Sacramental Records and Celebration
Baptismal Certificates
A Baptismal Certificate is required for a child not baptized at St. Joseph or St. Augustine Catholic Church, as well as a First Communion Certificate for those who celebrated First Communion at another parish. Please submit this information as soon as possible. Students in sacramental years cannot receive their next sacrament until St. Joseph parish office can verify their reception of the previous sacrament. All sacramental records are kept on file in the office of the parish where the sacrament was received, and parishes will mail the certificate(s) to a parent if you call and request one. Our mailing address is: 315 SW 21st Street Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Celebration of Sacraments
Please remember to keep the Sacrament as the center of your celebration. As your child receives First Reconciliation and First Communion or Confirmation, remember that receiving the sacraments of the Church is entirely about your child’s growth in faith and the relationship he or she shares with Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Please keep these special days in the life of your son or daughter holy by showing reverence to the Sacrament being received. If you feel your child is not ready to receive a sacrament, please call us. Families will receive information on meetings, dress requirements, and other details. Full and active participation is expected for sacramental preparation programs.
Programming
First Reconciliation and
First Communion Preparation
This is a program for children preparing to receive their First Reconciliation and Frist Communion. Second grade is the customary grade for children to receive these sacraments in the Diocese of Duluth, but we will work with children of all ages. Regular attendance at weekend Mass and Faith Formation classes is expected. If your child was not baptized in the Catholic Church, please inform us immediately so that we can facilitate his/her reception of these sacraments with his/her class.
2026/2027 First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation begins September 23, 2026 with parent meeting. The first half of the sacrament prep year will be on Reconciliation with First Reconciliation being December 12, 2026. The second half of the year will be on Holy Communion with First Communion being held May 2, 2027.
If you have any questions, please contact: Faith Formation Coordinator, Amy Pautsch | 218-999-6456
amy.pautsch@duluthcatholic.org
Confirmation Prep
Confirmation prep is a two-year process. Typically, classes begin in 9th grade and end in the 11th grade year. Our Wednesday evening Faith Formation classes are a combination of Religious Education and Confirmation prep. The coursework for Confirmation prep is designed to help your child understand who God created you to be and to understand important Church teachings about how to make good decisions, have healthy relationships and to defend your faith.
There are parts of Confirmation prep that take place outside of Wednesday evening classes (mission hours, retreat, and other requirements). You will receive a Confirmation Prep guide to help you navigate these requirements. Included are forms and instructions to complete required tasks.
Register your Child(ren)
One Registration form per family for all of our religious education programming PreK through Confirmation. Fees are $TBD per student or maximum of $TBD per family. Scholarships may be available. Once registered, you will receive information from one or both of our program directors dependent upon your child's age.