Religious education classes at St. Joachim’s Catholic Church are held on Wednesday nights throughou

• Religious education classes at St. Joachim’s Catholic Church are held on Wednesday nights throughout the school year, beginning the third week in September and ending the second week in May. They take place 6:00-7:15 in the education center, church hall, and Mary Triplat Building. These classes are open to students in First through eleventh grades.
  We a Mass with Youth each month beginning in September. During these Masses, studehave nts take leadership roles for Mass. The most notable of these is the Christmas Pageant program which our 1st-6th-grade students participate in. This is in conjunction with the Holy Name Men’s parish Christmas party which is held in the hall after Mass.
  Another thing we do with students each month is Prayer Buddies. Older students are paired with younger students and they practice their prayers and write in their prayer journals.
  We also offer the Teaching the Way of Love and Theology of the Body programs for our parents and students. Each designated group meets once a month throughout the school year, except during the weeks of Lent. During Lent, our 4th-Confirmation classes take turn attending Stations of the Cross as part of one of their classes. The younger students also go, but at a separate time, since we use a special version of stations meant for the younger students.
  We also do many other things with our youth as a religious education program. Our 7th-high school students attend a couple of youth rallies and may attend St. John Bosco Day at Holy Hill. All of our students go Christmas Caroling around Pittsville in December. Each summer we have a weeklong Vacation Bible School. This year we worked with all the churches in Pittsville to offer this to students from all the churches. Our students work at various church events throughout the year as well. (Harvest Festival in August, Rummage Sale, and Bake Sale in September, Beef tips Dinner in February, St. Patrick’s Festival in March).
  Our confirmation program is a two-year program. Students are confirmed as a sophomore or junior, depending on when they start. We use a program called Chosen which is by Ascension press. This program has been approved by the Diocese of La Crosse. It uses a video and discussion format for each lesson. Students must attend the St. John Bosco Day each day as one of their retreats. They must also complete 15 hours of church service and 15 hours of community service each year of the program.
  Our K-8 grade classes use the Faith and Life series each year to teach the basics of our faith appropriate for each grade level. 2nd grade focuses on the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist. This is an approved Diocesan program.
  Our ninth grade is only needed every other year because it is opposite confirmation. These students then enter confirmation as a sophomore and are confirmed as a junior. For this group, we use Decision Point which is put out by Dynamic Catholic, Matthew Kelly’s group. It also uses a video and discussion format. This too is approved by the Diocese.
  We are very blessed to have wonderful people to step up to be our catechists. Many have been doing this for several years. This year we do have a few new people stepping up and we are excited to have them joining us as catechists. Our children are truly fortunate to have all of these wonderful role models in their church family.
  Grades - Catechists:
  1  - Julia Knudson
  2  - Marce Ortner
  3  - Megan Foltman
  4  - Rhonda Luther
  5  - Ellen Dammann
  6  - Tammy Kumm
  7  - Christina Pelot
  8  - Olivia Chasteen & Rachel Ortner
  
  9  - Nancy Esser & Kari Wilke
  
  Confirmation  - Tina Behselich-Coordinator/Teacher assisted by Michelle Abel
  Yearlong volunteers and helpers 
  Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE)  - Marce Ortner
  Director of Religious Education (DRE)  - Cindy Schooley

t the school year, beginning the third week in September and ending the second week in May. They take place 6:00-7:15 in the education center, church hall, and Mary Triplat Building. These classes are open to students in First through eleventh grades.

We have a Mass with Youth each month beginning in September. During these Masses, students take leadership roles for Mass. The most notable of these is the Christmas Pageant program which our 1st-6th-grade students participate in. This is in conjunction with the Holy Name Men’s parish Christmas party which is held in the hall after Mass.

Another thing we do with students each month is Prayer Buddies. Older students are paired with younger students and they practice their prayers and write in their prayer journals.

We also offer the Teaching the Way of Love and Theology of the Body programs for our parents and students. Each designated group meets once a month throughout the school year, except during the weeks of Lent. During Lent, our 4^th-Confirmation classes take turn attending Stations of the Cross as part of one of their classes. The younger students also go, but at a separate time, since we use a special version of stations meant for the younger students.

We also do many other things with our youth as a religious education program. Our 7th-high school students attend a couple of youth rallies and may attend St. John Bosco Day at Holy Hill. All of our students go Christmas Caroling around Pittsville in December. Each summer we have a weeklong Vacation Bible School. This year we worked with all the churches in Pittsville to offer this to students from all the churches. Our students work at various church events throughout the year as well. (Harvest Festival in August, Rummage Sale, and Bake Sale in September, Beef tips Dinner in February, St. Patrick’s Festival in March).

Our confirmation program is a two-year program. Students are confirmed as a sophomore or junior, depending on when they start. We use a program called Chosen which is by Ascension press. This program has been approved by the Diocese of La Crosse. It uses a video and discussion format for each lesson. Students must attend the St. John Bosco Day each day as one of their retreats. They must also complete 15 hours of church service and 15 hours of community service each year of the program.

Our K-8 grade classes use the Faith and Life series each year to teach the basics of our faith appropriate for each grade level. 2^nd grade focuses on the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist. This is an approved Diocesan program.

Our ninth grade is only needed every other year because it is opposite confirmation. These students then enter confirmation as a sophomore and are confirmed as a junior. For this group, we use Decision Point which is put out by Dynamic Catholic, Matthew Kelly’s group. It also uses a video and discussion format. This too is approved by the Diocese.

We are very blessed to have wonderful people to step up to be our catechists. Many have been doing this for several years. This year we do have a few new people stepping up and we are excited to have them joining us as catechists. Our children are truly fortunate to have all of these wonderful role models in their church family.

Grades - Catechists:

1  - Julia Knudson

2  - Marce Ortner

3  - Megan Foltman

4  - Rhonda Luther

5  - Ellen Dammann

6  - Tammy Kumm

7  - Christina Pelot

8  - Rachel Ortner

9  - Nancy Esser and Kari Wilke

Confirmation  - Tina Behselich-Coordinator/Teacher assisted by Michelle Able

Yearlong volunteers and helpers  

Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE)  - Marce Ortner

Director of Religious Education (DRE)  - Cindy Schooley