St. Joseph Catholic Church

Religious Education for Children

Religious Education provides instruction in the Roman Catholic Faith for children in grades 5K through the 8th grade. Classes are held at St. Joseph School on Devine St. on Wednesdays from 6:15 - 7:30 p.m. Classes begin the Wednesday after Labor Day and end on the first Wednesday of May. For more information, please contact our DRE.

Family Involvement
Classroom catechesis and prayerful experiences, serve to strengthen children's faith and give it direction, fostering growth through the various stages of faith to Christian maturity.

• The Church holds that parents are the primary educators of children in their Faith Development, and we strive to assist, support and augment your role by following the catechetical norms of the Diocese of Charleston.
• The goal of Religious Education as presented in the National Catechetical Directory (#32) is "to develop a living, conscious, active faith life within the Christian community." Our parish Religious Education program fulfills this goal through the dedication of our volunteer catechists and parent aides, as well as the textbooks and other multi-media used to share faith with our children.
• Religious Education is NOT a substitute for Sunday Mass. Any parent who allows their child to substitute religion class for their Sunday Mass obligation contradicts what the child is learning in their religious education classes.

Curriculum

• Ignatius Press "Faith and Life" textbooks will be used with students in Grades K5 thru 8. This program involves a variety of prayer experiences, music, and other activities that expand the child's creativity and sharing of God's Word.
• The basics of the Catholic faith are presented at every grade level in an age-appropriate manner. Each lesson is designed to help young people experience their Catholic identity, integrate their Catholic values, and express their Catholic beliefs.
• The content for seventh grade will be preparation for Confirmation. There emphasis will be on Liturgy, Morality and the Creed.

• Parents of children who are home schooled are expected to attend all family sessions during the years children are preparing to receive Sacraments.

Religious Education for High School Youth

St. Joseph Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) is designed to make young people comfortable in expressing our faith and putting it into practice in their daily lives. We seek to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ, to draw them to responsible participation in the St. Joseph community, and to foster the total, personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

In turn, we desire to be a witness to them through being a part of their daily lives in their high schools and extra-curricular activities. We also offer retreats and mission trips.

For more information, contact our Director of Youth Ministry.

Religious Education for Adults

Adult Education classes are held at various times throughout the year on Wednesday evenings. These classes cover a wide range of topics and provide adults in our parish with an opportunity to grow both spiritually and intellectually. Contact our DRE with requests for classes on subjects of interest to you.

Sacramental Preparation

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

ARE YOU ...

• Interested in becoming Catholic?
• A Catholic who wishes to receive Confirmation and/or First Eucharist?
• Interested in helping someone you know become fully initiated in the Catholic faith?

RCIA offers a series of weekly prayer and reflective presentations developed to provide non-Catholics with a greater understanding of the Catholic faith. Our program presents an in-depth study of the practices, beliefs and customs of the Catholic faith. It provides the process through which adults may be baptized or make a profession of faith in the Catholic Church. In addition, baptized Catholics who have not received all the sacraments are welcome to rediscover their faith and commitment to Christ through the RCIA process.

RCIA is a process concerned with the total formation of adults who desire to become fully initiated members of the Catholic Church. The goal of the RCIA process is full, conscious, and active participation in an exciting life with Jesus Christ within His Catholic Church.

Through this process unbaptized persons, along with persons baptized in other Christian traditions, who wish to embrace the Catholic faith, enter a faith journey which will lead to their full initiation at the Easter Vigil.

If you, or someone you know feels the Holy Spirit is calling you to join the Catholic faith and you wish to join us on this journey or as a Catholic, you wish to renew your Catholic faith, please contact our DRE

SPONSORS:
One of the important elements of the RCIA process is the role of a sponsor. A sponsor is a fully initiated, practicing Catholic who provides a supportive presence to someone preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. This person makes a commitment to attend sessions and liturgical celebrations. Special requirements are faith and a welcoming attitude

CATECHUMEN OR CANDIDATE?
Unbaptized persons are known as Catechumens.

Many people who want to join the Catholic Church have already been baptized in another Christian church. They do not need to be baptized again. They are called Candidates and will follow a form of these four steps adapted to their particular needs and concerns.

Others may have been baptized in the Catholic Church and need to complete the sacraments of Initiation by receiving First Eucharist and/or Confirmation. All will have an opportunity to grow in their relationship with God and learn more about the faith before receiving these Sacraments.

• Unique to each individual
• Time for asking questions
• Time to intensely examine one's personal relationship with God.
• Ends when inquirers become firm in their desire for initiation and for the study *of Catholic teachings and practices

STEP 2. Period of Catechumenate

• Begins with the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens or, for those who are already baptized, the Rite of Welcoming.
• Time of learning the teachings of the Church and beginning to accept Catholic teachings and practices. "
• Sponsors accompany catechumens and candidates on their journey.
• Length of Catechumenate period can vary from person to person
• Concludes when
  1. Catechumens discern that God is calling them to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation)
  2. Candidates discern that God is calling them to make a profession of faith in the Catholic Church

• Begins with Rite of Election.
• Catechumens are now called the Elect.
• Time of intense preparation during Lent to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter and to receive the Sacraments of Initiation.
• Concludes with a Retreat Day in preparation for receiving the Sacraments.

• Begins with the reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist during the Easter Season.
• Time of reflection on the commitment made to the Lord, the Church, and the faith community
• Time of finding a place in the community and getting involved.
• St. Joseph's sessions consist of weekly presentations held every Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in Room B of the Education Building.