Saint Joseph Parish is excited to be offering a religious education program that will look and feel similar to the programs we have offered for years.  We are eager to welcome back our families as we join together to nurture and grow the faith of our children and teens.  We hope these FAQs will help to answer some initial questions you may have. 

What will the format of religious education classes look like for the 2023-2024 year?
We will be continuing to use a similar model that we have used for many years - with some improvements and additional experiences for our students!  Most students will participate in a weekly lesson from September through early spring (about 21 weeks).

Is there a schedule of days and times I can look at?
The fall schedule will be based on the number of enrolled students and volunteers. Last year, classes took place at the Parish Center on Sunday evenings and Monday and Tuesday afternoons.

*If you are considering joining the program, please register and/or volunteer to teach!

Will classes be in person or virtual?  How will Covid protocols be addressed?  We will continue to follow Faith Formation and state guidance for our religious education program. We take the health and safety of all our parishioners seriously.

What types of books and materials will be used in the program?
It is important that faith formation materials be developmentally appropriate and designed specifically to meet the needs of students from grades 1 through 10.  We will be using grade level books that you were accustomed to seeing in years past.  These texts are based on the Catholic faith tradition and include scripture and teachings that have been selected specifically for children and teens and are scaffolded to build year upon year. Bibles will be available during class times to supplement teachings and help students develop and learn to incorporate the Bible into their daily lives.  All work will be completed in class, with the encouragement of prayers and enrichment activities for families to participate in at home.  9th and 10th graders will have additional work which is necessary prior to receiving the sacrament of Confirmation.