St. Joseph Parish, St Johns at 109 Linden Street, St. Johns, MI 48879 US - Religious Formation

Romans 5:5

Hope is indeed alive in our youth and children of today.  Jesus did not abandon us, but left us the Holy Spirit to help and guide us through each of our days.  It is the promises and teachings of Jesus that force us to look outside of ourselves and bring hope to others.  It is Jesus' humble servant way that radiates peace and brings joy to the heart.

I am thankful to all of the sixty-seven volunteers it takes each year to pass on Jesus' teachings of service, peace, love, joy, and hope to our children and youth.  It is through these generous hearts that our children encounter the truth they thirst for; the truth that teaches us to welcome people of all faiths and cultures and affirm the dignity of every human life.  It is my prayer that our hearts will be open to the Spirit's outpouring of God's love.  What great hope our future will hold if our children learn from us the love that recongnizes the face of Jesus in every person.

In the Joy of Christ,

Michelle Parker, Director of Religious Formation

Our Religious Formation Department, under the direction of Michelle Parker, handles the religious formation of children 4 years through high school who are not part of our Catholic elementary school. Please contact the Religious Formation office at 989-224-8537 for more information on these programs. Formation Opportunities: 4-year olds through 2nd-graders may participate in their own Liturgy of the Word during our Sunday 10:00 am or Noon Mass. During the adult Liturgy of the Word, the children are gathered together to hear God's Word proclaimed at their level. They rejoin the congregation during the offertory. First Grade through Eighth Grade religion classes are offered on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Classes for the 2006-2007 academic year will run from 9/20/06 to 5/09/07. Confirmation preparation begins in the spring of a student's eighth grade year and continues through ninth grade. In this program, participants meet in small groups under adult leadership to discuss and learn about faith issues relevant to their lives. Rite of Christian Initiation for Children is available for children who need sacramental preparation and have little or no prior background in Catholicism. Please call the Religious Formation office for additional information. Religious instruction is also available for children with special needs. They meet twice a month on Wednesday evenings. Social Opportunities for Youth High School Youth Group is a combination of catechism and social activities for our high school youth. This group meets weekly on Wednesday evenings under the direction of Mrs. Nancy Poff.