Online OCIC/RCIC and Catholic Faith Formation for Children and Teens

Help children and teens enter the Catholic Church, prepare for the Sacraments, and build a lasting foundation in the Catholic Faith. Designed for families and parishes, our Young Adult Faith Formation program provides comprehensive, self-paced online religious education primarily for students ages 8–15. Older students who need foundational Catholic instruction may also benefit.

Whether you are a parent seeking formation for your child or a parish catechetical leader preparing students for Christian initiation, this program offers a structured path forward. It is especially helpful for young people who were not baptized as infants, are preparing for Confirmation, or need to catch up on missed religious education.

Students learn not only what Catholics believe, but also how to pray, understand the Holy Mass, receive the Sacraments, and put the Faith into practice. The goal is more than completing lessons: it is helping young people know and love Our Lord and live faithfully as members of His Church.

Who Is This Program For?

  • Children and teens preparing to become Catholic: Comprehensive instruction for young people seeking Baptism and entry into the Catholic Church.
  • Parish OCIC/RCIC students: Formation supporting Christian initiation adapted for children who have reached the age of reason.
  • Young Catholics preparing for Confirmation: A substantial foundation in Catholic belief, sacramental life, prayer, and morality.
  • Students catching up on missed religious education: A structured way to address gaps in Catholic knowledge and prepare for further formation.
  • Families entering or returning to the Church: Instruction that helps children understand and practice the Faith alongside their families.
  • Parishes seeking flexible formation resources: A ready-to-use curriculum for individualized instruction, supplemental study, and students whose needs differ from the usual class sequence.

Course Highlights

  1. Comprehensive Catholic instruction: Approximately 150 lessons covering Catholic belief, the Sacraments, the Commandments, the Holy Mass, Sacred Scripture, prayer, and the moral life.
  2. Self-paced and flexible: Students may proceed at a manageable pace, taking additional time where needed. Parents and catechists can establish a study schedule suited to each student's preparation and circumstances.
  3. Lifetime access: Course access does not expire, allowing students to complete the program at their own pace and return to previously completed lessons for continued review.
  4. Consistent lesson structure: Lessons follow our time-tested 7-step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a Closing Prayer.
  5. Quizzes and progress records: Each lesson ends with a quiz to assess understanding. Automatic quiz grading and record-keeping are included in the program price.
  6. Practical Catholic formation: Students explore how Church teaching shapes prayer, conscience, virtue, works of mercy, and everyday decisions.

For Parents and Families

You do not need to assemble a curriculum yourself. This program provides an organized sequence of lessons, activities, and quizzes to help you guide your child's formation. Flexible pacing makes it easier to accommodate family schedules while giving important teachings the attention they deserve.

Whether your child is beginning without previous religious instruction or returning after a gap, the course provides a clear starting point. Parents are encouraged to remain involved, discuss the lessons, and help students develop habits of prayer and Catholic living.

For Parishes, DREs, and Catechists

This program provides a structured resource for parish OCIC/RCIC, individualized sacramental preparation, and catch-up religious education. It can support students who enter outside the usual class cycle, have missed several years of instruction, or need additional study alongside parish classes.

The established lesson sequence, automatically graded quizzes, and progress records provide a consistent framework for instruction and help identify subjects that may require further explanation. Parish catechists can complement the online lessons with personal guidance, discussion, prayer, and participation in parish life.

What Students Will Learn

  • The Apostles' Creed: Who God is, the life and saving work of Jesus Christ, and the central truths of the Catholic Faith.
  • The Catholic Church and the Seven Sacraments: The Church's role in God's plan of salvation and how the Sacraments bring us God's grace.
  • The Commandments and Catholic morality: How to form a conscience, recognize sin, practice virtue, and live according to God's law.
  • The Holy Mass and the Eucharist: The meaning of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Christ's Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
  • Sacred Scripture: Important events from the Old Testament and the life of Our Lord in the New Testament.
  • Prayer and Catholic living: The Our Father, the Rosary, works of mercy, the virtues, and practical ways to grow closer to God.

Why Choose This Program?

  • A clear path forward: A comprehensive course for students who need foundational instruction rather than isolated lessons or a brief review.
  • Substantial formation for young people: Catholic instruction that goes beyond basic activities to explain what the Church teaches and how to live it.
  • Ready-to-use resources: An organized curriculum with activities, quizzes, automatic grading, and record-keeping supports both families and parish catechists.
  • Flexible, non-expiring access: Suitable for home study, parish-supported instruction, and supplemental formation, with no deadline requiring students to rush through the material.
  • A foundation for lifelong faith: Students are encouraged to grow in knowledge, love of God, prayer, virtue, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church.

What Are OCIC and RCIC?

OCIC and RCIC are terms used for Christian initiation adapted for children who have reached the age of reason and were not baptized as infants. OCIC means the Order of Christian Initiation of Children, while RCIC means the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children. This program provides comprehensive Catholic instruction to support that journey. Baptism removes original sin and all actual sins committed before Baptism, incorporates us into Christ's Church, and is necessary for salvation.

Working With Your Parish

This program provides Catholic formation and documentation of completion. Students preparing to enter the Church or receive the Sacraments should remain in contact with their parish, which guides their participation in initiation rites and reception of the Sacraments.

Certificate of Completion

Upon completing all required lessons and quizzes, students may request a CatechismClass.com Certificate of Completion documenting completion of the program. Applicable certificate fees and request procedures apply.

Build a Lasting Foundation in the Catholic Faith

Whether you are guiding one child at home or helping students prepare through your parish, this program offers a structured path toward greater understanding, sacramental preparation, and faithful Catholic living. Help young people take the next step in knowing, loving, and serving God.

Young Adult Faith Formation contains the following core courses:

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Youth Study of the Apostles Creed

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Youth Study of the Church and the 7 Sacraments

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Youth Study of the Commandments of God and the Church

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Youth Study of the Mass and the Sacraments

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Youth Guide to the Holy Scriptures

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Youth Guide to Morality

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