Frequently Asked Questions

CatechismClass.com is an online Catholic education platform founded in 2004 by Father James Zatalava. Recognizing the growing challenges in Catholic religious education, such as budget constraints, logistical difficulties, and declining student engagement, CatechismClass.com offers a convenient and flexible solution for parishes, families, and individuals seeking quality faith formation. Father Zatalava has been a pioneer in religious education and has worked for the best in Catholic education to be made available to as many people as possible through the convenience of modern technology. We are proud to be the first online Catholic education program ever created. Our courses and learning platform addresses these challenges by providing:

• Accessibility: 24/7 online access to comprehensive courses that can be completed at the user's own pace.
• Affordability: Cost-effective programs compared to traditional classroom settings.
• Flexibility: Adaptable to various learning styles and situations, including homeschooling and accommodating students with disabilities.
• Engaging Content: Interactive lessons, quizzes, and multimedia elements designed to enhance learning and retention.
• Strong Parental Involvement: Tools for parents and/or parishes to monitor student progress and reinforce learning at home.

CatechismClass.com was founded by our Editor, Fr. James D. Zatalava.

CatechismClass.com provides comprehensive Catholic religion courses accessible to everyone. Our courses are available online 24/7 and can be completed entirely at your own pace, with lifetime access to the material—even after you finish the program. There are no subscriptions or long-term commitments required. The courses are completed through a simple web browser, so no software downloads are necessary. You can access our programs from any internet-connected device, including laptops, desktops, tablets, or mobile phones. We offer the best in Catholic education, making it convenient to explore the fullness of the Catholic Faith. Whether you are preparing for the Sacraments or simply seeking to (re)discover what the Church truly teaches, we have programs tailored to your needs.

Yes, CatechismClass.com is fully committed to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Our programs are developed in complete accordance with the Catholic Faith, and we exclusively produce Catholic materials. All of our staff — including writers, editors, and programmers — sign an Oath of Fidelity pledging their allegiance to the Catholic Church.

The rise of online education is a growing trend, and our programs have already contributed to conversions and increased participation in the Sacraments. Our RCIA program, for example, is used by parishes to accommodate members with demanding travel schedules or those with disabilities that make weekly in-person classes difficult.

Additionally, our children’s courses have helped countless families teach the Faith at home, eliminating the excuse that sports or extracurricular activities should take precedence over religious education. These programs also empower children with physical or mental disabilities to learn at their own pace. We’ve received numerous testimonials from grateful families who found our platform accessible and adaptable to their needs.

Moreover, our best-selling godparent classes allow godparents, even those living far apart, to study the same high-quality pre-baptismal material, making it easier for families to prepare together regardless of distance.

Yes! CatechismClass.com is used by both parishes and individuals, including homeschoolers, families, and those studying on their own. Our programs are designed for everyone, regardless of their role or prior knowledge of Catholicism. To learn more about how parishes can implement our courses, visit our Parish Implementation Page.

No, our programs are not necessarily intended to replace in-person learning. While we offer some of the best online courses for Catholic faith formation, our materials are designed to serve as exceptional resources that happen to be online, rather than substitutes for community learning.

We encourage our students to attend Mass regularly, participate actively in the devotional and apostolic life of their parishes, and live out their Faith through prayer and good works. Many of our lessons include activities that foster a deeper connection with both the local and Universal Church.

All of the six tasks are directly addressed by our lessons:

• Promoting Knowledge of the Faith - Through the Catechism section in all lessons
• Liturgical Education - Throughout our lessons in the Integration & Catechism Sections
• Moral Formation - In the Catechism and Activity Sections
• Teaching to Pray - In our Opening and Closing Prayer Sections
• Education for Community Life - In the Catechism and Activity Sections
• Missionary Initiation - In our Activity Sections

An Imprimatur is an official approval by the Catholic Church that literally means "it may be printed." Historically, this distinction was important during the Counter-Reformation to help the Faithful distinguish between books that adhered to Church teachings and those that did not. However, Imprimaturs apply only to printed books, not to online courses. The Church does not grant Imprimaturs for digital programs, so no online Catholic course can claim to have one.

