Catechism at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Jebel Ali, is conducted in English, Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Korean, Malayalam Syro-Malabar Rite and Syro Malankara Rite.

• Students join Grade KG on completion of 05 years of age and continue their nine-year faith formation journey that culminates with the Sacrament of Confirmation in Grade 8. Journeying ahead, our Teens join the Teen Ministry for the next 04 years under the Forge Group.
• Regular attendance for all grades is mandatory to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation (Grade 3), First Holy Communion (Grade 4) and Confirmation (Grade 8).
• Children who have not been attending Catechism regularly will have to finish the full period of preparation (including missed sessions) and may receive the sacrament at a later time than those in their grade who have been regularly attending. 
• Students already in the Catechism programme will proceed to the next grade provided they meet the attendance criteria and by paying the re-enrollment fee (communicated during mass announcements) for the next catechetical year.
• Each catechetical year starts in September and ends in May. 
• Each of these grades have a separate curriculum (for English Catechism only) as described below.
  • Grades KG-6 use Sadliers – ‘We Believe' series approved by the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia and the Office of Christian Formation for Parish Catechism.
  • Grade 7 and 8 use the 'Called to be Faithful - A Confirmation journey' specially developed as a confirmation program for use in the Vicariate.
  • Grades 9 -12 follow 'Life Teen' Programme (Forge Group).
• For First Holy Communion, Children prepare themselves for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Grade 3 and receive their First Holy Communion in Grade 4.
• For Confirmation, preparations for Confirmation begin in Grade 7 (pre-confirmation class) and students receive the Sacrament of Confirmation usually during Pentecost which coincides with the end of Grade 8.
• Post confirmation students join the Teen Ministry (Forge) that leads to initiation into Young Adults (Youth Group).
• In addition to regular lessons, the catechism year features a number of activities, retreats etc. oriented towards social responsibility, charity and spiritual growth.

• Registration Guidelines (Applicable for NEW registrations only)

  • Only NEW Students need to register (***Note, existing students who are already enrolled in our catechism program and attend catechism classes need not register again for the upcoming new catechetical year).
  • Registrations are open for children aged 05 - 17yrs. 
  • Catechism classes for the new catechetical year will resume on Sept 12^th, 13^th & 14th and will conclude on May 8^th, 9^th & 10^th , 2026. 
  • FINAL CALL FOR NEW REGISTRATIONS AND RE-ENROLLMENTS : REGISTRATIONS CLOSE ON Sept 1^st, 2025
  • For successful registration, it is mandatory to upload the required documents (Child’s Baptism Certificate, First Holy Communion and Confirmation Certificate if the child has received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion/ Confirmation, Child's Photograph, attendance/ transfer certificate from the previous parish must be uploaded.)
     
     Catechism Group Coordinator Details:
    
     ENGLISH
  • 
     English Catechism takes place three times a week, with each batch                                    having its own dedicated group coordinators.
     Friday Evening Catechism at 5:45pm, Mass at 7.00pm 
     Coordinator: Janet Henderson
     Email: [email protected]
     
     Saturday Evening Catechism at 4:15pm, Mass at 5.30pm
     Coordinators: Queenie Mareena & Tisha Ruiz
     Email: [email protected]
  • Saturday PM English catechism batch is closed for 2025-2026  registrations, please opt for Friday PM or Sunday AM catechism  batches
  • 
     Sunday Morning Catechism at 9am & 10.30am
     FHC Batch Gr. KG - 4 : Mass at 9am followed by Catechism at 10.30 am
     Coordinator: Shiny Anthraper
     Email: [email protected]
     
  • Confirmation Batch Gr. 5 – 8 & Gr. 9 – 12 (Forge 1 - 4) Catechism at            9am followed with Mass at 10.30am
     Coordinator: Maria Leo
     Email: [email protected]
     
     
     SYRO-MALABAR RITE 
     Syro-Malabar Rite Catechism takes place every Saturday at 6.30pm.            (Text Books and Medium of Communication is English), Mass at      8.00pm)
     Coordinators: Benny & Neenu
     Email: [email protected]
     
     SYRO-MALANKARA RITE 
     Syro-Malankara Rite Catechism takes place every 2^nd  & 4^th Sunday    at 2pm, Mass at 3pm
     Coordinators: Premin Thomas 
    Email: [email protected]
     
     ARABIC
     Arabic Catechism takes place every Saturday at 10.15 am, Mass at          12noon. Contact: Arabic Office
     Tel. 04 3376113 / Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
     
     FRENCH
     French Catechism takes place every Saturday at 8.45 am, Mass at 10am
     For info and registration for French catechism, please contact :Email:[email protected] or  [email protected]
     
     ITALIAN
     Italian Catechism takes place every Saturday at 2.30 pm, Mass every            1^st and 3^rd Saturday at 3.30pm
      Coordinator: Cristina Cencelli
      Email: [email protected]
     
     
      SPANISH - Tuesday, September 3rd at 5pm
      Spanish Catechism takes place every Tuesday at 5.15 pm
      Coordinator: Lolimar Vazquez Navarro
      Email: [email protected] 
     
     KOREAN
     Korean Catechism takes place every Sunday at 3pm and Mass takes            place every 2^nd & 4^th week at 2pm
     Coordinator: Cecillia Yun
     Email: [email protected] 
     
     POLISH & GERMAN
     Polish Catechism takes place every Sunday at 4.30pm, Mass at          5.30pm
     German Catechism every Sunday at 6.30pm
     Coordinator: Ewa Banaczek
     Email:  [email protected] 
  • Cristo link to update child details : To update parent/child details in Cristo, please access the link below(Student registration number required to login) :
     https://cristo.avosa.org/student/updation/form/JA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    CATECHISM CO-ORDINATOR - JANET HENDERSON                   Email - [email protected]                                                                                                                                                                                     
  • Click here to register as Catechist at our Parish