St. Joseph Community offers help to parents in your efforts to raise your children in faith. (Contact Anne Marie at 522-0181, ext. 59 or afourre@st-joseph-community.org for more information.)
· Faith Formation classes for children Pre-Kindergarten (4 years old by September) through 8th Grade on Sunday mornings. Grades K through 8 are designed for children not attending Catholic schools. Registration is required.
Safety Information and Family Resources
·
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
for
children age 5 through 12, to hear the gospel message in child terms.
At the 9am Mass on most Sundays, children are dismissed to go with
volunteers to hear the Liturgy of the Word. They participate in the
Gospel, special homily, songs, and activities, and then return to their
parents to participate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. There is no need
to register and no fee. Children must be old enough to sit quietly with
others and participate in the activities.
·
Sacramental Preparation
for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is generally a two-year
process starting at age 6 (first grade). During the second year
parents/guardians attend several parent meetings and also join their
children at special preparation retreats. See
Faith Formation classes for the
registration form.
Children in third grade or older who wish to prepare for First Eucharist
participate in a sacrament preparation process in addition to his or her
age-appropriate class. Children age 7 or older who have never been
baptized also participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults,
adapted for children. Call Anne Marie at 522-0181, ext. 59 to arrange a
meeting.
·
Children’s Choir engages the young people of our community (2nd
through 8th grades) in the celebration of liturgy and the joy of music.
Children rehearse weekly on Thursday afternoons during the school year
from 4:30 to 5:15 pm, and sing during the 9:00am Sunday Mass every 6 to
8 weeks and at occasional parish events. Adults help with rehearsals and
performances. Registration is required.
For
more information contact Sue Spiersch at 522-8431 or e-mail
alamedakid@alamedanet.net.
· Safe Environment for Children: As members of St. Joseph community and as disciples of Jesus the safety of our children and all the children in our community is of primary importance. The Oakland Diocese Safe Environment Project has been developed in cooperation with the Oakland Diocesan Presbyteral Council in compliance with the adoption of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People developed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2002. Adherence to the policy and implementation of the project is a mandate from Bishop Vigneron, and includes training of all parents, ministers, educators, church personnel, volunteers and others regularly involved with minors, to address the issue of child abuse. The goal of the training is to promote healing and reconciliation, and to provide general information so all volunteers and staff can identify abuse, know how to respond if we think a child has been abused, and take steps to prevent abuse from happening. We are grateful for your commitment to ensure the protection of the young people in the community. For training information, go to www.oakdiocese.org/safe/workshops.htm.