St. Joseph and Sts. Peter and Paul are excited to offer Sophia Institute's A Family of Faith program to families with children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Studies tell us that parental involvement in the faith life of a child is by FAR the most important element in ensuring that a child develops into an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ. A Family of Faith provides both the parish catechist and the parent with a solution to catechizing the whole family, growing in relationship with one another, and helping parents lead their children to Heaven! This program helps develop strong Catholic families in which children learn the joys of following Jesus Christ and the truths of our Faith through the witness of Christian life by their parents. 
                                   


For the 2019-2020 academic year, we will be utilizing the 'Year Two' curriculum which focuses on the Sacraments. Please contact Kelsey if you have further questions. We can't wait to walk with you on this journey! 

1. September 11, 2019: The Role of Parents
2. October 2, 2019: What is a Sacrament?
3. November 6, 2019: Sacraments of Initiation
4. December 4, 2019: Confirmation
5. January 8, 2020: The Eucharist, The Mass
6. Febuary 5, 2020: Sacraments of Healing
7. March 4, 2020: Anointing of the Sick
8. April 15, 2020: Marriage & Holy Orders
9. May 6, 2020: Sacraments Jeopardy

2019-2020 Family of Faith (Grades K-8) Calendar 

2019-2020 FofF Registration Forms

2019-2020 FofF Liability Forms

Children's liturgy is a ministry for children ages 4-2nd grade. Students are invited to go down with catechists to learn about the Gospel reading at a children's level of understanding and complete an activity related to what they learned in the Gospel. 

Children's Liturgy will start on Sunday, September 8, 2019. It will be held during the Saturday 4:15 p.m. mass on the first, third, and fifth weekend of the month and during the 10:15 a.m. Sunday mass on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. 

We are looking for a few more people to help teach! If you are interested, please email Nikki Decker at nikkiowa@gmail.com! 

WHAT IS TOTUS TUUS?
The Totus Tuus parish summer catechetical program, a week-long “parish mission” for Catholic youth in the 1st through 12th grades, is dedicated to proclamation of the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, apologetics, Christian witness, the sacraments, Marian devotion, and Eucharistic worship.
Totus Tuus seeks to inspire in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation by challenging them to give themselves entirely to Jesus Christ through Mary and by continually strengthening their prayer lives in imitation of Her.
The Totus Tuus program has divided the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church into a six year cycle. Additionally, each summer is dedicated to the mysteries of the Rosary.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer Totus Tuus this summer as the Archdiocese has made the decision to not have these programs. We are hoping to, however, offer a similar program from July 13th-17th, 2020. Stay tuned for further details!

Rocky Railway is a week-long catechetical program for children ages 3-5 who have not yet attended kindergarten. this program is dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel and promoting Catholic faith through age-appropriate evangelization and catechesis! Parish teens and young adults engage the children with interactive Bible stories, hands-on crafts, high-energy music, and more, which are all enriched with Gospel truths that built faith. 

Monday to Friday, July 13th-17th, 2020 from 8:45 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church campus in Bellevue. You can register using the forms located in the back of our churches!
 

Our middle school youth group (EPIC-Everything is Possible in Christ) is led by Youth Minister, Julie Schmidt. All middle school students are invited to the following meetings:

February 9- 11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. -- Lunch will be served. Faith and Fun
February 16- 3:00-5:00 p.m. -- Movie afternoon- bring a snack/drink

March 8- 11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. -- Lunch will be served. Faith and Fun
March 15- 3:00-5:00 p.m. -- Movie afternoon- bring a snack/drink

April 5- 11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. -- Lunch will be served. Faith and Fun
April 19- 3:00-5:00 p.m. -- Movie afternoon- bring a snack/drink

May 3- 11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. -- Lunch will be served. Faith and Fun
May 17- 3:00-5:00 p.m. -- Movie afternoon- bring a snack/drink

All gatherings will begin and end in the Fr. Kruse Parish Center.

Our high school youth group is led by Youth Minister, Julie Schmidt. All high schoolers are invited for their monthly meetings--the first Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph Rectory basement. Members of the youth group also participate regularly in service opportunities and faith activities. 

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s), The Archdiocese of Dubuque takes seriously its call to provide the safest possible environment for all of our young people.  As part of that call, we provide information to parents to help them and all of us to be more informed of the issues and topics related to the abuse of children. It is our sincere hope that by partnering together we can continually provide the safest possible environment for all our young people to grow into healthy, Christ-filled adults.  

We invite you to view the Catholic Mutual Group Training “Safe Haven - It's Up to You”  videos that all employees and volunteers in the Archdiocese are required to complete. 

As a parent you are invited to access these videos by following these steps:

1. Go to https://dubuque.cmgconnect.org

2. Register for a new account

3. Select your school or parish location

4. Select Role of “Volunteer”

5. Select Participation as “Parent”

6. Start the Training, “Safe Haven Training for Parents - Dubuque” 

7. Register you account

Parents who view the videos through the “Parent” section will not be required to have a background check.  Parents who wish to be a parish/school volunteer, averaging over an hour a week, are asked to participate as “Volunteer” (step 5 above) as this will automatically prompt you through the initial background check process.