Religious Education

Mr. James Jungels Director of Religious Education (908)874-3141 x224 jjungels@stjosephsparish.com

Maura Graber Religious Education Assistant (908)874-3141 x227 mgraber@stjosephsparish.com

2011-2012 Religious Education Class Schedule

Note:

• Summer School Requirements for Grade 3 – 6 (based on grades in the fall) which is a replacement of our year round program. In order to participate:
  • Children will need to attend both weeks: July 18, 2011– July 28, 2011.
  • A parent will need to assist with the program, which will include being assigned a task that needs to be filled and you may be required to be on site for multiple days. There may be group task prep work that will need to be completed before the program starts.
  • Virtus training, fingerprinting & a Diocesan application must be completed & turned in before you can volunteer. Please see us for forms & information.
  • Parent and child will need to attend 4 Sunday morning sessions during the year and complete assigned projects.
• Sunday Classes:
  • Since the Parish Center is not available every Sunday, these classes will do two things differently:
  • Each class will be an hour-and-a-half to make up some of the time.
  • To be part of the Sunday program, PARENTS WILL NEED TO MAKE UP CLASSES at home on their off weeks!
• Grade 7 & 8: We are asking that 7th and 8th grade attend on Tuesday evenings. We are intending to have both grades meet every week.
  • Limited Thursday option. For those that absolutely cannot attend on Tuesday, we will have one class for each grade available on Thursday evenings. Space is very limited on Thursday as we also accommodate Grades 1 through 6 during that timeframe.
• Home School
  • Our parish center classes offer opportunities for faith and learning experiences that complement what is happening in your home. While we would prefer that the children participate in a class, we recognize that this is not always possible. As a last option, we will again offer a home school opportunity. Please note this on your registration form under 1st choice. Home School will also meet before CCD on Sunday morning 4 times a year. To participate in Home School, a parent will need to attend the Sunday sessions with their child, complete the work assignments and turn them in as well as complete a family service project. More information and the meeting dates will follow.

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Registration Package

1. Volunteer Form:
As always, adults are needed to make the program possible. Please help in whatever way you can.
PLEASE NOTE: Virtus training, fingerprinting & a Diocesan application must be completed & turned in before you can be a volunteer. Please see us for forms & information.

2. Registration / Permission Form:
This form provides valuable information in order to register your child(ren). Also, we would like to be able to take photographs of special events, and even day to day activities. Please let us know if we may use your child’s photo.

3. Parent Contract:
This form lets us know that you have read and understand the Parent Handbook. If you need a copy of the Parent Handbook please call Maura Graber(x227).

4. Fee:
Registration fee must be included with your registration form. This saves us from having to send repeated requests and allows us to plan our budget effectively. If you cannot pay the full amount now, please consider making installments. If your family is unable to pay, please let us know. No child will be denied Religious Education for financial reasons. See above for late fee information, which only applies to those registrations received after 8/1/11

5. For those registering for the summer program: please write “SUMMER PROGRAM” on the outside of your envelope to help us identify and prepare our classes. Please do this even if you are only enrolling one of your children in the summer program.

During the early part of the school year we will hold meetings to provide specific details to the families of children preparing for sacraments. The specific dates for these meetings will be given out at a later date. Here is some general information to keep in mind:

• Dates for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will be determined in the Fall.
  • First Reconciliation is typically celebrated one evening during Lent.
  • First Eucharist is usually celebrated in the spring, and the classes assigned to one of four Sunday Masses.
• The date for Confirmation is determined by the Bishop’s office, and we are usually informed sometime in January.
  • The Bishop’s office determines the date of Confirmation. If Fr. Ray is the celebrant, it is usually held on a Saturday after Easter at the 4:45PM Mass. If the Bishop is the celebrant, the Bishop’s office determines what time the Mass is held.
• There is an additional sacramental offering for students completing our sacramental preparation programs that will be collected later in the year. This covers additional instructional materials these programs require, plus gown rental for Confirmation and bus transportation for the Diocesan trip, which is mandatory.

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  Religious Education Fees 2011 ~ 2012

Tuition is due at the time the registration forms are turned in unless arrangements are made.

Tuition Fees:

Sacramental offering: First Eucharist & Confirmation offering will help cover the expenses of special events & materials. (This will be collected at a later time).

Grocery Card Fundraising Scrip: The religious education program, as part of the greater St. Joseph Parish community, is asked to participate more actively in the grocery card fundraising program by purchasing $1,000 worth of scrip to be used at Shoprite during the course of the school year. Grocery cards will be available using order forms through your child’s religious education class. Grocery cards are also available following all Masses in the Gathering Space. St. Joseph’s receives 5% from the sale of each card. If every family purchased $1,000 in grocery cards during the course of the year, approximately $20,000 could be raised to help St. Joseph Parish. Please carefully consider the purchase of the cards. Participation in this program will help close the gap between tuition and the actual expenses per child.

Welcome Letter
Home School Service Project Packet
Summer School Service Project Packet
Summer School Service Idea Agreement Form
Summer School Service Project Completion Form

Group Session Dates