That said, CatechismClass.com enjoys the highest level of support available to an online program, with endorsements from several U.S. bishops and Bishop Robert Vasa serving as our Episcopal Advisor.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) does not review, recommend, or endorse any online curricula, including those produced by Catholic organizations. As outlined in their document The Conformity of Catechetical Materials with the Catechism of the Catholic Church - Criteria and Applicability (January 2010), the USCCB does not conduct conformity reviews for audio tapes, video tapes, websites, or DVDs. Therefore, online programs fall outside the scope of their review.

However, CatechismClass.com has received the highest level of support available to an online program. We are endorsed by several U.S. bishops, and Bishop Robert Vasa serves as our Episcopal Advisor.

CatechismClass.com does have the highest level of support that an online program can have, in that we have the endorsement of several US bishops and have Bishop Robert Vasa as our Episcopal Advisor.

There is no standardized accreditation process for online Catholic education, nor is there diocesan approval on a consistent basis. However, CatechismClass.com has received endorsements from several U.S. bishops, theologians—including Dr. Scott Hahn—and other prominent, faithful Catholics. We have the highest level of support that any online Catholic organization can obtain. In addition to having a bishop as our official advisor, many priests and theologians have endorsed our courses. For a full listing of our endorsements, please see the "About Us" Page.

As an online-based organization, CatechismClass.com does not have a call center and is unable to provide phone support. However, we offer an efficient online support system with industry-leading response times. If you have a specific question that isn’t answered in this FAQ, please reach out to us through our support system.

We apologize for any inconvenience, but rest assured that we are committed to helping with any questions via email. Many users have found our email support to be faster and more responsive than the phone support offered by other organizations.

CatechismClass.com is accessible through any internet-connected device with a web browser. No specific software downloads are necessary. The platform is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with step-by-step instructions and readily available technical support.

CatechismClass.com has received endorsements from numerous U.S. bishops, theologians—including Dr. Scott Hahn—and many other committed Catholics. Notably, we have also received support and prayers from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who reached out to encourage our efforts. For a complete list of our endorsements, please visit the page titled Who is CatechismClass.comWho is CatechismClass.com.

While CatechismClass.com is widely used, the acceptance of our online program in place of in-person classes ultimately depends on the discretion of each individual priest. If you wish to use CatechismClass.com as a substitute for a parish Sacramental Preparation program, approval is required from your parish.

However, as a self-study program for individuals or for parents teaching their children, all Catholics are free to use our program in accordance with Pope John Paul II's decree in Gravissimum Educationis.

CatechismClass.com has been reviewed by various organizations and individuals, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Karl Keating (President of Catholic Answers), and Cathy Duffy of Cathy Duffy Homeschool Curriculum Reviews. All have positively assessed our programs in terms of content and approach.

For instance, Karl Keating stated:

"I attended public schools, which meant we were packed off to CCD classes one evening a week. The acronym stands for Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, but it could have stood for Catholic Children Daydreaming. That's how boring it seemed, and the result was that it was the last religious instruction many of my peers had. So what to do for your kids? You might want to take a look at an online program called CatechismClass.com. It is for kids through twelfth grade, though I suspect not a few adults would find it a good refresher. The entire program is delivered online at the student's own pace. I've taken a look at the site, and it certainly looks to be a step up (a very big step up) from the CCD classes I took."

— Karl Keating, Founder of Catholic Answers, E-Letter (8/31/04)

We have received positive testimonials from hundreds customers. Here is just a small sample from the thousands of customers we serve each year:

We have the highest level of a support that an online Catholic course provider can have. Several U.S. bishops endorse the platform, hundreds of priests recommend and refer people to our classes, and Bishop Robert Vasa serves as the Episcopal Advisor. CatechismClass.com adheres to the teachings of the Catholic Church and is committed to providing authentic and reliable faith formation resources.

