Equipping parents and children to encounter Christ together at home and at church.
WHO WE SERVE
Pathways Family Formation is open to St. Joseph families with children in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Pathways meets families in their real, everyday lives and invites them to grow in faith together through prayer, conversation, sacramental preparation, and parish community. Whether your family is just beginning, returning to the Church, or continuing a lifelong journey of discipleship, there is a place for you here.
Sacramental Preparation
Families preparing for First Reconciliation, First Communion, or Confirmation participate in formation together through both at-home experiences and parish gatherings. Sacramental preparation is rooted in family participation, parish life, and regular celebration of the Mass.
Why Family Formation?
Parents are the first and most important teachers of the faith. Pathways exists to support—not replace—that sacred role by equipping families with the confidence, knowledge, and practical tools to live the Catholic faith together.
Faith is formed over a lifetime, not in a classroom alone. By strengthening parents and creating opportunities for families to pray, talk, and grow together, Pathways helps build a faith that extends beyond sacramental preparation and into everyday life.
WHAT MAKES PATHWAYS DIFFERENT?
Rather than following a traditional classroom model, Pathways invites families into a shared journey of faith that extends beyond the classroom and into everyday life.
Families are invited to:
• Pray together regularly
• Talk naturally about faith at home
• Participate fully in parish life
• Celebrate the liturgical seasons together
• Prepare for the sacraments as a family
• Continue growing long after sacramental preparation is complete
HOW PATHWAYS WORKS
Pathways is a family-centered process of formation that equips parents and children to grow together in faith. Rather than separating faith from everyday life, Pathways helps families encounter Christ through prayer, conversation, Scripture, and parish life. By recognizing parents as the primary educators of their children in the faith, Pathways supports the whole family, not just the child, as they grow together as lifelong disciples.
Pray together
Talk naturally about faith
Prepare for sacraments as a family
Build habits of discipleship at home
Experience community within the parish
The Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children in the faith. Pathways exists to support and encourage parents in that role.
AT CHURCH & AT HOME
At Home
Family Meetings are simple, guided experiences that help parents and children pray, discuss Scripture, reflect on everyday life, and grow together in faith. These are designed to fit naturally into family life and typically take 20–40 minutes to complete. No theological expertise is required - everything you need is provided.
At Church
During parish gatherings:
• Parents meet in small groups for discussion and formation.
• Children gather in age-based groups for catechesis and formation.
• Families periodically gather together for prayer and shared experiences.
• The parish community grows through conversation, hospitality, and friendship.
Sunday sessions are presented in English from 10:45am-12:15pm. Each Pathway has a different calendar for the year but, on average, you will meet on campus 1-2 times per month. Yearly calendar will be distributed at the beginning of September or at your VISIT.
Spanish resources and bilingual small-group support will be available for families who may benefit from additional language support.
IS PATHWAYS RIGHT FOR MY FAMILY?
Pathways is designed for families who:
• Want to grow in faith together - not just prepare for a sacrament.
• Are new to the Catholic faith or returning after time away.
• Desire practical ways to pray and talk about faith at home.
• Believe parents play an essential role in passing on the faith.
• Want to build lasting relationships within the parish community.
READY TO BEGIN?
Whether your family is just beginning its faith journey, preparing for a sacrament, or continuing to grow as lifelong disciples, we'd love to walk alongside you.
Registration for the 2026–2027 formation year is now open. If you're unsure which pathway is right for your family, we're happy to help.
Our Formation Model
Progressive Formation (Seek & Root): Helping families build foundations of faith through the Creed, prayer, and Christian living
Immediate Formation (Mend/Nourish): Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation & First Communion rooted in family participation and parish life. (Sent/Zeal): Sacramental preparation for Confirmation rooted in family participation and parish life.
Ongoing Formation (Made/Wonder): Continuing formation for families growing as lifelong disciples.