(Religious Education / CCD)
“You may dazzle the mind with a thousand brilliant discoveries of natural science; you may open new worlds of knowledge which were never dreamed of before; yet, if you have not developed in the soul of the pupil strong habits of virtue which will sustain her in the struggle of life, you have not educated her, but only put in her hand a powerful instrument of self-destruction.”
~ Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
Registration for CCD classes at Holy Rosary for the 2025-26 semester is now closed.
Faith Formation classes (also known as CCD) are held weekly in the Parish Center at 26 Edgewater Place beginning Sunday, September 14, 2025 and ending Sunday, May 17, 2026. Children are expected to gather in the Parish Center Chapel no later than 9:15am, as classes promptly start at 9:30am and run to 10:45am. Classes are concluded at 10:45am specifically so you can take your child(ren) to the 11:00am Mass. Click HERE for the 2025-26 Class Schedule.
PLEASE NOTE
(1) Families must be registered and active parishioners in order to enroll their child(ren) in CCD at our Parish.
(2) Registration forms and the required tuition MUST be submitted to Holy Rosary BEFORE classes begin on September 14, 2025.
(3) Even previously enrolled students must re-enroll at the beginning of every school year.
(4) Late admissions after October 1st will not be accepted because your child will miss the number of classes required by the Archdiocese of Newark.
(5) We MUST have the registration paperwork in advance of students starting classes. We cannot process a registration on Sunday morning and place your child in class the same day. Doing so will only delay their start date by at least a week.
In order to register your child(ren) for our CCD program, please do the following:
STEP ONE: Open the Registration Package by clicking HERE and complete the form online. Do NOT attempt to complete the forms online if using a mobile device. If a mobile device is your only option, you will need to print the forms and complete them by hand.
STEP TWO: Print the completed Registration Package by clicking “Print Form” in the upper right hand corner of the very first page.
STEP THREE: After printing the entire registration package, affix your handwritten signature wherever “Parent Authorization” appears.
STEP FOUR: See the green box below for our tuition fee schedule. When submitting your printed registration package (as directed in step five), include the applicable tuition fee. You may pay by check (or money order) payable to the Church of the Holy Rosary. You may also pay the tuition online by clicking HERE. We do NOT accept cash payments of CCD tuition fees. Your child(ren) will not be considered enrolled in our CCD program without payment of the tuition prior to the start of classes.
STEP FIVE: Provide us with the printed, signed registration form (and tuition if not paying online) by:
(1) mailing it to the Church of the Holy Rosary Parish Center, 26 Edgewater Place, Edgewater, NJ 07020; or
(2) bringing it to the Parish Center Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm; or
(3) dropping it in the collection basket during any weekend Mass.
CCD Tuition Fee Schedule for 2025-2026
Registrations Returned BEFORE September 1: $100 per child / $150 for two or more children
Registrations Returned AFTER September 1: $200 per child / $250 for two or more children
Finally, parents are strongly encouraged to read the Parent’s Handbook by clicking HERE. A hard copy of the Handbook is available upon request.
What is the Confraternity of Catholic Doctrine (CCD)?
The ultimate end for which all persons are created is to enter into a meaningful relationship with God. This can only be fully realized with an awareness of who God is and who we are as His greatest creation. Therefore, the Confraternity of Catholic Doctrine (CCD) was established to provide religious education to children who were not receiving any education in the Catholic faith through their regular schooling.
As Catholics we are all tasked with creating disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to save souls and give glory to God. We create disciples by passing on a Catholic way of life to or children. This is accomplished through instruction in the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Faith, a process known as catechesis. It is important to remember that the family is the primary school of religion. In the home parents are to pass the Catholic Faith on to their children. However, these beliefs must also be practiced. According to the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church parents are required to bring their children to the Holy Sacrifice of Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. By studying the teachings of the Catholic Faith and receiving the grace of the Sacraments families are able to grow closer to the Lord.
What is CCD at Holy Rosary?
Holy Rosary’s religious education program is designed and maintained under the direction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. We seek to provide children with a thorough understanding of the Catholic faith that is relevant for the age and maturity of the students and a necessary component for them to grow in the virtues of faith, hope and above all love. Through instruction, exercises, activities, and worship, the CCD program of Holy Rosary will be an invaluable experience for the children allowing them to grow in mind and heart as they walk the path of Christian discipleship begun at their baptism.
Pursuant to the archdiocesan policies and requirements for sacrament preparation, if a child is enrolled in our program after the second week of classes, that may not be considered a full year of faith formation.
For more on the importance of CCD for your child, click HERE.
CCD at Holy Rosary begins in the first grade and concludes after the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the eighth/ninth grade. If your child is being registered for the first time at Holy Rosary, you must also include a COPY of the child’s Baptismal Certificate.
Parents may find that their child’s grade level in CCD is different from their grade level in “regular” school. The CCD grade level for your child is determined by (1) your child’s age; and (2) which of the Sacraments they have completed or are in need of. For example, a fourth grade student may be placed in the second grade class if the child had no prior CCD education and had not received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. Any questions, please see the Faith Formation Director.
CCD: The Role of Parents and Teachers
You are your child’s first teacher in the school of life and faith. Please join in our mission by:
Attending Mass each Sunday with your child
Praying daily with your child and as a family
Promoting regular attendance at Faith Formation classes
Asking your children what they learned after each Faith Formation class
Sharing your faith in your own way
The role of the teachers in the CCD program is not to replace the role of the parent as the primary educators in the faith, but rather complement and build upon those principles that should be taught at home. Parental instruction and support of this program is mandatory throughout the Religious Education program as parents are the first teachers of their children throughout their lives.
Children grow in faith, virtue, respect and values by weekly attendance at Mass with their families and with continual learning of our Roman Catholic faith.
Parents are strongly encouraged to read the Parent’s Handbook by clicking HERE. A hard copy of the Handbook is available upon request.
The Sacraments:
Holy Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, & Confirmation
Preparation for reception of First Reconciliation (a/k/a: Confession), First Holy Communion and Confirmation involves instruction through the Faith Formation Program (CCD).
Children can be registered as early as first grade in our CCD program, though this is not necessary if the child is attending a Roman Catholic elementary school. First Reconciliation is a prerequisite for First Holy Communion.
It takes two years of preparation for First Holy Communion (7 years or older). It takes two years of preparation for Confirmation (12 years or older). First Holy Communion is a prerequisite for Confirmation.
Confirmation Sponsors
A sponsor is someone who is willing to help a child in their catechesis, as well as in their lifelong spiritual formation, and bears witness to the child’s Confirmation.
In order to be a sponsor for Confirmation (or Baptism), Church Law requires that: (1) the sponsor must be at least 14 years of age; (2) have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation, and (3) be practicing Catholics and registered in their parish. This means attendance at Mass each week and regular reception of the Sacraments of Eucharist and Penance. Persons who do not attend Mass and receive the Sacraments should not be admitted as sponsors. Sponsors must provide a letter or certificate from their parish attesting to this.
The Church of the Holy Rosary provides Sponsor Certificates only to parishioners who have been active and contributing members of the parish for at least three months prior to requesting a certificate.
For more info please contact the Parish Center — preferably by email at holyrosary@aol.com.
Church of the Holy Rosary, Edgewater, NJ 