Religious Education (CCD) for the children who attend our area public schools have classes from grade one through six, are held on Saturday morning from 8:20 AM until 9:45 AM in Joseph School. Children receive their First Penance and First Holy Communion in the Second grade, provided they have had two years of instruction. Confirmation Classes for students in seventh grade are held on Monday evenings from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM. Students receive their Confirmation in the fall, when they are in the eighth grade and have completed the required course of study. They are required to do a community service project of at least twenty hours, and one day of reflection and prayer.
Good Shepherd is a religious formation program available for children ages three to twelve. This program features a unique setting and small class sizes, the use of materials that are designed especially for children's use, sacramental preparation and after-school classes.
Sacramental Programs invite parents to take a more active roll in the Sacramental preparation of their children. As primary witnesses and catechists, they are encouraged to journey with their child. The teaching centers around God's unconditional love for us. Parents help their children to express love for Jesus and others by the use of Gospel stories, aid their children in preparing to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation for the first time.
Baptism Classes consist of a two-part instruction class that prepares parents for the baptism of their children.
Pre-Cana is a marriage preparation program. Twice a year, on the last Saturday of April and the first Saturday of November, the Pre-Cana Program is presented to engaged couples from the Parish and other Parishes in the diocese. The program consists of presentations and exercises covering topics of the Sacrament of Matrimony, communication, family life, decision making, problem solving, sexuality, family planning, and unconditional love. The program concludes with a Paraliturgy and commitment ceremony.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCA) is a ministry that reaches out to the un-catechized youth and adults and welcomes them into a caring, Catholic community. We journey with them as they discover the message of the Word in a safe place as they move toward their sacramental celebrations and responsibility toward their immediate and distant communities.
Saint Joseph School ( Pre-K, K-8) is committed to providing an educational foundation and community experience based on Gospel values. Our vision is to empower each child to develop his/her fullest potential in a authentic Catholic atmosphere of love and care. We seek to promote the mastery of basic skills in mathematics and language, and to produce students well-versed in the arts and sciences, capable of facing the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. We strive to instill in each child a sense of self-worth, a spirit of discovery and inquiry, an enthusiasm for lifelong learning, and the relating of life issues to God. Our philosophy is to challenge our students to be respectful, caring members of our world, able to celebrate individuality, and use their gifts and earth's resources wisely, thereby, giving witness to the presence of God among us.
Visit our School's Home Page at www.netlabs.net/community/stjoseph/