Six neighboring Lehigh Valley parishes in the Diocese of Allentown are joining forces to launch a new regional religious education program for children in grades 1-8 and their parents – under the patronage of a newly canonized saint whose life bridges faith and modern culture.
St. Carlo Acutis Regional PREP is the first regionalized Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) of this scale in the Diocese, serving multiple parishes while preparing students for Sacraments such as First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Like parish-based PREP programs, it offers a structured curriculum in Catholic doctrines, traditions, and practices, complementing faith formation at home and through participation in Mass.
“This model offers stronger catechesis, more flexible options for families, and a greater sense of connection in our faith community,” said Ginny Downey, Director of Religious Education for the new program.
“By combining resources and energy, we can provide religious education that’s more vibrant, more consistent, and more deeply rooted in our Catholic identity,” she said.
The six participating parishes are Assumption BVM and Queenship of Mary in Northampton; Holy Trinity and St. John the Baptist in Whitehall; St. John Fisher in North Catasauqua; and St. Peter in Coplay. These parishes already collaborate as part of Good Shepherd Catholic School, a regional pre-K through eighth grade school in Northampton.
The program will be housed in the former Christ the King School building at St. John the Baptist Parish, which will now be dedicated entirely to religious education.
The program’s patron, St. Carlo Acutis, was a modern Italian teenager who will be canonized on Sept. 7 by Pope Leo XIV. Known for his deep Eucharistic devotion and creative use of technology to share the faith, Carlo’s life shows that holiness is possible “even in sneakers,” while scrolling on a smartphone, playing video games, and navigating the modern world – just like today’s children.
The program’s logo reflects Carlo’s mission: a monstrance, symbolizing his devotion to the Eucharist, standing atop a computer chip, representing his evangelization through technology. Six stars on the chip honor the six participating parishes, and the logo’s blue background signifies devotion to Mary, to whom Carlo had a special love.
To meet the needs of busy families, the program offers three scheduling options:
- Mondays from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.
- A Family Catechesis model on the first and third Sundays of the month from 9 to 10:10 a.m.
In keeping with its tech-savvy patron, registration and payment are completed entirely online.
“Our goal is to support families and inspire our young people to know and love Jesus – and to live that out in everyday modern life,” said Downey.
Registration is now open. More information is available at www.carloacutisprep.org.
By Gia Myers
