Religious Education
(Preschool-Confirmation)
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YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
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."
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2021-2022
Registration is open! Classes begin the week of October 10, 2021, and conclude the week of April 10. Calendar will be posted soon. Click here to register.
Plans for this fall include 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.
In planning for the coming program year, much consideration was given to our responsibilities, feedback from our families, the number of young people/families we serve, the school building's availability, safety and manageability. Additionally, the family connection in our remote year was something our families praised, and we hope to nurture that connection as we journey on in the new year.
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
***We encourage early registration as there will be class limits onMondays and Tuesdays and in family study.
We expect sacramental preparation years to fill up quickly.***
Please note, faith formation programs follow the AOD's Health and Safety Guidance. Based on the plan released from the AOD on July 20, 2021, masks will not be required for in-person religious education classes beginning this fall. Staff, catechists and students may wear a mask if they wish. Click here for the complete AOD COVID Preparation Plan for the 2021-2022 school year. -
Documents
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preparing for the sacramentsTypically, children in second grade prepare and celebrate First Reconciliation and First Communion. 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. Joe's 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 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, 2020, 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.