Baptismal preparation meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month. Parents wishing to have a child baptized are asked to register at the parish office. The baptismal preparation meeting is about an hour in duration and is held at the parish rectory.
The parish initiates, supports and assists parents in the preparation of the children for the sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation. Working closely with the school and the parents, who have the primary responsibility for the religious and sacramental life of their children, the commitment of the parish is to encourage continued growth in the life of faith, and the celebration of the sacraments within the family.
St. Joseph's is proud to offer the "We Celebrate" sacramental programs which are based on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Each course is approximately 7 weeks in duration. First Communion preparation is held in the spring for children in grade 2; while First Reconciliation preparation is held in the fall for children in grade 4. Confirmation is offered approximately every three years for children in grade 6 and up.
This ministry is always in need of new members for this team.
Note - registration will be on the first day of each session
Reconcilliation (3:00pm - 4:30pm)
Confirmation (3:00pm - 4:45pm)
1st Communion (3:00pm)
In order to comply with the requirements for the Sacrament of Marriage, couples should contact Father Krystian Golisz at least four months prior to the proposed date of the marriage to allow time for the paper work to be completed and for a marriage preparation course to be taken.
A team of comprised of individuals and couples prepare engaged couples as they prepare for this sacrament. If you are willing to share your knowledge, faith and stories to educate and journey with those preparing for marriage we invite you to join this team.
RCIA is a process of welcoming adults into full membership in the Roman Catholic Church, whether they are coming from another Christian denomination or through baptism. The faith journey has a flexible entry date. The four periods of the initiation process and the rites that link them toward the celebration of the Initiation Sacraments each have unique purposes and structures.
Since 1988, the RCIA has been mandated as the ordinary way adults are brought into full communion with the Catholic faith, whether they are coming from another Christian denomination or through baptism. The RCIA is designed to be a progressive journey of faith and a recurrent experience of conversion.
The first of the four steps is the Precatechumenate period, which is a period of inquiry. It is followed by the Catechumenate stage, a period devoted to the growth of the catechumen's faith. The third step is the period of Purification and Enlightenment, which is a six week period coinciding with the season of Lent. It is a time of intensive spiritual preparation for the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, i.e. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist which are received at the Easter Vigil. The fourth stage is the Mystagogia, a post-baptismal time of reflection and a time of continual integration of the gift of faith into everyday life. Each year the RCIA journey commences in mid-September.
Frequently Asked Questions
Children of school age (7+), who have not been baptized, are invited to participate in the RCIC program. Children journey with their families, sponsors, and instructors in the four periods of initiation based on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Classes are held every Monday at 7:00 pm in the parish hall commencing in early October and concluding with Baptism at the Easter Vigil.
Children also participate in the Breaking Open the Word at 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, which is in addition to the classroom instruction.
Should you, or someone you know, be unable to attend Mass because of illness, arrangements can be made to have communion administered in the home by a Communion for the Sick minister.
Please contact the parish office.
The Sunday Gospel Program is a ministry which provides a liturgy suitable for children from age 4 (ECS) to Grade 4. Saint Joseph's is proud to offer the Let the Children Come program which is based on the Sunday Gospel in the liturgical cycle. At the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, during the Liturgy of the Word, the children are taken to the parish hall to participate in a liturgy designed for their age group. The children's liturgy program allows the children to explore the Sunday Gospel, adapted to their level of understanding. Religious education teachers or parents of children participating in the program are welcome to volunteer and share their faith in this ministry.