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 duty of parents to catechize their children and prepare them for the reception of sacraments. If parishioners who are homeschooling their children wish to include sacrament preparation at home rather than through our parish programs, they are free to do so following the norms, policies, and guidelines of St. Joseph’s parish and the diocese of Stockton.
*All other parish program requirements remain the same for homeschool families (e.g., mass attendance, online family formation, ministry experience, sponsor selection, retreats, etc.). See the file below for this year's orientation materials for details!
*All other parish program requirements remain the same for homeschool families (e.g., mass attendance, online family formation, ministry experience, sponsor selection, retreats, etc.). See the file below for this year's orientation materials for details!
| homeschool_orientation_parent_retreat_2024.pdf |
Enrollment
All homeschooled children must still be enrolled annually so that the parish has a record of their sacrament preparation and reception.
Enroll here: ENROLLMENT.
Enroll here: ENROLLMENT.
- Birth certificates, previous sacrament certificates must be submitted for proper record keeping.
- Homeschool families will be asked to submit documentation of homeschool status at initial enrollment.
Sacrament Preparation
Home-schooled children must fulfill the same or equivalent requirements for sacrament preparation as those enrolled in the parish sacrament preparation programs following the norms, policies, and guidelines set forth by the Diocese and adaptations followed at St. Joseph’s parish.
- Enrollment with the parish is required for each year of faith formation counted toward sacrament preparation.
- Homeschool families will report the student’s formation when they are completed (see below).
- 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.
Homeschool families should utilize the same materials as the parish program, or otherwise approved catechetical resources.
- The primary curriculum must be approved by USCCB (see usccb.org/resources/CRL)
- Confirmation guidelines can be found at stocktondiocese.org/confirmation-guidelines.
- Circle of Grace education is required annually and must be reported.
- Safe Environment is required for catechists and children (see Circle of Grade Curriculum).
- For more information contact the Diocesan Safe Environment Training Manager at 209-466-0636, ext. 611
Sacrament Request, Reception, and Recording
Parents should request sacraments no earlier than the appropriate age / grade level as those in the parish program.
Sacrament reception request is initiated by submitting a SACRAMENT REQUEST FORM (below) to the Faith Formation Department ([email protected]).
- Confession: 2nd Grade (after one year of preparation in 2nd grade)
- Communion: 3rd Grade (after two years of preparation from 2nd - 3rd grade)
- Confirmation: 8th grade (after two years of preparation from 6th - 7th grade)
Sacrament reception request is initiated by submitting a SACRAMENT REQUEST FORM (below) to the Faith Formation Department ([email protected]).
- This will be submitted to the Director of Faith Formation for approval no less than 60 days prior to sacrament reception.
- Homeschool families are expected to have their child receive their sacraments 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.
- If 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 it.
- If approved, after sacrament reception parents must present the SACRAMENT RECORD FORM (the second page of the Sacrament Request Form) to the presiding priest to fill out and turn in to the Parish Office.
- If this is not done, the parish will have no sacramental reception record or certificate for the family.
