Welcome to St. Joan of Arc Religious Education! Our mission is to help parents share the Catholic faith with their children. We hope to bring these young people to a deeper relationship with God from the teachings and love of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Religious Education Options, 2024-2025
(Scroll down for tuition information)
All families with children in our program must be registered parishioners of St. Joan of Arc; the parish registration form can be found here. Families who are new to our program this year should read through the options below, and contact our Office (856-983-7575 or rem@stjoans.org) to begin the registration process.
Our Religious Education calendar with exact dates will be published during the summer, and will be linked here when finalized.
Summer Program – Grades 1st through 8th:
**Please note – due to its popularity and because of the practical limitations, the Summer Program is open at this point only to current St. Joan of Arc Religious Education families. If you are from another parish and would like to fill out our form to be contacted if space opens up, please click here.
Session 1 – June 24 – June 28, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm*
Session 2 – July 8 – July 12, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm*
Details: Each week represents a completely separate session. *Please note: students in the Summer Program attend classes one week or the other, NOT both. Families commit to one complete week or the other, i.e. there is no switching between weeks for any reason. There are no absences, late arrivals, or early dismissals in the Summer Program. Families enrolled in this option must be fully committed to children attending each day for the entire day, and must sign an agreement confirming this commitment.
Children attending the Summer Program are also required to participate in six parish events** during the year, and are given multiple options to choose from. This is in line with Diocesan requirements. For 2nd and 8th grade, students are also required to attend any Sacramental prep as determined by the RE Office.
Weekly/Traditional Program – Grades 1st through 8th:
Mondays, 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm, Grades 1st – 8th
Tuesdays, 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm, Grades 1st – 8th
Details: Children attend classes on Mondays or Tuesdays; you can indicate which day you prefer at the time of registration. We do our best to fulfill the family’s first choice of class days.
Family Program for 1st Grade:
Four Sundays during the course of the year, between October and April (schedule TBD), 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Details: 1st graders and at least one parent will meet in Pedata Hall on designated Sundays from 11:30-12:30 for a presentation on one of the units in the text, and a related craft/activity. Children/parents attending the Family Program are also required to participate in six parish events** during the year, and are given multiple options to choose from. This is in line with Diocesan requirements.
Special Disciples – For children with special needs (registration requires approval from the RE Office):
Approximately two Sundays per month, between October and April; classes are from 9:00 am – 10:00 am. (Dates TBD.)
Details: Special Disciples is for children with special needs in graades 1st through 8th. Children in Sacramental years in Special Disciples receive Sacramental prep as well. *Parents who wish to register a new student for Special Disciples should contact the Religious Education Office before registering (if you have a returning student for Special Disciples, you do not need to contact the office).
Homestudy – Grades 3rd-6th grades only (we do not offer homestudy for 1st, 2nd, 7th or 8th grades):
Details: Parents and children work together at home through the text according to a syllabus provided by the RE Office. Children in the Homestudy option are also required to participate in six parish events** during the year, and are given multiple options to choose from. This is in line with Diocesan requirements.
OCIA Tweens/Teens – For children who have missed significant prior Religious Education (registration requires approval from the RE Office):
Classes are weekly, typically on Monday evening at 7 pm for Tweens, and on Tuesday evening at 7 pm for Teens (final schedule TBD). Final scheduling of these classes is at the catechists’ discretion.
Details: These classes are for children who have missed multiple years of Religious Education, and require foundational catechesis as well as Sacramental preparation. OCIA Tweens is for children in grades 3rd-6th, OCIA Teens is for children in grades 7th-8th and early high school. Due to the intensive nature of this option, children must attend each class during the year and complete all requirements.
**Parish Events – Examples of parish events include Stations of the Cross, the Christmas Carol Festival at St. Joan’s, monthly movie nights, KidsLit during Masses, etc. Options are posted on our website and added to during the year. (Most events are one and a half hours or less.)
Tuition Information for 2024-2025
*Note regarding Sacramental years – There is a $25 fee, in addition to regular tuition, for 2nd and 8th grade students to help offset additional costs related to Sacramental preparation/celebration. These include costs for Sacrament retreats, Confirmation gowns for Confirmandi, etc.
For weekly/traditional/home study/family program/Special Disciples/OCIA Tweens and Teens:
$125 per child, $150 for two children, $175 for three children
For summer program:
$150 per child flat rate (i.e., no discounts) to cover regular costs of the program, as well as stipends for each catechist. We will also need to stipend a nurse to be in the school, again due to the length of the day and the number of children we anticipate in the program. In addition, we stipend a music teacher to work with the children each morning.
2023-2024 Religious Education Information
Our 2023-2024 Calendar is available at this link, or linked under the Religious Education tab. *Families are responsible for following the calendar and being aware of which weeks we do and do not have classes.
Handbook – You can find the current Religious Education handbook at this link.
Arrival and Dismissal – Please be sure to read through our arrival and dismissal procedures for class, found at this link. All families are expected to comply with these procedures so that we can ensure the safety of our children and our parish community.
Chapter Schedule for 1st through 6th Grades:
– 1st Grade Guide
– 2nd Grade Guide
– 3rd Grade Guide
– 4th Grade Guide
– 5th Grade Guide
– 6th Grade Guide
Homestudy Guides for Grades 3rd through 6th – Please click here for our 2023-2024 guide
Family Life Worksheets
Each worksheet for grades 1st through 8th can be found at this link.
Online Resources for Parents
Ascension Presents YouTube Channel – a catalog of videos explain very common or difficult questions about the faith
Word on Fire with Bishop Barron – Bishop Barron explains various teachings of the Church, especially as they relate to modern questions
BustedHalo.com – Busted Halo “ is a unique media resource that utilizes a relevant and accessible voice to help people understand the Catholic faith, put it into practice in their everyday lives, and share it with others.” Very practical and explains Catholic teaching in a down-to-earth way.
CatholicsComeHome.org – Great resource for anyone who has been away from the Church and is coming back or considering returning.
