Since parents have conferred life on their children, they have a most solemn obligation to educate their offspring. Hence, parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children. Their role as educators is so decisive that scarely anything can compensate for their failure in it…Hence, the family is the first school of those virtues that every society needs
Second Vatican Council, Declaration on Christian Education #3
Our Mission
ILARCHE, the Illinois Association of Roman Catholic Home Educators, (formerly known as NICHE) is a resource for home schooling families providing information, inspiration, support and encouragement, assisting Illinois families who strive to give their children an authentic Catholic education in their homes. ILARCHE offers information to Catholic home schoolers primarily through this website. Here, you will find the names of local groups of Catholic home educators, listed by location, who engage in a variety of activities with the intention of helping parents raise a new generation of outstanding citizens for this world, and saints for the next. Each year, ILARCHE will host a conference in the Chicago area to allow parents to hear inspiring speakers, address authentic Catholic family life and home schooling, as well as to give parents an opportunity to see for themselves the best in faith-based educational materials. ILARCHE publically affirms our fidelity to the teaching authority of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, as well as our loyalty to our Holy Father, the Roman Pontiff, and our bishops in Illinois who teach in union with him. ILARCHE is staffed entirely by volunteers. Please keep this organization, our volunteers, and Illinois Catholic home schooling families in your prayers.
Père Marquette Home School and Parent Conference
The Père Marquette Home School and Parent Conference is an annual conference held for homeschooling families, offering resourceful Catholic speakers to further the parent’s education efforts and help all Catholics and Christians live their faith in this increasingly secularized world. In addition, vendors offer many books and resources for your homeschooling and religious needs.