We base our Pastoral Life program on the belief that each person has unique gifts from God to use in building a school faith community, which is firmly rooted in Catholic spirituality and tradition.

We aim in Pastoral Life to complement the family in its primary role in religious education, to support the parish as a center of Catholic life, and to extend the religion lessons of the classroom to lived faith experiences.

In our Pastoral Life program, we recognize the many gifts of the Spirit within our students and staff, and call forth those gifts for service and ministry to the school community and to the church.

(Brothers of the Sacred Heart, “Educational Mission & Ministry”)

SJHS PASTORAL LIFE CENTER

SCHOOL WIDE EUCHARISTIC LITURGIES

The Eucharist is celebrated periodically for the entire school community.  All liturgies take place in the school gym and begin at 9:50am.  Parents are welcome to attend.  This years schedule includes liturgies for:

Back-to-School, All Souls Day, Immaculate Conception, Catholic Schools Week, Holy Week, Ascension Thursday, Closing of School.

In addition, liturgies are occasionally celebrated by class and by grade level.

Word/Communion Services

Since daily Mass is not available, to enable faculty and students to participate in the readings of the day (Liturgy of the Word) and receive the Eucharist, Word and Communion Services are held on a seasonal theme basis.  They are available in the Sacred Heart Oratory daily at 7:30am.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Students are able to take advantage of this sacrament of healing during each semester of the school year.  Priests are available in the Pastoral Life Center during lunch periods as announced during the seasons of Advent and Lent.  The school Chaplain is also available upon request.

RCIA

Students who have not received the Sacraments of First Holy Eucharist or Confirmation or students of other faiths seeking full communion in the Catholic Faith can attend the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.  Classes are held weekly for one hour after school and will supplement the religion classes the student will attend.  When preparation and instruction have been completed the student will receive the sacraments at the closing school Mass.

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

Students are encouraged to make special visits to the Campus Chapel during their lunch periods as on First Fridays.  Celebrating our devotion to the Sacred Heart, we have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on First Fridays of the Month during lunch periods.

EVENINGS OF PRAYER

Parents and students are invited to come together in the Campus Chapel for celebrations of the liturgical seasons of Advent and Lent.  Both evenings begin at 7:30pm with a fellowship social following.

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES 2008-2009

STUDENT SPIRITUALITY DAYS

All students have the opportunity to participate in class level days of “retreat” scheduled throughout the year.  Please consult the calendar for the scheduled dates.  General themes for the days are as follows:

                                             All Freshmen                     Choosing Your Path

                                            Sophomores                       Defining Your Path

                                            Juniors                                 Follow Your Path

                                            Seniors                                End of One Road/Beginning Another

ACTS XVII STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Saint Joseph High School paraphrases St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 17, verse 6b which in one translation says, “These Christians are turning the world upside down”, by making its motto, “these students are turning the school (and the world) upside down for Christ”. 

Campus Ministry activities are basically coordinated and executed by the students in our school community under the administrative leadership of the campus minister, a student board of juniors and seniors, and several faculty members.  All students are encouraged to become active in some facet of Campus Ministry.  Please contact the Campus Ministry Center for additional information about these sectors and others:

Spirituality Days, Retreat Teams, Peer Mediation, Christmas on Campus, Peer Ministry (Mentors), Freshman Orientation (Fusion), Social Action, Good Samaritans, Pro Life Activities, Liturgy & Worship Teams, Perth Amboy Catholic School Twinning Project, Mission Awareness, Vocation Information

PASTORAL LIFE CENTER: 

732 549-7600 Extensions:

Deacon Rich McCarron, Director          Ext. 232

Mr. Ryan Lechner, Asst. Dean               Ext. 404

Campus Ministers                                   Ext 230

        Please feel free to contact our center for concerns of SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, FAMILY/GRIEF COUNSELING, RCIA, SACRAMENTAL OR OTHER PASTORAL NEEDS.