Yes, all of our online courses are designed to be taken at the student's own pace and on a schedule that suits their learning needs. Our courses are entirely asynchronous, allowing students to learn whenever it works best for them. Classes are always accessible, day or night.

CatechismClass.com offers a wide range of courses for children and adults, covering various aspects of Catholic faith and practice. Some of the key programs include:

• Sacramental Preparation: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage preparation courses for children, teens, and adults.
• Godparent Preparation: Comprehensive program for godparents preparing for a child's baptism.
• Grade-Level Programs: Curriculum aligned with Catholic educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade.
• Adult Faith Formation: Courses on the Catechism, Scripture, Church history, and other topics relevant to adult Catholics.
• Homeschooling Resources: Comprehensive programs for homeschooling families seeking to integrate Catholic faith formation.

To see a complete listing of our courses, please see our courses page by clicking here.

Yes, we offer several options for parishes that wish to use our program. If you are looking to purchase multiple copies for a parish, please visit our Parish Implementation Page for more information on bulk discounts. The prices of our programs decrease as the number of purchased copies increases.

We guarantee that during your first year with CatechismClass.com, we will provide our materials at a lower cost than what you are currently paying for your printed materials, provided you agree to switch exclusively to CatechismClass.com for your religious education. Please contact us via our support ticketing system to discuss the best discounted pricing we can offer you.

All of our lessons follow our seven step format: 1. Introduction, 2. Opening Prayer, 3. Scripture Passages, 4. Catechism Passages, 5. Lesson, 6. Activity, and 7. Closing Prayer. And, all lessons end with a short quiz. Read more on our Curriculum Format Page.

No. All of our materials are online. Nothing is physically shipped. As stated on our website in several places, including in our terms and conditions, we offer online lessons, not books through this website. You can view your materials immediately by logging in and selecting the My Lessons tab on the Menu Bar after you have placed an order. This is mentioned in all order confirmations as well.

Yes, we offer over a dozen courses. Two of our most popular courses for adult faith formation are our Adult Faith Formation Level I Course as well as our Catholic Liturgical Year Course. We produce our best-selling Adult Faith Formation Level I Course, which is used both by catechumens going through RCIA as well as Catholics who want an in-depth study course on Catholicism.

Our Catholic Liturgical Year Course is designed to help Catholics study the major feast and fast days in the Church and thus connect them with the Scriptures, Catechism excerpts, and Church teachings as they relate to the Liturgical Year. In addition to these, we offer a number of adult level elective courses meant for those wishing to learn the Faith or those who are already Catholic and wish to learn more. All are highly afforable.

We produce grade-based programs for children ranging in age from our kindergarten through 12th Grade. Click here to view our catalogue. These programs are used by children who are homeschooled as well as by parishes for their CCD or PREP programs. Many parishes are facing a lack of teachers and our programs are allowing those parishes to provide education to students without needing as many teachers. In most instances, fewer teachers can be used.

Additionally, some parishes are using our programs to provide for children that are physically or mentally challenged who have trouble in attending in person classes. When the divorced parents share custody, one parent may be opposed to the child's religious education and that child as a result can only go every other week to CCD. Our programs allow them to work from home any night of the week, thus eliminating this issue.

CatechismClass.com is also widely regarded as one of the best programs in terms of its fidelity to Catholic Tradition. Many parents may wish to simply homeschool their children or use our program in conjunction with other classes for that reason as well.

There are no time limits on our courses. You can take as much time as you need - your subscription will never expire. You may refer back to your lessons years in the future.

The Adult Programs use the Douay Rheims and the children use the RSV-CE. These are both approved Catholic Bible translations. From a convert's perspective, many adults find greater benefit from the Douay Rheims because its style more closely mirrors that of the King James Version.

The Clementine Vulgate was proclaimed the official Latin Bible of the Church after the Reformation. From St. Jerome's time, through the Middle Ages, until vernacular editions were introduced, educated Catholics throughout the world were familiar with the Vulgate. The Douay-Rheims Bible is an English translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible, a version universally used in the Church for over 1500 years, itself meticulously translated from the original Hebrew and Greek by St. Jerome (A.D. 340-420).

