Elementary Faith Formation

Welcome to Elementary Faith Formation at St. Pius X

Registration is now open for registered parishioners! If you were registered at St. Pius X on or before June 23, please click below to access the registration form.

Review of the Important Documents & Forms on the sidebar is required prior to registration.

Click to Register

Elementary Faith Formation Program

First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion Preparation

Students must complete the First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion curriculum in person on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday during the 2025-2026 academic year. Parents must attend all communicated Parent Sessions, including one session with Bishop Caggiano on September 30, 2025 (location TBD).

First Reconciliations will take place during the regularly scheduled class time (4:30PM – 5:30PM) March 9-11, 2026.

First Communion Masses are scheduled for May 2 and May 9, 2026, with an additional Mass scheduled for May 16 if registration requires it. The full Mass schedule will be released on or before December 31, after consulting with catechists on their availability.

Confirmation Preparation

Requirements for Confirmation

  • Participation in 14-Week intensive Confirmation Preparation program. This is offered in-person only.
  • Regular participation in Edge Middle School Youth Ministry once (or more) per month from September through June (Wednesdays 6:30 PM – 8 PM, calendar of meetings posted www.fairfieldlt.com/edge)
  • Parent attendance at any communicated Parent Sessions

14-Week Confirmation Preparation Experience (Registration Closed)

Students will attend 14 weekly classes (Mondays ONLY 4:30PM – 5:30PM). The 14 week program will be offered twice during the academic year (Cohort 1 & Cohort 2) as noted below:

  • Cohort 1: September 15 – December 22, 2025
  • Cohort 2: January 5 – April 27, 2026

Edge Middle School Youth Ministry

Edge helps middle school students in grades 6-8 engage their faith and their parish community, form friendships, ask questions, and grow in their relationship with God.

The Diocese of Bridgeport has asked all parishes to encourage and foster both good catechesis for students and a deep connection for students with their community of faith. With Edge Middle School Youth Ministry, we hope to help our students grow in fellowship, faith, and friendship. With our 14-week immediate preparation for Confirmation, our students will be well-catechized to understand their Catholic faith.

Confirmation Date

The Office of the Bishop has assigned Saturday, May 23, 2026 as our Confirmation date. There will be two celebrations for Confirmation on that date at 10AM and 12PM. 

2025-2026 Calendar

Updated June 16, 2025

All families are welcome and encouraged to attend VIRTUS Training, the Diocesan Safe Environment program. For more information and to register for a session, please click here.

What time do we need to arrive?
Every candidate and their family MUST be seated no less than 10 minutes prior to your scheduled start time. Late arrivals will forfeit their assigned pew and will be moved to a pew in the back of the church, so as to not disturb the celebration.
What is the Sponsor Affirmation Form, and where can we find it?
The Sponsor Affirmation Form is exactly what it sounds like! It affirms that the candidate’s sponsor meets all of the requirements to act as sponsor, and must be filled out truthfully by every sponsor.
  • Download the Sponsor Affirmation Form
Is it safe to attend an indoor ceremony? Will Confirmations take place outside?
We have been celebrating Masses publicly at St. Pius X since June 2020 without any confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to Mass attendance (thank God!), and any COVID-19 protocols still in place at the time of Confirmation will be followed without exception. Because of this, Confirmations will not take place outside of the church.
Can we take a picture with the Bishop/Fr. Sam?
Yes! Please follow all instructions given for photos on the day of Confirmation. We encourage you to use the parish grounds to take any additional photos you wish. This allows us time to prepare for the next Confirmation celebration and/or our Saturday Vigil Mass. Please be mindful of others when taking photos, and please do not enter the sanctuary without permission!
Can I take a picture of my child(ren) being confirmed?
You are welcome to take any photos you wish from your assigned seat! However, only myself or a professional photographer (based on availability) will be allowed to take pictures outside of the pews in order to ensure that the moment is captured, unobstructed, for each candidate.
Are seats assigned?
Yes. The candidate, sponsor, and family will have one pew reserved for them on the date of Confirmation. A seating chart will be emailed for reference the week of Confirmation.
Will the Eucharist be distributed?
Because Confirmation will take place within a Celebration of the Word of God, the Eucharist will not be distributed.

Questions?

Shari Mellinger
Director of Elementary Faith Formation
sgarcia@st-pius.org
203.259.4800

Elementary Faith Formation Office Hours
(June 23 – August 31)

M–Th: 11AM – 4PM
F: in-person by appointment

The Elementary Faith Formation Office is located in the Faith Center. The office in the Religious Education Center is only open during program hours.

Important Documents & Forms (updated 6/16/2025)

Tuition & Fees

Tuition for Elementary Faith Formation for 2025-2026 is $250 per child.

A $25 First Communion fee will be added to registrations for First Reconciliation/First Communion Preparation to cover the costs associated with the celebration.

A $50 Confirmation fee will be added to registrations for Confirmation Preparation to cover the costs associated with the celebration.

Families have the option to pay online with a credit card ($5 processing fee applies) or by check.

If paying by check, please make checks payable to St. Pius X with your Invoice # and Child’s Name in the memo line.

Payments can be dropped off in the Faith Center Office (c/o Shari Mellinger) during office hours (Monday – Thursday between 9am and 4pm) or can be mailed to:

St. Pius X
ATTN: Shari Mellinger
834 Brookside Drive
Fairfield, CT 06824

Tuition Assistance

Cost should not be a factor when pursuing Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation for your child. If your family requires tuition assistance* or a multiple child discount, please select the ‘Pay by Check’ option when submitting the Elementary Faith Formation Registration Form, and fill out the request form linked below. Upon receipt of the request form, you will receive a response via email with your updated invoice attached.

*Sacramental Fees not eligible for assistance