Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 9, 2026

Illumined is a Catholic OCIA formation app and website that helps students and instructors participate in lessons, assignments, discussion, prayer, and class communication. This policy explains what information Illumined collects and how it is used.

Information We Collect

Illumined may collect and store the following information when you create an account or use the app:

• Account information, including your email address, username or display name, account identifier, instructor or administrator role, classroom membership, and language preferences. Optional profile and classroom photos are stored when you upload them. Classroom listings may include a parish name, city, classroom name, and image.
• Participation information, including lesson and quiz progress, assignment completion, discussion posts and replies, achievements, memorized prayers, preparation-guide acknowledgments, join requests, and volunteer or refreshment sign-ups you submit. Instructors may record dated attendance marks (present or absent), which are available to instructors assigned to that classroom.
• Content you submit, including prayer intentions, classroom chat, private inbox messages, discussion responses, and instructor-created lessons, schedules, announcements, and formation materials.
• Mobile and browser notification registration tokens, notification preferences, and message read status used to deliver alerts and display unread counts. Alerts may appear on your device’s lock screen according to your device settings.
• Technical information processed by our hosting and Firebase providers, such as IP addresses, device or browser information, authentication events, and service logs. The apps also use local storage and caching for sign-in, language preferences, and app functionality.

How We Use Information

We use this information to:

• Create and manage student, instructor, and class accounts.
• Show lesson progress, assignments, announcements, discussions, and prayer requests.
• Allow instructors to view student progress and class readiness.
• Send class-related notifications when notifications are enabled.
• Maintain the security and reliability of the app.

Sharing of Information

Illumined does not sell personal information. Classroom posts, prayer intentions, and group chat are shared with the relevant classroom. Instructors can review student participation and progress. Private inbox messages are available to the student and instructors assigned to that classroom, not other students; they are not a confidential conversation with just one instructor. Profile photos may be displayed to authorized classroom members. If an instructor enables classroom search, the classroom listing is available to people searching before enrollment. Authorized administrators and service providers may access information to operate, support, and secure Illumined, and information may be disclosed when required by law.

Third-Party Services

Illumined uses Google Firebase and Google Cloud services for authentication, database and image storage, hosting, backend processing, and notifications. Mobile notifications also use platform delivery services, including Apple’s push notification service on iOS. Some lessons contain embedded YouTube videos, and the app links to external prayer, Bible, and parish resources. Loading third-party services or opening external content may transmit technical information to those providers, whose privacy policies also apply.

Prayer Requests and Discussion Content

Participation in a Catholic formation classroom may reveal religious affiliation. Prayer intentions and messages may also reveal health, family, or other sensitive information. Share only what is appropriate for the intended audience, and avoid posting another person’s private information without permission. Illumined is not a confidential counseling or emergency service. Other participants may copy content they can view.

Data Retention

We keep account and participation information as needed to provide classroom features and operate the service. Signing out, uninstalling the app, or leaving a classroom does not delete your account. Account deletion removes your sign-in account and associated personal data from active systems through our deletion process. Shared class materials created by an instructor may remain for other members with the instructor’s identity removed. Limited provider logs or backups may persist under applicable service retention processes or legal requirements. Copies already saved by other people are outside Illumined’s control.

Children

Illumined is intended for users age 14 and older. Children under 14 should not create an account or submit personal information. Parishes and families should discuss appropriate participation and sharing by minors. Parish permission does not replace Illumined’s privacy obligations. If you believe a child under 14 has provided personal information, contact stephen.johnson@illumined.net so we can review the account and arrange removal of the information as appropriate.

Your Choices

You can change or remove your profile photo and manage available notification preferences. Device and browser settings also control notification permission. In the mobile apps, open Account to request permanent account deletion; see the account-deletion instructions below. Contact us to request help accessing, correcting, or deleting your information. We may need to verify your identity before processing a request. Contact your instructor for classroom-specific questions.

Changes to This Policy

This privacy policy may be updated as Illumined changes. Any updates will be posted on this page.

Account deletion instructions

Privacy questions and requests: stephen.johnson@illumined.net