/14, 1/4, 1/18, 2/1, 2/15, 3/1, 3/15, 4/12, 4/26, 5/10, and 5/31.

Note: As of 5/1, Track B is only offered for 1st, 2nd, and 8th grades. We encourage you to register for Track B if your children are in these grades.

Children prepare for First Communion (2nd grade) and Confirmation (8th grade) within their Kids Ministry classes.

Special Sacramental Preparation (SSP)

If your child:

●       is in 2nd grade or above and has never been baptized, 

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

●       is in grades 9th-12th and needs Baptism, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation...

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 2025-2026 dates: 9/7, 9/21, 10/5, 10/19, 11/2, 11/16, 12/7, 12/21, 1/11, 1/25, 2/8, 2/22, 3/8, 3/22, 4/19, 5/3, and 5/17 (the same dates as Track A). 

There are several required events for Special Sacramental Preparation throughout the year.

*High school-age children (grades 9th-12th) needing sacraments will also prepare on Sunday mornings. Using the Kids Ministry Registration form above, you can register your high school-aged child for sacramental preparation.

Cost

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 this registration form.

Additional Formation Events

In addition to regular class sessions, all children are expected to attend additional formation events throughout the year. These events provide essential experiences of Catholic life beyond the classroom and are a vital part of our ministry.

We are excited to be part of your child’s faith journey and look forward to walking alongside your family this year.

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.