Faith is a gift that we must care for and nourish at all times

In case of inclement weather, please check your emails, the parish website at www.sje1.org.For Monday evening sessions, the RE program will follow Fauquier County Schools’ After School Cancellations.

Draft of 2023-2024 Calendar for RE Classes:

First Penance 2024 for all 2nd graders and RCIC 2A: 

• Parent Meeting for all 2nd graders and RCIC 2A: Sunday, December 10th 9:30am OR 11:15am in St. John’s School Trinity Hall. You can pick the meeting time that best fits your schedule and attend that one (the meeting should last 20-30 minutes). 
• REMINDER: Please make sure that a copy of your child's Birth Certificate AND Baptismal Certificate are on file with the RE Office by December 31st for ALL Sacraments per Diocesan policy.
• First Penance Retreat for all 2nd graders and RCIC 2A:  Sunday, January 7th  1-3pm in St. John’s School Trinity Hall (Snow date January 21).   
• First Penance for all 2nd graders and RCIC 2A: Saturday, January 27th 10:15am in Mercy Hall (Snow date February 10). 

Confirmation 2024:   

• REMINDER: Please make sure that a copy of your Baptismal Certificate is on file with the RE Office.
• Please make sure a copy of your child's Birth Certificate is on file with the Parish Office by December 31st for ALL Sacraments per Diocesan policy.
• Need to remember when paperwork is due or need a form? Just look to the links on the left.
• If you have not turned in all items as listed, we will assume that you are not wishing to be Confirmed in 2024. The following are now past due:  
• Confirmation Registrations (C1-C4), Parent Interview (C5), Spiritual Exercises (C6, C7, C11), Service Log & Journals (C8, C9), Novena (C10), and Saint Report (12).

• Mark your calendars! 
• Letter to the Pastor (C13) is due December 1st.
• Sponsor Forms C14 (My Sponsor Form) and C15 (Sponsor Interview Form) are due December 15th.
• Confirmation Retreat Date: for all those who have completed all requirements will be held Saturday, January 6th, 2024.  Confirmation Retreat Snow Date is Saturday, January 20th,2024.
• We will reach out to Candidates who have attended a “Confirmation” Retreat in early January to schedule Interviews. All Interviews must be completed prior to the end of February. Take time to prepare with the Clock Test.
• Confirmation Date:  Wednesday, April 17, 2024, beginning at 7pm. Practice will be held the night before at 6pm, beginning in Mercy Hall and conclude in the church.

Have you picked a Saint yet? Has your Saint picked you?

• Have you decided on a  Sponsor yet? Please see the Guidelines below for choosing a Sponsor.  
• Don’t forget to Pray!

Need Help Picking a Sponsor?

What are Sponsors?

Sponsors are witnesses to the Catholic faith who will pledge support of those who are to be baptized into the faith or who are seeking full membership into the Church through the sacrament of Confirmation.

What do Sponsors do and what are the Guidelines for picking one?

The Sponsor is to see that the person confirmed in the faith of the Catholic Church acts as a true witness to Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations connected with this membership.

They must provide a Sponsor Certificate. They MUST be a practicing Catholic. The Sponsor should contact the Church where he/she is currently registered to request a Sponsor Certificate.

A parent may NOT be a sponsor.

Please note, a lapsed Catholic CANNOT serve as a Sponsor.

A Catholic married outside the church may NOT be a sponsor for Confirmation.

Again, a Sponsor MUST be a practicing Catholic, MUST be up-to-date on all his/her sacraments, MUST be at least 16 years of age, MUST attend Mass weekly,  and if married, must be married in the Catholic Church.

Confirmation 2025:   

• REMINDER: Please make sure that a copy of your Baptismal Certificate is on file with the RE Office.
• Please make sure a copy of your child's Birth Certificate is on file with the Parish Office by December 31st for ALL Sacraments per Diocesan policy.
• Confirmation Packets have been sent out to all 7th graders registered with RE and the school.
• Please turn in forms C1, C2, C3 and C4 so we can add you to SignUpGenius for volunteer opportunities.
• The Spiritual Exercises Binder for the church will be in place there after November 1st (when forms C1 through C4 are due to be turned in).

Help shape the Church's Future

Do you want to do a good deed? Teach the young!
Do you want to perform a holy act? Teach the young!
Do you want to do a holy thing? Teach the young!
Truly, now and for the future, among holy things, this is the holiest.                                           ~ Saint John Bosco                     

Serving as a classroom assistant or catechist is a wonderful opportunity to build up the Church by guiding children and young people on their faith-journey.

If you're interested in volunteering, with children in any capacity, you must first become fully compliant with the Diocese of Arlington through their Office of Protection of Children and Young People (OPCYP). St. John's Office Manager, Rosemary Coakley, is our Liasion for OPCYP. Her contact info is [email protected] or (540)347-2922 x202.

There are two parts involved with becoming compliant:

1. First, all must have a background check. Here are the links.
   https://secure4.arlingtondiocese.org/OPCYP_Application/Volunteer_Home.aspx  The first form is the CPS form.  It will need to be copied back to back and notarized and returned to Rosemary in the Parish Office.  Rosemary is a notary if you need her to help.  Just bring your license and please call ahead so she can make sure to be available. 
2. Second, all are required to attend a VIRTUS class which requires signing up ahead of time. Here is the link for the class:  www.virtus.org    Click on "First Time Registrant - Diocese of Arlington".  

If you have any questions, please contact our OPCYP Liasion, Rosemary Coakley. 

Thanks so much for volunteering at St. John's!

To volunteer as a classroom assistant or catechist, please email Sherin Murphy, at [email protected] or Stacy Byrne at [email protected]