February 15, 2026 Essay: Living the Gospel Beyond the Classroom
Faith and Love in Action
Psalm 119:33-34 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your decrees, and I will follow it to the end. Give me understanding, and I will observe your law and obey it with all my heart.
Each week from September through May, the Interparish Religious Education Program, affectionately known as IREP, gathers to teach and guide approximately 225 students, ages 3 to 18, deeper into their faith lives and prepare them for the sacraments. Our dedicated catechists work to help young people grow in knowledge and love of Christ, building an understanding of our faith to help sustain them throughout their lives.
But our mission extends far beyond the classroom walls. We remind our students that a faithful Christian life requires both heartfelt participation in the sacramental life of the Church and active, compassionate service in the world around us. Christ’s incarnation, God’s profound participation in our humanness, serves as our springboard, inspiring us to see Christ in all people and to care especially for those who are struggling, marginalized, or in need.
Living Out Our Faith Through Service
Throughout the year, IREP students engage in numerous service projects that transform their growing faith into tangible acts of love and charity. Our Youth Group students, grades 8-12, join us monthly for both service and fellowship.
Fall and Winter: We partner with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVdP) for the Thanksgiving food drive, supporting Ascension Food Pantry. This past Thanksgiving, student donations combined with parish contributions helped feed 250 families a Thanksgiving dinner, a powerful testament to what we can accomplish together. Our students also collect gifts for the Christmas gift drive, which benefits another New York City parish, ensuring that children across our city experience the joy of Christmas morning. Our eighth graders write letters to veterans on Veterans Day, expressing gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
Year-Round Commitment: Students support the SVdP blood drive twice annually, learning that even a simple donation can save lives in our community. IREP students and our Youth Group write heartfelt Christmas cards for all residents at Vista on Fifth, bringing warmth, connection, and the reminder that they are remembered and loved during the holiday season. Our eighth-grade teachers sponsor the annual Pasta Bowl during Super Bowl season for the 8th grade classes, the students donate and personally delivering pasta to the New York Common Pantry, where they witness firsthand the impact of their generosity.
Lenten Season: Parish-wide, we’ve begun our Lenten food drive, with IREP students once again stepping up alongside the Saint Vincent de Paul Society to help feed our neighbors during this sacred season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Additionally, our Change for Change Lenten Change drive invites students and families to collect spare change throughout Lent, with all proceeds going towards making birthday boxes for Ascension Food Pantry, turning small sacrifices into celebrations of joy for families in need.
Coming in March: Our Youth Group will assemble birthday cake boxes for Ascension Food Pantry. These self-contained boxes include cake mix, Sprite (which mixes together without eggs or oil), a cake tin, frosting, and candles; everything needed to celebrate a birthday with dignity and joy. For families struggling to make ends meet, these boxes offer more than dessert; they offer the gift of celebration.
Confirmation Send Off: After our Confirmation ceremony, newly confirmed students will conclude their IREP journey by hearing from inspiring speakers who share how they continue to live lives of Christian service beyond their religious education years. During this final gathering, students will make sandwiches for the New York Common Pantry, reminding them that their newly received gifts of the Holy Spirit are now the inspiration and strength for their impact on the world around them.
A Heartfelt Thank You
None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our IREP parents. Throughout the school year, you have encouraged your children to participate, helped with service projects, and modeled what it means to live a life of faith in action. Thank you for walking this journey with your family and with us.
As Psalm 119 reminds us, understanding God’s law means living it with all our hearts. Through IREP, our young people are discovering that faith and love are inseparable, and that both call us to serve our neighbors with joy, compassion, and an open heart.
— Kate Noonan, Pastoral Associate/Director of IREP and Youth Group