St. Joseph's Supports Home Schooling!

Religious Education (Catechesis)

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.
 
Families may use the same catechetical text(s) and supplementary resources used by the Parish (including participation in family Faith Formation – see above), or they may choose to use any primary curriculum approved by the USCCB. All parish catechetical and sacrament reception policies – including annual enrollment - apply to families involved in home school education. Specifics include:

• Children must be annually enrolled as St. Joseph's home school students so that the parish has the children’s educational records. (Note: this is distinct from registering the family as members of the parish). Those using their own materials still must enroll, but tuition is waived. 
• Parents will report the student’s catechetical instruction success (e.g., attendance, prayer memorization, and an educational summary) to the Coordinator when requested.

Sacrament Reception

Sacrament reception is initiated by submitting the SACRAMENT REQUEST & RECORD FORM to the Religious Education Department (i.e., not by directly contacting a priest). Students must be enrolled as St. Joseph home school students in order to receive sacraments.

• Home-schooled children fulfill the same requirements for sacraments as those enrolled with the parish (e.g., ministry experience, sponsor selection, retreats, etc.) following the norms, policies, and guidelines set forth by the Diocese and adaptations followed at St. Joseph’s parish.
• Home-schooled children receive the sacraments in the parish at the same Masses (English, Spanish, or Latin when available) as those catechized in other parish programs and at a similar age (typically grades 2-3 for Confession, communion, and grades 7-8 for Confirmation).
• Parents will participate in parish sacramental preparation activities when appropriate.
• Families to be confirmed must participate one spiritual retreat day per year during Confirmation preparation as mandated by the diocese.