To be considered ready to receive these sacraments, families should:
1)    Be registered and an active member of St. Joseph Parish, Arlington, Texas. 
 
2)    Re-register into Formation programs for the EVERY school year.  Faith Formation should be lifelong.  Many formation options are available for families at St. Joseph Parish.
Youth in Grades 1-5 who are age 7 and older should registered and active into one of the youth formation options; a Diocese of Fort Worth Catholic School (St. Joseph Catholic School is in this network), Saturday Morning Children’s Formation, or Family Formation. 
Youth in Grades 6-8 should registered and active into one of the youth formation options; a Diocese of Fort Worth Catholic School (St. Joseph Catholic School is in this network) and / or St. Joseph EDGE youth group. 
Youth in Grades 9-11 should registered and active into the LifeTeen youth group.  Please note this is pre-Confirmation youth group formation.  The second year of formation these youth should be con-currently registered and active in Confirmation Preparation.
Youth in Grades 12 should registered and active in one of these two formation options; LifeTeen or a Diocese of Fort Worth Catholic School  in addition to be registered and active in the Adult RCIA process which operates on Thursday evenings from 7 to 8:30p.
 
Parents with unbaptized youth (over the age of 7) should be talking with our Youth Director, Alec Banda if there is any questions or concerns regarding registering for formation programs. His email is abanda@stjoe88.org
 
3)    Be participating  in Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation demonstrated by completion of a Mass Reflections.  
Please note: while discussing Mass with a parent is fine, the parent is NOT allowed to complete the Mass Reflection for their youth.
Incomplete Mass reflections will delay your child’s reception of these sacraments. 
Receiving Sacraments is the beginning of a journey of faith and relationship, not the end! 
Families must attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day, this is not a St. Joseph Church rule but a sign of a faithful, active and practicing Catholic. 
Please go to www.masstimes.org to identify Catholic Churches in the areas where you travel for vacation, visiting family or other reasons.   Please turn in these Mass Reflections each month and pick up the one for the following month. 
 
4)    Know the prayers and teaching which are age appropriate for your child’s age.I suggest having your child  write the prayers they are working on knowing on a piece of paper and tape this to the mirror where they brush their teeth.  Each morning and evening practice this prayer until it is memorized then move  to the next one they need to know.   This is an area that each parent should be supporting their children in knowing. 
 
5)    Provide an original Birth certificate for the office to copy or have an original emailed to me from the Church where your child was baptized.  Please bring your child’s Birth certificate to the office as soon as possible. We will make a copy for our records.  Please note:  Every parent is listed on the birth certificate MUST give consent for the child to be baptized  (even if that parent is no longer living in the household.  If this is the case with your family, please talk with Fr. Tom Kennedy.
 

6. Sponsors should complete the Certificate of Sponsor Eligibility.  Please complete and turn in a Sponsor form.

 
7) a) Baptism Class: Parents and Godparents should attend Baptism Classes as St. Joseph.  The cost is 30$ for each party.  These classes are offered the first Saturday of every month from 9a to 12.  Please call the office to register.
b) Catholic Update-Alpha:Parents and youth are NOT required to attend RCIA, all parents of students receiving sacraments should be enrolled in Catholic Update-Alpha.  There are 16 sessions which are offered on Saturday mornings and again on Wednesday evenings.  Please see the schedule.  
 
Day of Receiving Sacraments:      
Please arrive at the Church no later than ½ hour before Mass begins.  Youth and families should be dressed appropriately to receive our Lord.  Youth to be baptized should be dress in white.  Appropriate attire means no Jeans, no shorts and no t-shirts.  Ladies should not have low cut blouses. Skirts should be at knee-level and shoulders should be covered.  Sundresses  and sleeveless dresses can be worn if the lady has a sweater to cover.  
 
Absolutely NO flash photography or people moving around during Mass to get a picture.  Pictures may be taken from your seat only. Those who do not comply will be asked to leave the Church.   Please visit the church prior to sacrament day and have the person who is taking pictures decide where he/she will sit, they do not disrupt the Mass.
 
An area of the Church  will be reserved for those receiving sacraments.  Families are encouraged to sit together.  Parents please ensure that your youth does eat prior to Mass but maintains the Eucharistic fast.  
It will take about 2 months to record these sacraments, Certificates will be available in the new year.  You can call the office to pick them up.  Please check the bulletin, it will be noted when they are ready.
 
Many blessings to you and your family!