Religious Education
Religious Education
(Kindergarten-7th Grade)
REGISTER ONLINE
2026-2027
Faith Formation
A New Way to Think About Religious Education
St. Dominic’s is excited to introduce Word of Life as the model of learning to help develop strong Catholic families in which children learn by experiencing the joys of following Jesus Christ and the truths of our Faith through the witness of Christian life given by their parents. Word of Life unites a faithful articulation of the faith as it is presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church with, when necessary, esteemed sources in the living tradition of the Church to form a presentation of faith that is meaningful, practical, and intelligible for children today.
Family Faith Formation will support parents in the religious formation and education of their children through instruction, prayer experiences, retreats, and community building events.
Curriculum
Word of Life is a comprehensive, multifaceted K–8 curriculum that calls children, parents, teachers, and catechists to conversion and transformation in Christ.
This new initiative is a rediscovery rather than a reinvention. Word of Life unites a faithful articulation of the faith as it is presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church with, when necessary, esteemed sources in the living tradition of the Church to form a presentation of faith that is meaningful, practical, and intelligible for modern students. Word of Life brings together faith and reason and demonstrates how the truths of the faith speak to the human heart.
YEAR CALENDAR
Religious Ed Calendar 2026-2027 (Click Here)
- First Class Gathering: September 27, 2026
- Class time 3:30 PM-4:45 PM
Parent & Student Family Orientations (In-Person):
– September 13th, 3:30 PM-4:45 PM in the Parish Hall
or
– September 14th, 6:30-7:45 PM in the Parish Hall
Families are asked to attend only one of the Orientation Dates.
Locations:
See Campus Map (here) for class locations
Textbooks Pickup
How it works
FAQs
Our K-8 Curriculum: the First of Its Kind
Word of Life catechizes both the head and the heart.
When you teach the faith as information, children forget it. When you teach the faith as the answer to their deepest longings, children treasure it.
What Children Learn (and Remember)
- Salvation history – They discover how they belong in God’s divine plan.
- Christian anthropology – They find their true identity in Christ.
- Heroic virtue – They build good habits with the help of God’s grace.
- Discipleship – They understand why being Catholic really matters.
1st Grade (Room 1)
2nd Grade (Room 2)
3rd Grade (Room 4)
4th-5th Grades (Room 5)
6th-7th Grades (Room 7)
How to Register Online:
REGISTRATION FOR 2026-2027 FAITH FORMATION OPEN NOW!
- Online Registration and Payment (Pushpay Payment):
Online registration and tuition payment by Pushpay is the most expedient way to register!
- Payment In-Person or By Mail: You may also drop-off payment at our Parish Office or mail (US Postal) to St. Dominic’s Church, Attention: RE, 475 East I Street, Benicia, CA 94510.
- In-Person Registration: In-Person Registration may be done by appointment only by contacting the RE Office at 707-335-4697 .
Registration is not confirmed until payment has been verified and all Sacrament Certificates have been received (for Year 2 Students preparing to receive a Sacrament).
FAITH FORMATION FEES FOR 2026-2027
- General Tuition – $100.00/per child
- 50% Discount for Catechists/Aides (Contact Teresita Dumanig)
- 2nd Year of Sacrament Preparation – $130.00/per child
- General Tuition + $30
- Tuition is $100 in the first year and $130 in the second year.
- Children who fall under this category are those who are in the second year of preparing for First Reconciliation & Holy Communion or OCIA Adapted for Children (See below for details).
- RE Scholarship
- Please contact Teresita Dumanig for more information about receiving a scholarship for Religious Education.
- Email: tdumanig@stdombenicia.org
- Phone: 707-335-4697
Sacrament Preparation
All students must be baptized and enrolled in our program for two years to properly prepare for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
The Diocese of Sacramento requires all children preparing for their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion receive two years of religious formation. Children receive First Holy Communion (Holy Eucharist) and First Reconciliation (Confession) in their second year of religious instruction in our parish school or through the Parish Religious Education Program. Please note, that children enrolled in our Kindergarten class will still need to complete two years of Religious Education before receiving the First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation. Children entering religious formation for the first time at grade levels beyond 2nd grade may do so with the same two-year preparation requirement. Base tuition for first year sacrament preparation is $100.00 per child. There is an additional $30.00 fee payable in year 2. Program fees and more information are included in the registration packet.
In the second year of sacrament preparation, parents will complete a series of digitally-based sacramental formation programs to further strengthen the family’s understanding of the sacramental life. These programs are streamed into home electronic devices (PC, Tablet, SmartPhone, SmartTV) using a free subscription service provided by the parish through Formed.org (Click Here).
The 8th Grade and up comprises our Confirmation Preparation Program. Information about the Confirmation program, schedule and registration process can be found on our Confirmation webpage or by (Clicking Here).
Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) Adapted for Children
Families who present to St. Dominic’s Church an unbaptized child (7 years of age and older) for the sacrament of baptism are, by virtue of their child’s age, their child’s desire, and without any law prohibiting, entitled to be fully initiated into the Church by conferral of the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation, at the proper time.
The proper time consist of a two-year process of formation in St. Dominic’s Faith Formation program coincident with the proper observance of the rites celebrated in the OCIA Adapted For Children in the child second year of formation culminating in the conferral of all the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Unbaptized children in the parish religious education program will receive supplemental “initiatory” formation alongside the mainstream religious education curriculum.
Fully initiated children continue their religious education along with their peers as part of their overall need for continuous learning that is required to cooperate with and perfect the sacraments received
Volunteer
- Thank You for Volunteering Instructions (Click Here)
- Diocese of Sacramento Guidelines for Adults Working with Children/Youth (Click Here)
- Diocese of Sacramento Code of Pastoral Conduct (Click Here)
- Request for Live Scan Service (Click Here)
- Safe Haven (Click Here)
Contact
Teresita Dumanig
Director of Religious Education
(Religious Education & OCIC)
Email: tdumanig@stdombenicia.org
Phone: 707.335.4697