St. Joseph's Supports Home Schooling!
Faith Formation for Homeschool Families
The Church teaches that parents are to be the first Catechists of their children, and St. Joseph’s supports the rights of parents to catechize their children and prepare them for the reception of sacraments. If home school families wish their child(ren) to receive religious education at home rather than through the parish program, they are free to do so following the norms, policies, and guidelines set forth by the Diocese and adaptations followed at St. Joseph’s parish.
Enrollment
All homeschooled children must still be enrolled annually so that the parish has the children’s sacrament formation and reception records. Enroll here: ENROLLMENT.
- Homeschool families may participate in St. Joseph's Faith Formation, use the same catechetical resources used by the parish (see below), or choose any primary curriculum approved by the USCCB (see Formation Resources below).
- Parents who choose to form their children at home will report the student’s formation (e.g., attendance, prayer memorization, and an educational summary) when they are ready (see Sacrament Reception below).
- Homeschool families will be asked to submit documentation of homeschool status at initial enrollment.
- The minimum age for beginning preparation for Confession or Communion is 7.
- The minimum grade for beginning preparation for Confirmation is 6th grade (they receive in 8th grade).
Sacrament Preparation
Home-schooled children must fulfill the same or equivalent requirements for sacraments as those enrolled in the parish formation / sacrament preparation program following the norms, policies, and guidelines set forth by the Diocese and adaptations followed at St. Joseph’s parish.
Formation Resources
Parents / Guardian / Sponsor Responsibility
- Enrollment with the parish is required for each year of faith formation counted toward sacrament preparation.
- A minimum of one full year of catechetical instruction 2nd grade or higher is to precede the reception of confession.
- A minimum of two full years of catechetical instruction 2nd grade or higher is to precede the reception of communion.
- A minimum of two full years of catechetical instruction 6th grade or higher is to precede the reception of confirmation.
- Birth certificates, previous sacrament certificates must be submitted for proper record keeping.
- Besides children's / teen faith formation sessions, all other parish program requirements remain the same for homeschool families (e.g., tracked mass attendance, online parent formation, ministry experience, sponsor selection, retreats, etc.)
- See the FORMS PAGE for this year's orientation materials if you missed it!
Formation Resources
- Homeschool families should utilize the same materials as the parish program, or otherwise approved catechetical resources. Primary curriculum must be approved by USCCB. See USCCB CURRENT CONFORMITY LIST.
- Circle of Grace safe environment education is required. Safe Environment is required for catechists and children. See dovesnest.net/circleofgrace. For more information contact the Diocesan Safe Environment Training Manager at 209-466-0636, ext. 611.
- For Confirmation guidelines see stocktondiocese.org/confirmation-guidelines.
Parents / Guardian / Sponsor Responsibility
- Attend any required parish sacrament practice and preparation meetings.
- Actively participate in the Parish community and in Sunday Mass.
- Follow the norms (including Safe Environment), established by the bishop.
Sacrament Request, Reception, and Recording
Parents should request sacraments no earlier than the appropriate age / grade level and celebration time as those in the parish program (pastoral exceptions are possible – parish office to request pastoral meeting):
Sacrament reception request is initiated by requesting a SACRAMENT REQUEST FORM from the Faith Formation Department ([email protected]). This will be submitted to the Director of Faith Formation for review and parents will be notified of approval.
- Confession: 2nd Grade
- Communion: 3rd Grade
- Confirmation: 8th grade
Sacrament reception request is initiated by requesting a SACRAMENT REQUEST FORM from the Faith Formation Department ([email protected]). This will be submitted to the Director of Faith Formation for review and parents will be notified of approval.
- Parents are expected to have their child receive the sacrament along with the other parish families at scheduled sacrament reception masses offered at the parish. This allows children to participate in the life of the parish in a public and communal manner. Sacrament recording, certificate provision, pictures, etc. will be handled by parish staff. (Pictures / video may not be taken during Mass.)
- If, instead, parents wish to have their child receive a sacrament outside of the parish's scheduled sacrament reception masses, they must schedule a meeting with the pastor to discuss their wishes.
