Parish Religious Education Program (PREP)

PREP Mission Statement
September 2026

Dear Religious Education Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to a new year of Faith Formation! As we begin this upcoming year, I want to express how excited we are to walk alongside your family on this sacred journey of faith.

The Catholic Church beautifully reminds us that parents are the primary and principal educators of their children in the ways of faith. Our parish community is here to support, guide, and enrich the foundational work you are already doing at home.

Through our weekly lessons, prayer, and communal community life, our goal is not just to teach academic facts about our faith, but to foster a deep, personal, and life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Please take a moment to mark these important upcoming dates on your calendar:

• Catechetical Sunday: September 20th at the 11:30 Mass. We invite all families to join us as our catechists receive a special blessing for their ministry.

• November 1st at 11:30 Mass: Blessing of First Reconciliation/Communion candidates

• November 8th at 11:30 Mass: Blessing of Confirmation candidates

• February 1, 2027 at 7pm - First Penance

• February 28, 2027- Confirmation retreat (starts with 11:30 Mass)

• May 08, 2027 at 10am - First Holy Communion

• April 26, 2027 at 5pm - Confirmation with Bishop Chylinski

*A Note on Sacramental Preparation: If your child is entering a traditional year for receiving Sacraments (typically 2nd grade for First Holy Communion and 7th grade for Confirmation), or if your child is out of the normal sequence and will be receiving Sacraments to catch up, separate details regarding special parent meetings, retreat dates, and any documentation requirements will be sent home shortly.

Should you have any questions, ideas, or pastoral needs throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Be assured of my prayers for your family's health, peace, and spiritual growth as we start this new year together.

Yours in Christ,

Jennifer Simmons, DRE

Cell 484-574-2744

jsimmons@sjf71.org

St. John Fisher Parish

 

Jennifer Simmons Director of Children’s Faith Formation

 

Classes will begin on September 8 and 9, 2026 for the 2026-27 school year.  

 

Saint John Fisher offers  evening classes on Tuesday for Grades 1-4, and Wednesday evening classes for Grades 5, 6 & 7. 

 

Grades 1-4: Tuesdays 4:30-6:00 

 

Grade 5, 6 & 7: Wednesdays 6:15-7:45

 

2026-27 Registration:  We encourage you to register your children for the upcoming PREP year in the late spring or early summer. Students new to the parish or the PREP program should contact the Director of Religious Education by calling 610-485-0441, ext. 5. Please click and print the link below for registration forms.  Return the form to the PREP Office, located in the Rectory on the St. John Fisher Parish campus. 

 

 

 Handouts/Information

 

 

For the schedules for mandatory attendance for events involving First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, please see the appropriate info below:

 

Important Dates for Second Grade/ Reconciliation/Communion

Children must attend all practices

-Tuesday January 26, 2027- first penance practice during prep 4:30-6, all children (this includes home school and Catholic school families)

-Sunday January 31, 2027 - practice for first penance in Church after the 11:30 Mass, all children

-Monday February 1, 2027 at 7:00 pm- first penance

-Sunday April 11, 2027- First Communion Retreat starting with 11:30 Mass until 4:00 pm, all children

-Saturday May 1, 2027 at 10:00- practice in Church, all children

-Wednesday May 5, 2027- attend Ascension vigil Mass at 5:00pm, first communion practice after

-Saturday May 8, 2027 at 10:00- First Holy Communion

- pictures begin at 8:30

- All children must be in the chapel in the Parish Center by 9:15


***Parent Dates- please choose one from the following:

Saturday January 23rd and Sunday January 24th 2027-dynamic speaker Dan Mohler, “Experience the Joy of the Gospel”

February 28th, March 1st, March 2nd, 2027- Parish 40 hours Devotion with speaker/worship leader John Paul Kasperowicz

Parish Holy Hour: choose one date

December 1, 2027

January 5, 2027

February 2, 2027

April 6, 2027

 

About Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

 

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia conducted a study regarding the age or grade in which a child receives Confirmation.  Overwhelmingly, bishops, pastors, principals, and directors of religious education noted there is a much better understanding of the Sacrament of Confirmation by upper grade school students.  Based upon the results of this study, on January 18, 2018, the Archbishop determined that the new standard for the administration of Confirmation is in the 7th and/or 8th Grade.  This decision applies to the entire Archdiocese.  It is not a choice that can be made on the local level by individual parishes.

 

St. John Fisher Parish will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for both PREP and Catholic School students during the seventh year of catechetical formation . The 6th grade class will begin the preparation for the sacrament and return to PREP or their Catholic school for a seventh year of catechesis before being Confirmed at the parish.  If you have any questions, please contact the PREP Office, 610-485-0441, ext. 5.

 

 

 

 

Tuition Angel Program (Financial Assistance Fund)
Financial Aid is available for registered parishioners attending Saint John Fisher PREP (Parish Religion Education Program) through our Tuition Angel Program. In order to be eligible for this program, families are expected to be active parishioners who attend Mass each Sunday and on Holy Days, contribute to the life of the parish, and live a sacramental life as per the Precepts of the Church. Please return to the Education menu to find more information about the Tuition Angel Program.