Church of Saint Joseph the Carpenter

*If your child has not been baptized, please contact the Parish Office to make arrangements at: (908) 241-1250.
      
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Navarro via email at 908-241-1250. 

From the National Directory for Catechesis

School-age children should receive formal and systematic catechesis in a parish-based catechetical program, a Catholic school, or a program of home-based catechesis in which the content of the faith and the experience of Christian life is presented authentically and completely.

Having introduced them to the person of Jesus Christ within the family, catechesis for school-age children presents his teachings, his ministry, and the major events of his life. Children can begin to appreciate the parables of Jesus and capture glimpses of the Kingdom of God; they can learn more formal prayers; and they can commit brief passages of Sacred Scripture to memory.Catechesis for the Sacraments of Penance and Reconciliation and of the Eucharist is ordinarily provided in these early years of schooling.

The most important task of the catechesis of children is to provide, through the witness of adults, an environment in which young people can grow in faith. Several pastoral directives should guide the catechists of children:

• Be able to understand children, communicate with them, listen to them with respect, be sensitive to their circumstances, and be aware of their current values.
• Recognize that children have a dignity of their own and that they are important not only for what they will do in the future, but for who they are now.
• Encourage them to know and respect other cultural, religious, racial, and ethnic groups, and use catechetical materials that are adapted to accommodate cultural, racial, and ethnic pluralism; the concerns of particular groups; and persons with special needs.
• Understand that the child's comprehension and other powers develop gradually, and present religious truths in greater depth and propose more mature challenges as the capacity for understanding and growth in faith increases.
• Provide experiences in which they can live faith and apply the message of salvation to real-life situations; encourage the use of imagination, as well as intelligence and memory.
• Provide experiences that link Liturgy and catechesis and promote appreciation for the community celebration of the Eucharist.
• Stimulate not only exterior but interior activity—a prayerful response from the heart.″Foster a sense of community that is an important part of education for social life.

If your child is preparing for First Penance, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation, a baptismal certificate is required at the time of registration.