RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Stjoereled@yahoo.com
CONTACT: Doreen Breen or Donna Hardy 781-395-1784

ALL Families must register each year for Religious Education.  Mass attendance is part of the program.  However, the 10 AM Family Mass is recommended.  We recommend the teens attend the 5pm Mass before class.

The Sacrament of First Holy Communion is a two-year program beginning in first grade.

First graders    Attend the 10AM Family Mass on Sunday and hear the readings from the
                      Children’s Lectionary.

Second grade  Attend the 10AM Family Mass on Sundays. They also attend two six-week
                      courses held on Monday from 3:30-4:30 pm for Reconciliation and for
                      Eucharist. We will have a meeting before classes begin for all parents
                      preparing their child for First Holy Communion. The children will also attend a
                      Retreat one Saturday morning for approximately 2.5 hours (after retreat the
                      children and parents will make their banner for communion day) and
                      rehearsal for 1st Communion. The  fee for the materials for the banner,
                      candle, retreat bread and DVD, etc. are included in the family registration fee. 
                      St. Joseph’s  school children preparing to receive Communion, must register
                      with the religious education office and pay a $30 fee for said supplies.

Grades 3-5      Attend classes on Mondays from 3:30-4:30 pm. Children attend reconciliation
                      twice a year – once during Advent and once during Lent. 

Grade 6-8        Attend classes on Sunday evenings from 6-7 pm and will also have
                      reconciliation during Advent and Lent.  Also, teens in grade 8 will attend a
                      Chastity retreat in the spring.  Children in grades 6-8 are also required to
                      attend a Human Sexuality Presentation (with a parent), sponsored by the
                      Archdiocese of Boston.  We try to schedule one in the fall and one in the        
                      Spring held in St. Joseph’s café.  

The Sacrament of Confirmation is a two-year program beginning in Grade 9. However, you must complete grades 1-8 in religious education.

Grade 9         Teens attend two six-week courses on Sundays, beginning with the 5 PM Mass
                     then proceeding to the school for class from 6-7 pm.  In addition, they are
                     assigned to a Kairos Day (meaning “time of opportunity”), which is held here
                     at St. Joseph’s.  Catholic School students only need to attend the Kairos day.

Grade 10        All students (public and catholic school) attend two six-week courses on
                     Sundays, beginning with the 5 PM Mass followed by class from 6-7 PM at St.
                     Joseph’s School.  We have an information/registration meeting for parents
                     and students in the spring , and also a sponsor meeting in the fall.  In
                     addition, the teens will attend a Mass of Commitment, Reconciliation with
                     sponsors, perform a minimum of 10 hours Community Service, attend a
                     Retreat day and attend rehearsal with their sponsor before being presented to
                     the Bishop for Confirmation.

The fees are as follows:

Religious Education Registration Form (Word)
  Religious Education Information Sheet and Confirmation Requirement (Word)
Catechists Application (Word)