In 1546, the Council of Trent declared the Vulgate Bible as authentic, and declared that "No one (may) dare or presume under any pretext whatsoever to reject it" (4th Session, April 8, 1546). In 1943, Pope Pius XII stated that the continuous use of the Vulgate Bible in the Church for many centuries showed that it was "free from any error whatsoever in matters of faith and morals" (Divino Afflante Spiritu (1943), paragraph 21). The English translation of that Bible, the Douay Rheims, has been used for centuries and as such is always approved and has always been approved. It has existed and been used longer than the USCCB has been in existence, unlike the modern translations they are reviewing for their list.

Some of our programs require the purchase of outside books to use in conjunction with our materials. Only a few of our courses require this and they include: The Life of Christ & the New Testament Adult Level Course (which is part of the Adult Faith Formation Level I), the First Holy Communion Preparation Lesson, & the Confirmation Preparation Lesson. The outside books required are readily available on Amazon.com and through other retailers for an extremely nominal price.

Our programs are implemented on a parish-by-parish basis, so acceptance is ultimately at the discretion of your diocese and the pastor of your parish. If you wish to use our curriculum to prepare for the Sacraments in place of in-person classes, we encourage you to discuss our programs with your priest. He is welcome to contact us directly if he has any questions or concerns.

Yes, CatechismClass.com is used by thousands of students each year who are learning the Catholic Faith through our unique online courses. As the oldest online Catholic religious education provider, established in 2004, we are committed to supporting you and your family. Our platform's grade-level programs provide a comprehensive and structured curriculum covering all aspects of Catholic faith formation. We help empower parents to effectively teach their children the Faith at home and offers flexibility to adapt to each child's learning pace and style.

Many parents choose to homeschool their children and find great value in our programs. Most parishes allow parents to homeschool during non-Sacramental preparation years, as the Church recognizes parents as the first educators in the Faith. However, for Sacramental preparation years (typically 2nd grade and 8th grade, though this can vary), the acceptance of our course as a substitute for the in-person Sacramental class is at the discretion of the parish. We rarely hear of issues with parents homeschooling during non-Sacramental years, but for Sacramental years, it's advisable to seek permission from your parish. We recommend checking with your parish regarding this for those specific years.

As our lessons are all online, interactive lessons you may sample them by buying individual lessons if you'd like to try a few lessons before buying a course. On any course page (e.g. 1st grade), just scroll down to see all the lessons that are contained in the program. Each of those lessons may be purchased individually. So you may sample lessons for only a few dollars before buying a full course.

We also have a few PDFs available so you can see a sample of the content of various lessons without having to make an order. See our Sample Lesson Page for more information.

CatechismClass.com is a leading provider in preparing both children and adults for their Sacraments. Our programs are designed for you to complete at your own pace and schedule, with convenient and reliable 24/7 online access. While our courses generally allow you to study at home without the need for in-person classes, acceptance of our program in place of an in-person Sacramental class is ultimately at the pastor's discretion.

After successfully completing our Sacramental Preparation coursework, you will receive a CatechismClass.com Certificate. This certificate can be presented to your priest or parish to demonstrate that you have completed formal study in preparation for the Sacraments.

It's important to note that only a validly ordained Catholic priest can administer the Sacraments. Our comprehensive Sacramental preparation provides the essential learning required before a priest will allow someone to receive the Sacraments. You will still need to arrange for a priest of your choosing to administer the Sacraments after you complete our coursework.

You can use our Course Selector to find what programs fit your current situation. You will need to pass all required coursework to receive our Certificate of Completion.

You can use our Course Selector to find what programs fit your current situation.

You will need our Baptism Preparation Program. Click here to preview the course and enroll.

You can use our Course Selector to find what programs fit your current situation. We offer a number of different options and what you will need will depend on your specific situation. The Course Selector will guide you to all of the correct materials.

You can use our Course Selector to find what programs fit your current situation.

You can use our Course Selector to find what programs fit your current situation.

