Organising a parish Sunday school with order, safety and joy

Sunday school, the κατηχητικό, is often a child's first relationship with the parish beyond the Divine Liturgy. It is where they get to know the priest, make friends and learn about the faith in a way that suits their age. To work well, though, it needs organisation: sensible groups, supported catechists, clear communication with parents and real attention to safety. This guide brings together the practical steps for a parish that is starting a Sunday school or giving an existing one a fresh start.

Age groups

Children learn best alongside others of a similar age. How you divide them depends on how many children your parish has, but a common pattern is:

• Younger primary: stories, drawing, singing and short activities.
• Older primary: getting to know the Divine Liturgy, the feasts and the lives of the saints.
• Lower secondary: discussion, questions and first steps into parish life.
• Older teenagers and young people: topics that matter to them, volunteering and pilgrimages.

A small parish may have only two groups, and that is perfectly fine. A few groups that meet reliably are better than many that fade out halfway through the year.

The catechists

Catechists are the heart of the Sunday school. They are chosen with the priest's blessing and are people who live the life of the parish and have patience with children. Give them proper support: a meeting at the start of the year to plan, materials for the lessons and someone to turn to when something is not going well. If your Metropolis or diocese runs training for catechists, encourage them to take part. Ideally each group has two adults rather than one, so absences are covered and no adult is ever alone with the children.

Communicating with parents

Parents want to know where and when, who is responsible and what their children are doing. At the start of the year, share a short information sheet with the timetable, the catechists' names, a contact number and the key dates. During the year, let them know about changes, outings and events in good time. One reliable channel is better than many scattered messages. You will find more ideas in our article on parish communication.

Children's data needs extra care

To run a Sunday school, the parish needs some information: the child's name and age, a parent or guardian's contact details and an emergency number. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives children's data particular protection. In plain terms, that means:

• Only what you need: do not collect details you will not use.
• Written consent from parents: for enrolment, for receiving messages and, separately, for photos or videos.
• Care with health information: allergies or medical needs are sensitive data. Share them only with those who genuinely need to know.
• Safe storage: no lists on personal phones or in open group chats.
• Deletion: when a child stops attending, their details do not need to be kept forever.

For more detail, see our guide to GDPR for parishes and, for official guidance, your national data protection authority.

Safety at every session

Keeping children safe is the responsibility of the whole parish. A few simple rules make a big difference: two adults in every group, a register taken at each session, a clear rule about who may collect each child, and knowing where the first aid kit and the exits are. For outings, ask parents for separate permission and make sure there are enough adults to accompany the group. Parishes abroad should also follow the safeguarding requirements of their diocese and their country.

Planning the year

Sunday school usually follows the school year, from autumn to spring. Tie the programme to the rhythm of the Church year: preparing for Christmas, the Triodion and Holy Week, and taking part in the parish's patronal feast. An act of love, such as a food collection together with the Philoptochos, shows children faith in practice. Close the year with a celebration, so the children look forward to coming back in September.

Convivia is being designed so that a parish can organise its Sunday school groups, record parental consent and keep in touch with families from one place, with children's details properly protected. Explore the features.