Family Faith Formation 

Kindergarten–6th Grade

Strengthening the Domestic Church

The Catholic Church teaches that the family is the Domestic Church—the first place where children encounter God, learn to pray, and come to know the love of Jesus Christ. Parents are entrusted with a sacred responsibility: to be the first and primary catechists of their children, forming them in faith through daily witness, prayer, and love.

Within the home, children learn what it means to live as Christians—through forgiveness, service, shared prayer, participation in the Sacraments, and faithful living. Long before formal religious instruction begins, faith is already being taught through the example of family life.

Our Parish’s Role

The Family Faith Formation Program at St. Joseph exists to support, equip, and walk alongside parents as they fulfill their baptismal call to hand on the Catholic faith. Our goal is not to replace parents in this role, but to empower and encourage them—providing resources, guidance, and community so families can grow together in a living relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.

When families are strengthened in faith, the entire parish community is strengthened as well.

Family Faith Formation in the Home

At the heart of this program is the understanding that faith is best formed within the rhythms of family life. Parents model Catholic virtues and invite their children into conversation, reflection, and prayer centered on the Sunday Gospel.

Parents do not need to be experts in theology or Scripture. All lesson plans, videos, and support materials are provided, making it possible for any parent to confidently guide their children. Many families find that faith discussions naturally arise around the dinner table, during prayer time, or while preparing for Mass together.

You can do this—and you are not alone.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)

An In-Person, Montessori-Based Formation for Our Youngest Disciples

For our youngest children, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) offers a unique and deeply Catholic approach to faith formation rooted in Sacred Scripture, liturgy, and prayer. CGS recognizes the child’s natural capacity to encounter God and nurtures that relationship through hands-on learning, silence, and wonder.

CGS is offered in person on Sundays and is designed especially for Kindergarten and early elementary children. In a carefully prepared sacred space called the atrium, children encounter Jesus as the Good Shepherd, learning to recognize His voice and respond with trust and love.

How CGS Supports the Family Church

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd works in harmony with the Church’s teaching that parents are the first catechists of their children. Rather than replacing formation in the home, CGS supports families by helping children experience the foundations of the faith in a way that is developmentally appropriate and spiritually rich.

Children engage with:

The Sunday Gospel

The life of Jesus

The Mass and liturgical year

Basic prayers and sacred signs of the Church

Through repetition, Scripture, and hands-on materials, children are invited into a personal and joyful relationship with Christ.

A Foundation for Lifelong Faith

CGS does not rush children into memorization or abstract explanations. Instead, it allows faith to take root slowly and deeply—laying a strong foundation for later catechesis and sacramental preparation. Many families find that the quiet reverence children experience in the atrium naturally carries over into family prayer, Mass participation, and conversations at home.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd beautifully complements our Family Faith Formation model, honoring both the role of the family and the Church in forming young hearts to love Jesus.

Spirit of Truth Curriculum

Families receive the Spirit of Truth Curriculum via our online account portal, a program rooted in the Teaching and Sharing of our Faith. Each weekly lesson connects Scripture with the teachings of the Church and helps children understand the Sacraments, prayer, morality, and Christian living in age-appropriate ways.

The levels based upon age and sacramental preparation years completed:

CGS (detailed above) – Kindergarten & 1st Grade

Year 2 (typically 2nd Grade) – Our Life in Jesus (Reconciliation Year)

Year 3 (typically 3rd Grade) – The Kingdom of God and the Church (Confirmation and Communion Year)

Years 4 & 5 (typically 4th Grade and up) – Jesus Teaches Us How to Live, The Sacraments, and Sacred Scripture

Family Faith Formation Gatherings

Families are invited to come together each month for Faith, Fellowsihp, and Fun Nights, strengthening both family bonds and parish community.

Children participate in engaging activities tied to the liturgical season and Gospel lessons

Parents grow in faith through speakers, discussion, and shared fellowship

Families build meaningful connections with one another within the parish

Registration Information

Please reach out if you wish to register your student for the remainder of the 2025-2026 School Year.