CatechismClass.com is widely used, but that being said, as stated in our terms and conditions, ultimate acceptance of our online program in lieu of an in-person class is ultimately up to the discretion of each individual priest.

We do not produce lists of parishes that use our program and only know about such parishes after people write us and express their gratitude. As individuals and families ordinarily do the ordering themselves, we have no way of producing lists of the parishes that use our program in any specific city. We have users in all 50 states and are aware of several dozen parishes using this program on a wide scale, but we do not produce lists. We always suggest contacting your parish and telling them that you would like to use CatechismClass.com. If your parish has any questions, they may always reach out to us for further clarification and information.

We offer a number of courses available for those studying for Baptism Preparation (Catechumens in RCIA, Godparents, and Parents of children who are to be baptized), Confirmation Preparation, First Holy Communion Preparation, First Confession Preparation, Marriage Preparation, and more. To earn any of these certificates, please ensure you follow the Course Selector page to determine if you have taken the right courses for your situation. CatechismClass.com is entirely committed to understanding our students are 100% fully prepared for the reception of their Sacraments and CatechismClass.com staff thorough review all user tests before certificates are issued.

Adults completing individual elective offerings are also able to request certificates of completion for their courses of study. Children are also able to request certificates of completion for their course work each year.

Click here to read the requirements to pass our programs. Requirements vary depending on the program in question.

Once you have met all the certificate requirements, you can request a certificate of completion. For our Sacramental Preparation Courses, this process is automated and can be completed at the end of your coursework. Simply follow the prompts to request your certificate.

To request your certificate, log in to your account and go to 'My Lessons' under 'My Account.' Click on the 'Quiz Results' link for your final quiz and select the quiz title (the most recent one). Once you’re in the quiz results panel, click 'See Details' and look for the green button at the top to access the order form. If needed, you may be prompted to pay the certificate fee before submitting.

Once submitted, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

For RCIA, adult stand-alone courses, or children’s grade course certificates, please reach out to us through our support ticketing system. Our team will review your account and guide you through the process of obtaining your custom certificate of completion.

As an educational institution, we are tasked with ensuring that all of our users abide by our terms of academic integrity and pass their programs properly to earn the desired certificates. Just as someone takes a class at a university, a college, a high school, etc., the cost of attendance here is per person. Each individual must have a paid copy of the course in order to complete it and verify they have read it and understood it by taking and passing the quiz at the end of the course.

We can include two names on the same certificate only if both individuals separately register for the course of study and take their tests separately. Each user whose name is on a Certificate of Completion must have taken the test individually and be individually registered on the website. There will still be separate processing fees to cover the administrative review and processing time.

To maintain the low prices of our courses, we charge a nominal fee for the preparation and issuance of certificates of completion for those who wish to receive one. You only pay for your certificate after you have successfully completed your coursework.

Please note that if you do not pass the course, the certificate fee is non-refundable. The fee will remain active on your account for one year after purchase; if it is not used within that time, it will expire.

All certificate requests require a standard certificate processing fee to be purchased first. Having a standard processing fee in your account is a prerequisite for obtaining the expedited fee.

If you need to expedite a certificate request, you can purchase the expedited processing fee at any time, before starting the course, after completing it, or even after submitting your certificate request.

For Sacramental Preparation Courses, instructions for purchasing the expedited fee are typically included within the course, often on the final page. If you purchase the expedited fee after submitting your request, the system will automatically adjust to prioritize your certificate processing.

For RCIA, adult stand-alone courses, or children’s grade courses, please reach out to us through our our support ticketing system. Our team will review your request and provide detailed instructions to ensure your certificate is processed promptly.

Keep in mind that all certificate requirements must still be met before processing.

All of our certificates are issued electronically via email, and the processing charges cover the review, preparation, and transmission of the electronic certificate. For those who specifically require printed copies, we do offer that option for an additional shipping charge to cover mailing expenses.

The mailed certificate will be identical to the emailed version but will be printed on official certificate paper and stamped with our institution's official corporate seal. All mailed certificates are sent standard USPS First Class mail without exception.

