St. Joseph Parish makes great efforts to educate parents and guardians of the children preparing to receive the Sacraments of the Church. Since Parents are the first educators of their children in culture, academics and faith, it is most important that parents know and realize what the Sacraments are meant to be as well as what their part is in preparing children for receiving the Sacraments.

The Pastoral Staff also offers workshops each year regarding contemporary issues facing parents in raising their children in the environment of the day. The Pastoral Staff is assisted by various Teams of lay people who have engaged in this ministry on behalf of their peers. All the workshops and classes listed below are mandatory for parents and in some cases for sponsors where that role applies. Mandatory is understood not just as a ‘rule of the Church’, but rather mandatory on the part of parents and catechists who want what is best for their children as they grow in the faith.

Topics

Baptism

Classes are on the last Sunday of the month for parents and godparents of children to be baptized. Please confer: Baptism Classes and Preparation.

The Sacraments

The Pastoral Staff provides a general workshop on all the Sacraments for parents whose children will be receiving the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation in the course of the year.

Penance

The Pastoral Staff provides this workshop for parents whose children will be receiving the Sacrament of Penance in the course of the year.

Holy Eucharist

The Pastoral Staff provides this workshop for parents whose children will be receiving the Eucharist for the first time in the course of the year.

Contemporary Issues

The Pastoral Staff offers a workshop each year to parents on a topic of interest and concern. These workshops vary from year to year. Please consult your bulletin or “In the Loop”, our grade school weekly newsletter, for topics and times.

Confirmation

Parents and sponsors attend some special education sessions together with their children who are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation in the course of the year. 

Formation in Christian Chastity

The Diocesan curriculum on Christian Chastity is presented every year in the Spring.