Descent of the Holy Ghost
Sunday School
Forming the next generation in the Orthodox faith — through Scripture, prayer, the lives of the Saints, and a love for the Church.
Our Mission
Raising Children in the Ancient Faith
Sunday School at Descent of the Holy Ghost is more than a classroom — it is an apprenticeship in the life of the Church. Children learn not only facts about the faith, but how to pray, how to fast, how to serve, and how to love God and neighbor as Orthodox Christians.
Our program follows the curriculum of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, adapted for our parish community. Classes are taught by dedicated parishioners who love the faith and love children — and who understand that the greatest gift we can give the next generation is a living encounter with the Orthodox Church.
All children are welcome — whether they were baptized Orthodox, are attending with a parent who is inquiring, or are simply curious. We meet every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy, September through May.
Enroll Your Child
When We Meet
Schedule & Calendar
Sunday School is woven into the rhythm of parish life — always following the Divine Liturgy, so that liturgy and learning go hand in hand.
After Divine Liturgy
Sunday School meets every Sunday following the Divine Liturgy, approximately 12:00–1:00 PM.
September–May
The academic year runs September through May, with special programs during Great Lent and Holy Week.
What We Learn
Curriculum by Age
Our curriculum grows with the child — from the simplest prayers and stories in the earliest years, to a deep engagement with Orthodox theology and history in the teen years.
Pre-K & Kindergarten
Ages 3–5
The Sign of the Cross
Basic prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary)
Stories of Jesus and the Saints
The meaning of icons
Church as our second home
Lower Elementary
Ages 6–8
The life of Christ
The Twelve Great Feasts
Old Testament stories
The Divine Liturgy explained
Lives of the Saints
Upper Elementary
Ages 9–11
The Seven Sacraments
The Nicene Creed in depth
Church history and the Apostles
The Seven Ecumenical Councils
Romanian Orthodox heritage
Middle & High School
Ages 12–18
Orthodox apologetics
Theosis and the spiritual life
Comparative Christianity
Scripture and Holy Tradition
Preparing for adult parish life
Reaching Beyond Our Walls
Missions & Service
Orthodox Christianity is not only received — it is given away. Our Sunday School students learn from an early age that faith without works is dead, and that the Church's mission extends to the ends of the earth.
Merrillville Community Outreach
Local Food Pantry
Each Thanksgiving and Christmas season, Sunday School students collect and donate non-perishable food items to local families in Northwest Indiana.
Merrillville Police K9 Fundraiser
Hosted by Descent of the Holy Ghost
Lake Station Fire Dept. Fundraiser
Hosted by Descent of the Holy Ghost
Donation Presentation
Lake Station Fire Dept. Fundraiser
Phil's Friends — Writing Cards of Hope
Descent of the Holy Ghost · Merrillville, IN
Phil's Friends — We Bring Hope
50,000 care packages · 250,000 lives impacted
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6
The Orthodox Church has always understood that the formation of children is among the most sacred responsibilities of the parish community. Sunday School is not a supplement to parish life — it is at the very center of it.
Paschal Egg Hunt — 2026
Descent of the Holy Ghost · Merrillville, IN
Parish Life
Celebrating Pascha Together
Each year after the Paschal Divine Liturgy, the children of Descent of the Holy Ghost gather outside the church for the annual Easter egg hunt — baskets in hand, joy on their faces, and the beautiful round dome of our church rising behind them.
This beloved tradition brings together children of all ages — from toddlers to teens — and their families for a moment of pure celebration. Christ is Risen, and the children of the parish know it.
"Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!"
In the Classroom
Learning the Faith Through Crafts & Prayer
Every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy, the children of Descent of the Holy Ghost gather in the Sunday School classroom — surrounded by holy icons — for lessons, crafts, and activities that bring the faith to life.
From Palm Sunday palm weaving to Paschal crafts, our teachers make each lesson memorable and rooted in the Orthodox tradition. The classroom walls lined with icons remind the children that the saints are always present with them.
"He Is Risen Indeed!" — Luke 24:34
Easter Crafts in the Classroom
Sunday School · Descent of the Holy Ghost
Sunday School Activity
Building the Tower of Babel
Inspired by Genesis 11, our Sunday School children brought the Tower of Babel to life — stacking cups and paper into towering structures while learning about God's plan for humility and unity. A special thank-you to Megan Vander Laan for organizing this wonderful and memorable lesson.
"Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens." — Genesis 11:4
The full class hard at work — towers rising across the table
Focused concentration — every cup counts
Two builders, one very tall tower
Building together — parent and child
Proud builder — the cross watches over
Families building together — the whole Sunday School community
Towers of all shapes and sizes
Every layer a lesson — guided by loving hands
A heartfelt thank-you to Megan Vander Laan for putting together this creative and faith-filled activity for our children.
Get Involved
Teach. Serve. Support.
Sunday School depends on the generosity of parishioners who give their time and talent. Whether you feel called to teach, assist in the classroom, or support the program through prayer and giving — there is a place for you.
Become a Teacher
Share your faith with the next generation. No formal teaching degree required — just a love for Orthodoxy and for children.
Contact UsEnroll Your Child
All children ages 3–18 are welcome. Classes meet every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy, September through May.
Get in TouchSupport the Program
Donations to the Religious Education fund help purchase curriculum, supplies, and materials for our students.
Give OnlineYour Child Is Welcome Here
Whether your family has been Orthodox for generations or you are just beginning to explore the faith, our Sunday School doors are open. Come join us after Liturgy.