Please do not wait until the last minute to request a mailed certificate; requests should be made at least 7 business days in advance to ensure timely delivery. We are ultimately not responsible for USPS delivery delays.

Our courses have received endorsements from many U.S. bishops, theologians including Dr. Scott Hahn, and other prominent Catholics. For a complete list of our endorsements, please click here.

Our programs are implemented on a parish-by-parish basis, so acceptance is ultimately at the discretion of your diocese and the pastor of your parish if you wish to use our curriculum for receiving the Sacraments. Please refer to our terms of use for more detailed disclosures.

That said, individuals can confidently use the program for self-study without concern. Similarly, parents have the right to educate their children outside of parish programs, especially during non-Sacramental preparation years. Our programs can be utilized by all parents in fulfillment of Pope John Paul II's decree in "Gravissimum Educationis," which emphasizes that parents are the first educators of their children.

Our standard emailed certificates are issued within 2 - 3 days of the request. It will state that it was issued by the instructors of CatechismClass.com and bear the electronic signature of our president as well as our founding priest, Fr. James Zatalava, who wrote the course. It will have the date, your name, and state which course you have completed. These are electronic signatures - not physically hand-signed. For an additional fee, you may request e-delivery within 24 hours

For an additional fee, you may order a mailed certificate. Mailed certificates are printed on certificate paper and include our institution's official corporate seal issued from the State of Pennsylvania stamped on it, in addition to the electronic signatures. Mailed certificates are an extra $20 and ship standard USPS First Class mail only.

Quizzes are incorporated into each lesson to assess understanding and retention of the material. Passing scores are required to receive a certificate of completion. Retakes are allowed, and additional support is provided for those who struggle with specific concepts. For Sacramental preparation courses, a certificate of completion demonstrates your commitment to learning and can be presented to your parish priest as part of your preparation process. Click here to read the requirements to pass our programs. The score will vary depending on what courses you are enrolled in.

Yes, retake options are available. No one who has put in the time and energy to take our courses as ever failed them! Please read the Policy on Certificate Requirements and Retakes.

If you are studying as a student of a parish that is registered on CatechismClass.com, you should contact your parish DRE or administrator who oversees your online account. That person can reset your quiz for you.

If you are a parent and you properly set up your child as a student of your account, as detailed in the New User Manual, you may reset your student's quizzes yourself.

If you are not set up as a student of a parish or as a child user on the site, you may contact CatechismClass.com via our support ticket system to request a retake. However, please carefully note that you should only contact us after you finish all lessons in your program of study. At the very end of your lessons, when all lessons have been completed, you may ask for the Administrative Evaluation. This includes quizzes from elective courses. At that point, any quiz meriting a re-take will be granted. All retakes are granted at the same time.

Forgot your password? To get a new password and login, please click here and fill out the form.

If you would like to reset your password after you have already logged in, you may do so by using the "My Profile" tab on the Menu Bar.

Yes, both are case sensitive.

Modifying your profile happens under the "My Profile" tab.

Creating a student happens under "My Students" on the "Create a New Student" link as detailed in the New User Manual. In this screen, all text fields are required.

When you log in to your account, you are immediately placed on your "My Lessons" screen. Scoll down to access your materials.

If you have just purchased lesson materials and do not see them, sometimes there is a short delay due to processing. Keep in mind that electronic payments are not automatic. Materials are added to your account only after your bank clears the payment and routes it back. That may take up to 30 minutes depending on your bank.

No, only a parent or parish director may reset a student password; please ask the parent or parish director for this.

CatechismClass.com uses both Stripe and Paypal to process purchases in order to provide the highest security to our users. With both Stripe and PayPal, we never see, handle, or store any personal payment information for our customers. You have the option to pay using a debit card or a credit card during the check out process under either processor. There are no customer-assessed transaction fees to use either option.

CatechismClass.com provides various User Manuals as a further aid. Detailed user manuals are available for both new customers (Click to Download) and Parish Coordinators (Click to Download) in PDF format.