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Faith Formation
Making Disciples: Teens
Curriculum
Students, parents, and sponsors will use our Chosen (by Ascension Press) curriculum with scripture study and select Theology of the Body lessons during their two years with us. The Sacrament of Confirmation takes place in the spring of their second year.
Volunteer
St. Joseph's Faith Formation Program depends greatly on volunteers. Training, lesson plans, and support are provided. Many people who decide to answer the call to the ministry of catechesis find that it deepens their own faith. We ask for at least one parent of any students involved in Faith Formation to volunteer in some way.
Upperclassmen volunteers can earn service hours and grow in their faith as they share the Gospel with their own stories of encounters with Christ. We highly encourage students to be active members of their community throughout high school and beyond, especially after being fully initiated into Church at Confirmation.
A diocesan background check and VIRTUS training is required for all adults working with children. If you are interseted in volunteering, please review and complete the following:
If you have any questions about St. Joseph’s Faith Formation programs or wish to volunteer, please contact our Director of Faith Formation Jonathan Arriola at 515-402-4733.
Registration
Registration for the 2026-2027 Year is open June 9 - September 30, 2026.
OCIA - Adults
Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is a spiritual journey of study, exploration, and sharing, and faith formation for those interested in learning about the Catholic faith. Beginning with a time for inquiry, an individual takes several steps that lead toward full reception as a member of the Catholic Church, after which there is a guided period of reflection and celebration on being a new missionary disciple of Christ. The OCIA process is open to non-baptized adults seeking full initiation into the Church as well as adult Christians seeking full communion in the Roman Catholic Church.
OCIA at St. Joseph’s is offered through the Adults Becoming Catholic (ABC) fellowship, which meets at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings in the Parish Center. This group will welcome you with open arms, answer all of your questions, and help you as you make your way along the path to becoming an awesome Catholic.
To learn more about OCIA at St. Joseph’s, please contact the Parish Office.
Serva Fidem
Serva Fidem Retreat!
We want to remind and encourage High School age teens to sign up for this great opportunity happening July 17th and 18th.
The registration is approximately $53 but the Knights of Columbus have agreed to reimburse $25 for those who attend.
*Adoration *Fr. Max, Fr. Flood *Break-out sessions: Mental Health, Technology, Art, Music, Sports
Follow this link for more details and to register by next week. Ad Astra
Serva Fidem, Latin for “Keep the Faith,” exists to form high school students into intentional disciples who will carry their faith through college and into the rest of their lives. At St. Joseph's high school students are invited to participate in small groups alongside their peers, where they can dive deeper into their Catholic faith, build meaningful relationships, ask honest questions, and explore how to pursue virtue in their everyday lives. Each group is intentionally paired with a strong Catholic mentor who can relate to the students, walk with them through their high school years, and guide them beyond.
Are you a student interested in starting a Serva Fidem group, or an adult discerning becoming a mentor? Contact our Serva Fidem coordinator, Caroline Schultz, for more information.
Phone Number: 515-205-2308 | Email: cschultz@servafidem.org
Volunteer
Volunteer
St. Joseph's Faith Formation Program depends greatly on volunteers. Training, lesson plans, and support are provided. Many people who decide to answer the call to the ministry of catechesis find that it deepens their own faith. The time requirement is Wednesday evenings, 5:45-7:30 p.m., from September through April, plus time to prepare a weekly lesson. Catechists are generally adults, but mature high school students who are willing to make a weekly commitment are welcome. Hours served can count toward service hour requirements.
A diocesan background check and VIRTUS training is required for all adults working with children. If you are interseted in volunteering, please review and complete the following:
If you have any questions about St. Joseph’s Faith Formation programs or wish to volunteer, please contact our Director of Faith Formation Jonathan Arriola at 515-402-4733 or jarriola@stjosephcatholicdsm.org
Wednesday Evening Catechesis
CATECHESIS
Regular Catechesis is specifically for children who are too young to receive first communion or who have already received first communion:
- 1st grade (too young to receive first communion)
- 3rd grade
- 4th grade
- 5th grade
- Middle school
First Communion Catechesis is specifically to prepare any children who have not received their First Communion.
- 2nd grade (ideal age to prepare and receive first communion)
- 3rd grade
- 4th grade
- 5th grade
- Middle school
Both groups will meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 to 7:30, September through April. Drop-off and pick-up are at the old school gymnasium.
Registration
Regular Catechesis Registration | English | Spanish
First Communion Catechesis Registration | English | Spanish
Registration for the 2026-2027 Year is now open. Registrations will close September 30, 2026.
- Tuition: $75.00/child, $115/2 children or $150/3 or more (family max)
- Payment: Payment options include cash, check, or credit/debit card.
- To Pay with a card, go to the I'm New tab, select Give Online, select Faith Formation and follow the prompts.
- Volunteer: At least one parent of any students involved in our catechesis program activities should be available to participate as a volunteer.