Faith Formation
Faith formation occurs each day at St. Joseph Catholic School. Prayer and religious instruction are integral, daily parts of our curriculum and instruction at SJCS.
Our school community attends Mass each week, as well as on Holy Days of Obligation. Reconciliation takes place at least one time per quarter.
Religion classes are a scheduled part of each school day. Curriculum for lower grade students is from the Jesus Our Life series. Christ our Life is the curriculum used for middle school students. Additional materials from various other sources are integrated into religion classes through the year. Cross curricular, collaborative projects are completed at each grade level.
Formal preparation for sacraments is completed at school.
Our unbaptized students can receive instruction and be baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Our students prepare for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion during their second grade year. A SJCS student of any age who has not received those sacraments can go through preparation and receive those sacraments during the school year.
Our students prepare for Confirmation during their 8th grade year.
Our school community attends Mass each week, as well as on Holy Days of Obligation. Reconciliation takes place at least one time per quarter.
Religion classes are a scheduled part of each school day. Curriculum for lower grade students is from the Jesus Our Life series. Christ our Life is the curriculum used for middle school students. Additional materials from various other sources are integrated into religion classes through the year. Cross curricular, collaborative projects are completed at each grade level.
Formal preparation for sacraments is completed at school.
Our unbaptized students can receive instruction and be baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Our students prepare for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion during their second grade year. A SJCS student of any age who has not received those sacraments can go through preparation and receive those sacraments during the school year.
Our students prepare for Confirmation during their 8th grade year.
Reconciliation
All 2nd - 8th grade students at St. Joseph Catholic School take part in Reconciliation at least one time per quarter.
Formal preparation for First Reconciliation begins when school starts in the Fall for our second grade students, as well as, older students who would like to receive the sacrament for the first time. First Reconciliation for those prepared students typically takes place in early November.
The curriculum used for preparation is the First Reconciliation Sadlier Sacrament Program. Our children learn about the Ten Commandments, Venial vs. Mortal Sin, the five steps to a good confession, how to examine your conscience, the words to use when receiving the sacrament of confession, the Act of Contrition, God's mercy and love no matter what sin, and Bible stories including the prodigal son, the greatest commandment and the lost sheep.
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. James 5:16
Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin, all hope consists in confession: in confession there is a chance for mercy." St. Isidore of Seville
Formal preparation for First Reconciliation begins when school starts in the Fall for our second grade students, as well as, older students who would like to receive the sacrament for the first time. First Reconciliation for those prepared students typically takes place in early November.
The curriculum used for preparation is the First Reconciliation Sadlier Sacrament Program. Our children learn about the Ten Commandments, Venial vs. Mortal Sin, the five steps to a good confession, how to examine your conscience, the words to use when receiving the sacrament of confession, the Act of Contrition, God's mercy and love no matter what sin, and Bible stories including the prodigal son, the greatest commandment and the lost sheep.
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. James 5:16
Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin, all hope consists in confession: in confession there is a chance for mercy." St. Isidore of Seville
Holy Communion
Formal preparation for First Holy Communion begins after First Reconciliation in the Fall for our second grade students, as well as, older students who would like to receive the sacrament for the first time. First Holy Communion for those prepared students typically takes place in May.
The curriculum used for preparation is the First Eucharist Sadlier Sacrament Program. Our children attend Mass and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the end of Mass each week. They learn how to be reverent in the presence of the Eucharist in the tabernacle and monstrance, they learn that the bread and wine change into Jesus' real Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity through transubstantiation and about Jesus' true presence in the Eucharist. They also learn how to receive the Eucharist properly and reverently.
"Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." John 6:53-56
"If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." St. Maximilian Kolbe
The curriculum used for preparation is the First Eucharist Sadlier Sacrament Program. Our children attend Mass and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the end of Mass each week. They learn how to be reverent in the presence of the Eucharist in the tabernacle and monstrance, they learn that the bread and wine change into Jesus' real Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity through transubstantiation and about Jesus' true presence in the Eucharist. They also learn how to receive the Eucharist properly and reverently.
"Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." John 6:53-56
"If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." St. Maximilian Kolbe
Confirmation
At St. Joseph Catholic School, Confirmation typically takes place at the culmination of the eighth grade year, in May.
Our students use Confirmation preparation curriculum, Confirmed in the Spirit. They follow age appropriate lessons which teach and engage students in the following practices as they prepare for confirmation.
worship
prayer
stewardship
service
pursuit of wisdom
moral decision making
The year of instruction and focus (which includes two retreats) allows our students to fully explore their faith and embrace their role as members of the Catholic Church.
"and when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:22
"Remember, then, that you received a spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear. Keep safe what you received. God the Father sealed you. Christ the Lord strengthened you and sent the Spirit into your hearts as the pledge of what is to come." St. Ambrose
Our students use Confirmation preparation curriculum, Confirmed in the Spirit. They follow age appropriate lessons which teach and engage students in the following practices as they prepare for confirmation.
worship
prayer
stewardship
service
pursuit of wisdom
moral decision making
The year of instruction and focus (which includes two retreats) allows our students to fully explore their faith and embrace their role as members of the Catholic Church.
"and when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:22
"Remember, then, that you received a spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear. Keep safe what you received. God the Father sealed you. Christ the Lord strengthened you and sent the Spirit into your hearts as the pledge of what is to come." St. Ambrose