"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"  MT 28:19-20

We at Our Lady of the Chesapeake welcome you and your children to our Religious Education, Youth Ministry, and Adult Faith Formation Programs. We solicit your support and participation as we continue to bring into focus the primary and major purpose of religious education--that is, to imitate the role model of Christ by learning and living his Gospel message.

Our aim is to help develop a sense of the Gospel values that would lead to the love of a real, personal, and caring God; together with all the peoples of the world.  As such, the specific goals of our Religious Education Program are:

• to help us understand and share the Gospel message of Jesus;

• to teach us to pray and strengthen our relationship with God;

• to encourage and help us participate in the life of our parish community;

• to encourage and help us learn to serve others, particularly those not as fortunate as ourselves;

• to provide an environment for the adults of our parish community to become teachers, thereby serving God and enriching their own faith;

• and to help all those involved--child, youth, and adult--enjoy the fellowship of one another, have fun, and build lasting friendships. 

We have six separate divisions of religious education for children, youth, young adults, and adults: 

1. The Religious Education Program is open to all children from 1st through 5th Grades.

2. The Middle School Youth Ministry program is offered for youth in the 6th through 8th Grades and serves as a transition from the Religious Education Program they had in the younger grades to the faith formation program they will follow as participants in the High School Youth Ministry program.

3. The High School Youth Ministry program is open to students in the 9th through 12th Grades and focuses on each person's coming to a better understanding of his or her own faith and with God.

4. The Wednesday Night Group is intended for those older youths in 11th and 12th Grades together with any young adults (college-aged individuals) who want to take their journey of faith to a higher level.

5. We offer Adult Faith Formation programs for those from college age through senior citizen.

6. We also offer additional programs for youth needing to receive Sacraments and additional lessons to refresh or introduce them to the Catholic faith. This program is similar to our RCIA program but is created uniquely for the specific needs of each child. Contact Stacey Beres for more information sberes@olchesapeake.org.