Documents for Download
- Registration Form
- Calendar - All Grades
- Handbook - All Grades
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Permission Form
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Saint Joseph University Parish provides a religious education program for children from preschool through eighth grade. The men and women who serve as the children’s catechists build upon what the primary educators, the parents, have taught by word and example.
The program provides learning experiences designed to help the young people of the parish understand the Catholic Christian faith, grow personally in their faith lives, and deepen a sense of belonging to the church. Opportunities for community building through various services, projects and special liturgical celebrations are important aspects of this process. Examples:
Preschool through 5th grade:
- Monthly Children’s Liturgies
- Weekly Children’s Liturgy of the Word
- Vacation Bible School
- Christmas Choir and Pagaent
6th through 8th grade
- Jr High Retreat
- Children's Liturgy
- Service Projects
- Fellowship Activities
Parishioners are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Religious Education Program by sharing their individual gifts. Ways in which adults can contribute to the faith education of our children, are as: catechist, catechist aide, substitute, parent helper/monitor, catechist for Children’s Liturgy of the Word, providing help with arts and crafts, and assisting with various special events.
Preschool thru 8th grade Religious Education classes are offered each year beginning in September and ending in May. Classes meet on Sunday mornings from 10:15 to 11:15 am for Preschool through 5th grade and twice a month on Sunday evenings from 4:45 to 6:45 pm for 6th through 8th grade. Catechists meet with the Director of Religious Education prior to the beginning of classes and throughout the year.
Aides are needed to assist the Religious Education Catechist in classes at both the elementary and junior high school levels. Aides accompany catechists in their meetings with the Director of Religious Education. See Youth Ministry for high school age students.
Children in kindergarten thru 5th grade are dismissed during Sunday morning Masses to have their own Liturgy of the Word. Readings and activities that reinforce the lesson are appropriate for the age range.
Everyone gathers for Mass as usual. After the Introductory Rites conclude with the Opening Prayer, the priest invites children in Kindergarten – 5th grade in the assembly to come forward. One of the Catechist’s receives the Children's Lectionary (Book of Readings) from the priest and leads the other children to the rooms above the church. Once there, the children hear the same readings of the day as the adult assembly, but in language more suited to their understanding. An adult catechist then leads the children in reflection and teaching on the readings. After concluding with the recitation of the Creed and prayer, the children rejoin the assembly for Eucharist in the main church while the collection is being taken up.
Volunteers are needed to assist in this summertime program of activities, games, and crafts which are centered on Bible stories. Children in grades kindergarten through 5th participate. Vacation Bible School is held for one week, usually in the month of June.
First Eucharist and First Reconciliation preparation is offered to second grade students. To ensure that the child has the necessary background for this preparation, the child is required to have participated regularly in a religious education program during the previous year. Special arrangements are made for older children who need to prepare for the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Reconciliation.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for Children
This process is for children between the age of seven through 8th grade who have not been baptized as infants. Children will prepare to celebrate all three sacraments of initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist - usually at the Easter Vigil. This program is also for children who have been baptized as infants in another faith or in the Catholic Church but have not yet been catechized.