FAITH FORMATION PreK to High School

- 2022-2023 "SUNDAY EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES" FAITH FORMATION information
  
  Parents are the first, best and most important catechists for their children. To assist you in your role, our Faith Formation program offers the “Sunday Experience for Families” model. Sunday Mass is an essential component for any formation or spiritual growth, so families are expected to actively participate in Mass each week. Mass times at St. Joseph include 7:30am, 9:30am, noon, and 7pm on Sunday and 5pm Vigil on Saturday. Children and teens can help straighten up the pews after Mass, hand out worship aids, be altar servers (if they’ve received First Eucharist), lectors, choir members, etc. Parents can also help as greeters, clean-up, lectors and choir members, etc. Those who are confirmed and if married, were married in the Catholic Church, may serve as Eucharistic ministers or sacristans.
  
  All the following programs are available at no fee to registered parishioners who have signed up for Faith Direct, use Sunday envelopes or otherwise contribute to the support of St. Joseph. Class registration is required at https://forms.gle/Sc6fDBdouo7Yqkwg8
  
  Whole Family Catechesis Pre-Kindergarten to Junior High
  For children age 4 to Junior High* who do not attend Catholic school and are not in Sacrament Preparation. We use Pflaum’s Gospel Weeklies which include: a weekly magazine tied to that Sunday’s gospel, a Handbook that is your child’s to keep, online resources including a Parents Page explaining how to teach each lesson and videos. You have a choice of either:
  
  Homeschool Option: Cover the weekly lessons on your own or with other families of your choosing, with submission of proof of completion at least monthly (required if planning to enter Sacrament Preparation next year) and attend a monthly Family Gathering, or
  
  Co-op Class Option: children meet weekly by age-group (normally PK to 1^st grade; 2^nd & 3^rd grade; grades 4, 5 & 6; and grades 7 & 8*) with parents or other adults from each household taking turns co-teaching.
  
  Schedule to follow
  
  First Reconciliation & First Eucharist Sacrament Preparation
  For children second grade or older who actively participated in Faith Formation last year. (Not needed for second graders at St. Joseph Elementary School since they are prepared at school.) Parent(s)/Guardian(s) attend with child.
  
  Parent-Child sessions: Weekly lessons on Sundays 10:45 to 11:45am.
  
  Family Meetings: two Sunday mornings 10:45 to 11:45
  
  Schedule to follow.
  Children in second grade or older who are not yet baptized also participate in the Christian Initiation process adapted for children. Info here.
  
  Confirmation Preparation - 8th grade* and older
  Two-year process for students in 8^th grade or high school in Catholic, public or private school, to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Parent participation required.
  1st Year:
  
  Weekly Mass participation: noon Mass on class dates; your family’s choice on non-class dates
  
  Class: generally two Sundays a month, starting at 10:30am and ending with noon Mass
  
  Retreat, prayer services and service projects TBD
  
  2nd Year:
  
  Weekly Mass participation: 7pm Mass on class dates; your family’s choice on non-class dates
  
  Class: generally two Sundays a month from 5:30pm ending with 7:00pm Mass
  
  Retreat, prayer services and service projects TBD
  
  More info for Youth Confirmation here.
  
  *8^th grade has the option to attend either Whole Family Catechesis or First Year Confirmation
Registration
- Register for 2022-2023 here. All members in a household age 4 through high school in any of the above programs register on the same form.
  Parish registration and active parish support (generally through FaithDirect or Sunday envelopes) is required. If your family is not yet registered at St. Joseph Basilica please complete that form here.