Living Our Faith

Faith formation and the spiritual development of our students is central to the mission of our school and parish. Saint Joseph Catholic School partners with parents in this important work. Through age-appropriate catechesis and dialogue, students are guided in the development of a Christian conscience. Our religion curriculum is aligned with the Religion Standards for Catholic Education published by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis.

Students at Saint Joseph Catholic School:

  • Have the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ through classroom instruction and weekly liturgies 

  • Come to understand the Gospel message through the teachings of the Catholic Church

  • Are encouraged to live out the gospel message in their daily lives through service, and responding to the Church’s social justice teachings

In addition to daily religion class, students have many other meaningful opportunities to develop their faith at Saint Joseph Catholic School:

  • Weekly school Mass and Sacramental prep (2nd and 7th-8th grades)

  • Education on the virtues (this includes school assemblies and team-building activities, and a "House" system)

  • Prayer & Service club

  • Retreats

  • Youth Ministry (in collaboration with the parish)

Prayer

Saint Joseph Catholic School students have meaningful opportunities for individual, group, grade-level and communal prayer experiences including: weekly School Mass, Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, Advent and Lenten Prayer Services, Communal opportunities for Reconciliation, Mealtime Prayer, All-School Morning & Afternoon Prayer, Regular recitation of the Rosary. We also have a Prayer & Service club that meets regularly that has high student involvement and participation.

Retreats

Some students participate in annual, grade-level retreats. Retreat themes include: Baptism, friendship, the Eucharist, Mary Our Mother, the Saints, Care for Creation, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

6th and 7th Graders in have a Day Retreat in the Fall with NET Ministries and their missionaries, which includes talks, games, and time for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

8th Graders participate in the annual Walk to Mary pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin. This annual trip is a time-honored tradition here at Saint Joseph and is a special time of prayer, faith, and joy as our students grow closer to Christ and Our Blessed Mother together.

Our Priests

Our priests, Father Luke and Father Wappes, are an important part of our community. They are frequently visitors of our classrooms. Father Wappes also serves as our Middle School Chaplain & Formation Director. In this role, Father Wappes helps lead our virtue and cultural formation efforts while working closely with our middle school faculty team and students.

The Handmaids

We are incredibly blessed to have two joyful sisters from the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus involved in our community that are involved both in our school and in our parish. Their work in the school provides an opportunity to form deep relationships with the families of the parish and to support them as they seek a life in Christ.

The sisters regularly visit classrooms, guide Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children from from our school and parish, facilitate Discipleship groups for our parish’s Youth Group, offer small groups for women (including moms from our school community), lead the annual Women’s Retreat, supervise Junior Sacristans in their service of the sacristy and sanctuary space, and so much more. Their extraordinary witness is a gift to our students, which we pray will inspire even more religious vocations from our community.