Religious Education
(Preschool-Confirmation)

Faith formation is a family and community journey. We warmly welcome our young people to come together to grow in faith through questioning, exploration and discussion. This fellowship complements our families' faith development and prepares our young ones to be active members of the Church, serving and worshipping with others. We believe in and are committed to the encounter, grow, witness approach to sharing the Good News. Our youth faith formation program is commonly known as "religious education" and often abbreviated "RE." Last year was an unusal year for everyone. Whatever faith formation looked like in your family last year, please know your children are welcome here.

RE Office Hours:   Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
                                 Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Contact the RE office at 248-693-9555.

Classes began the week of October 10, 2021, and conclude the week of April 10. Important calendars are shared under the "Calendars" tab. Late registration is possible if space allows. Please call our office to see about registration.

 Our program largely operates with in-person religious education classes:

• Mondays from 6-7:20 p.m. for kindergarten through Confirmation
• Tuesdays from 6-7:20 p.m. for kindergarten through Confirmation
• Sundays during 10 a.m. Mass for three and four-year-old preschool

Traditional family study is available in non-sacramental preparation years for families who find neither Monday nor Tuesday is possible for them. It includes required attendance at five of seven monthly meetings on Sundays from 12-1 p.m.

Religious education classes are offered based on grade level and sacrament preparation:

• Preschool-3-year-old
• Preschool-4-year-old
• Kindergarten
• Grade 1
• Grades 2-3 First Reconciliation-Eucharist Prep
• Grade 3 (post First Communion)
• Grade 4
• Grade 5
• Grade 6
• Grades 7-8 Confirmation Year One Prep
• Grades 8-9 Confirmation Year Two Prep
• RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) - Monday only

Typically, children in second grade prepare and celebrate First Reconciliation and First Communion, and young people in seventh and eighth grades prepare for Confirmation and celebrate in the fall of ninth grade. Following the disruption of the remote year, there are partner grades for the sacramental preparation groups.  Only participation in the St. Joseph school or religious education program or other pre-approved sacramental preparation program (pre-approved by the director of religious education and pastor) meets the requirements of a sacramental preparation year. 

• If your child(ren) attends another Catholic school, you must confirm sacramental preparation is included in the school's religion curriculum. At this time, Everest Academy includes approved sacramental preparation; Marist Academy and Notre Dame Prep do not include sacramental preparation in their curriculums.
• If your family is homeschooling, a detailed outline of the program you are using for faith formation-sacramental preparation must be submitted for approval no later than October 30, 2021, if your child wishes to celebrate the sacrament at St. Joseph Church. Please visit our Sacraments section for information on preparing for these sacraments. If your child has missed a sacrament, please visit our Missed a Sacrament page.
• All students must complete the specific sacramental requirements identified on the specific sacrament page.