Religious Education
(Preschool-Confirmation)

Faith formation is a family and community journey. Thank you for seeking accompaniment in developing the faith in your child(ren).

We warmly welcome our young people to come together to grow in faith through questioning, exploration, activity and discussion. This fellowship complements your family's faith development and prepares our young ones to be active members of the Church, serving and worshipping with others. We believe in and are committed to the encounter, grow, witness approach to sharing the Good News. Our youth faith formation program is commonly known as "religious education" and often abbreviated "RE." This year, we have been able to resume in-person classes, and it has been wonderful to have our students return to the classrooms.

There are many opportunities for adults to serve in our program, and we welcome you to join us in this calling. (See adult volunteer form below.) We are busy making plans for the 2022-2023 program year, and registration is coming soon. Your children are always welcome here, and we are delighted to walk with your family on your faith formation journey. If you have any questions or concerns, send an email or give us a call, and we will help you find the best option for your family.

Contact the RE office at 248-693-9555 or reoffice@stjoelo.org.
RE office hours during the school year are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The RE office is closed from Friday, June 10, through Friday, August 12, with emails and voicemails checked weekly. Thank you for your patience with a slower response time. You may contact Doris Fornasiero, director of religious education, throughout the summer via the contact us link.

Classes begin the week of October 2, 2022 and run through mid-April. Register now at the link below to confirm your preferred day. Please note, there is a second registration form for children in a sacramental preparation year.

Our program largely operates with in-person religious education classes:

• Mondays from 6-7:20 p.m. for preschool through Confirmation
• Tuesdays from 6-7:20 p.m. for preschool through Confirmation

Traditional family study is available in grades three through six, non-sacramental preparation years, for families who find neither Monday nor Tuesday is possible for them. It includes required attendance at five of seven monthly meetings on Sundays from 12 to 1 p.m.

Religious education classes are offered based on grade level and sacrament preparation:

• Preschool-3-and-4-year-old
• Kindergarten
• Grade 1
• Grades 2-3 First Reconciliation-Eucharist Prep
• Grade 3 (post First Communion)
• Grade 4
• Grade 5
• Grade 6
• Grades 7-8 Confirmation Year One Prep
• Grades 8-9 Confirmation Year Two Prep
• RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) - Monday only

Typically, children in second grade prepare and celebrate First Reconciliation and First Communion, and young people in seventh and eighth grades prepare for Confirmation and celebrate in the fall of ninth grade. Following the disruption of the remote year, there are partner grades for the sacramental preparation groups.  Only participation in the St. Joseph school or religious education program or other pre-approved sacramental preparation program (pre-approved by the director of religious education and pastor) meets the requirements of a sacramental preparation year. 

• If your child(ren) attends another Catholic school, you must confirm sacramental preparation is included in the school's religion curriculum. At this time, Everest Academy includes approved sacramental preparation; Marist Academy and Notre Dame Prep do not include sacramental preparation in their curriculums.
• If your family is homeschooling, a detailed outline of the program you are using for faith formation-sacramental preparation must be submitted for approval no later than October 30 of the preparation year, if your child wishes to celebrate the sacrament at St. Joseph Church. Please visit our Sacraments section for information on preparing for these sacraments. If your child has missed a sacrament, please visit our Missed a Sacrament page.
• All students must complete the sacramental requirements identified on the specific sacrament page.