Ascension Announces Groundbreaking K–8 Curriculum

Last updated on: January 21, 2026 at 8:02 pm by William Hemsworth

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Ascension Announces Groundbreaking K–8 Curriculum 2026-01-21T20:02:37-07:00 William Hemsworth

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[Exton, PA – January 19, 2026] — Ascension has announced a groundbreaking new K–8 religious education curriculum for parishes and schools: Pillars of Faith. Rolling out beginning with grades K–2 in the 2026–2027 school year, Pillars of Faith is the first and only curriculum to place age-appropriate Bibles and Catechisms—carefully designed to mirror the structure and content of their adult counterparts—into the hands of children.

Rooted in the Church’s call—renewed by the Second Vatican Council—to form disciples through Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and Liturgy, Pillars of Faith unites the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church into a single, integrated framework for faith formation. Designed to extend beyond the classroom and into the home, the curriculum invites students, educators, and families into a shared and lasting encounter with Jesus Christ.

“Pillars of Faith represents a fundamental shift in how children are formed in the Catholic Faith,” said Jonathan Strate, President & CEO of Ascension. “For the first time, children learn from Bibles and Catechisms intentionally designed to mirror their adult counterparts—allowing children, parents, and educators to journey together as they learn the truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith.”

A Complete, Integrated K–8 Program

Built from the ground up with input from religious leaders, theological and catechetical experts, teachers, catechists, and parents—and guided by the Handbook on the Catechetical Accompaniment Process from the USCCB’s Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis—Pillars of Faith offers a complete formation program that includes:

Teacher and Catechist Guides designed to meet the needs of today’s parishes and school classrooms
Student Workbooks aligned with the USCCB’s new catechetical framework
Parent resources that invite families into their child’s faith formation journey
High-quality video content for students, parents, teachers, and catechists, featuring trusted Catholic presenters, including Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, Tanner Kalina, Rebecca Abboud, and Fr. Tim Anastos

Purpose-Built Bibles and Catechisms for Every Stage

At the heart of Pillars of Faith are two companion sets of Bibles and Catechisms, uniquely adapted from their adult counterparts to serve learners in grades K–8. Together, they offer three progressive levels of readability, learning, and discipleship, ensuring seamless integration with the curriculum at every stage.

The Bible series gives K–8 learners their own editions of Ascension’s Great Adventure Catholic Bible, thoughtfully designed to match their reading level and comprehension, while preserving the unity of salvation history. The Catechism series uses a clear, accessible question-and-answer format that faithfully mirrors the content of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Initial K–2 Release for Fall 2026

Ascension’s initial K–2 release for Fall 2026 will introduce the first resources from each series as the two pillars of the curriculum:

The Great Adventure Catholic Bible for Young Beginners (Level I)

This Bible introduces children to the complete story of salvation using Jeff Cavins’ award-winning Bible Timeline® color-coded learning system. It condenses and adapts all seventy-three books of the Bible at an age-appropriate level and includes select passages from the RSV-2CE. Paired with vibrant sacred art, the Bible helps young learners encounter and grow in love with God’s Word from an early age.

The Ascension Catechism for Young Beginners (Level I)

Ascension’s first children’s Catechism introduces the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church using Ascension’s color-coded Foundations of Faith approach. Presented in a clear Q&A format with 400 age-appropriate questions and explanations, the Catechism makes learning the faith accessible, engaging, and relatable for young beginners.

A Transformative Vision for Schools, Parishes, and Homes

At a critical moment for Catholic education, Pillars of Faith invites everyone—from students and teachers to catechists and families at home—to learn, love, and live the Catholic Faith together. Beginning in Spring 2026, Catholic parishes and schools across the country will be able to preview the K–2 curriculum and its companion Bible and Catechism for use in the 2026–2027 school year. Grades 3–8 will be released in subsequent years.

“This curriculum brings the Church’s vision of evangelizing catechesis to life by uniting Scripture, catechesis, and accompaniment in a truly integrated way,” Strate added. “By starting with our youngest learners, we aim to build enduring partnerships with parishes and schools—and to support faith formation for generations to come.”

To learn more and sign up for updates on Pillars of Faith and Ascension’s new series of Bibles and Catechisms for young learners, visit www.AscensionPress.com/PillarsofFaith.

About Ascension

Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 25 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 20 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® podcast, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and the Ascension Presents media and YouTube platforms.

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