Minster Cluster
48 North Hanover St.
Minster OH 45865
Ph: 419-628-2614

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Religous Education

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Preschool/Kindergarten Classes

Preschool and kindergarten religion classes are held on Sunday mornings during the 11:30 am Mass. Classes begin the second Sunday in October and run through April. Liturgy of the Word is incorporated into the program every third Sunday of the month beginning in November.

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Grade School Release Time Classes

Religion classes for grades one through eight are offered from August through May in conjunction with the Minster School System. In a cooperative effort between the St. Augustine/St. Joseph cluster and the Minster Schools, the following policy is in effect:

The St. Augustine/St. Joseph Released Time Religious Education Program includes students attending two thirty-minute sessions per week and attending Mass once a week. The schedule (day and time) is set per the Minster Local School Administration release time option. It is the recommendation of the Education Commission that students enrolled in our program attend both class instruction and Mass. The option is not available to attend part of the program (students only attend Mass; students only attend classes; students only attend one class; students only attend Mass once a month; etc.).

Release Time Schedule
Students in grades one through three will attend two released time instructional classes as assigned by the Minster School schedule. At their designated released time, the students will walk to the Parish Center from the Primary Building for instruction. Students will be monitored as they travel across the playground.

Students in grades four through eight will also attend two released time instructional classes. The Minster School Administration has set a schedule for us to follow. In Church owned buses, students are transported from the Middle School to the Parish Center for classes and then transported back to the Middle School.

Mass Schedule
All students in grades one through eight registered in the released-time program will attend the 8:00 am Mass on Wednesday mornings. All students residing in town and those students who do not ride the bus are to report directly to church. All students who ride the bus are dropped off at their respective stops by the Primary Building on Hanover Street or Fifth Street and will walk directly to church. Mass monitors will be in Church to guide the children to their respective places. Students in grades four through eight should be made aware that if they choose to ride their bikes/mopeds to church for Mass day, they will not be permitted to ride them to the Middle School after Mass. After Mass, students in grades 1 through 3 will be escorted to the Primary Building, students in grades 4 through 8 are bused via Church owned buses to the Minster Middle School.

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High School PSR Classes

Ninth through twelfth grade students attend Parish School of Religion classes on Sunday mornings from 9:45 am until 11:00 am. Classes run from September through April.

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Guidelines for Home-Based Religious Education

Please refer to pages 7 & 8 of the St. Augustine/St. Joseph Religious Education Handbook.

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First Reconciliation

Students enrolled in the Parish School of Religion will receive First Reconciliation during their second grade year on the first Wednesday of December. The service begins at 7 pm. Parents/guardians are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this service. Parents of children (up to the age of 8 including those in 2nd grade) not enrolled in the Parish School of Religion must contact the pastor to make arrangements for the reception of the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. Children in 3rd grade or higher must enroll in the RCIA Program for Children to receive this Sacrament. Please contact the St. Augustine/St. Joseph Parish Center to enroll in the RCIA Program for Children.
*For home-schooled children please see Guidelines for Home-Based Religious Education

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First Eucharist

Students enrolled in the Parish School of Religion will receive First Eucharist during their second grade year on the first Sunday of May. The Mass begins at 2 pm. Parents of children (up to the age of 8 including those in 2nd grade) not enrolled in the Parish School of Religion must contact the pastor to make arrangements for the reception of the Sacrament of First Eucharist. Children in 3rd grade or higher must enroll in the RCIA Program for Children to receive this Sacrament. Please contact the St. Augustine/St. Joseph Parish Center to enroll in the RCIA Program for Children.
*For home-schooled children please see Guidelines for Home-Based Religious Education

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Confirmation

Students enrolled in the Parish School of Religion will receive Confirmation during their sophomore year on the first Sunday in December. The Mass begins at 2:30 pm. Parents of children not enrolled in the Parish School of Religion must contact the pastor to make arrangements for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Students in 8th grade or higher must enroll in the RCIA program to receive this Sacrament. Children in 3rd grade or higher must enroll in the RCIA program for Children to receive this Sacrament. Please contact the St. Augustine/St. Joseph Parish Center to enroll in the RCIA program.
*For home-schooled children please see Guidelines for Home-Based Religious Education

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Baptism

Parents of children up to the age of 8 can request Baptism for their child by contacting the rectory. Parents of children age 8 or older (3rd grade or higher) must enroll their child in the RCIA Program for Children. Please contact the St. Augustine/St. Joseph Parish Center to enroll in the RCIA Program for Children.
*For home-schooled children please see Guidelines for Home-Based Religious Education

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Adult Education

Threshold Bible Study – The St. Augustine/St. Joseph Cluster in Minster is offering “Crossing the Threshold,” a bible study program for individuals, families, or small groups. This study is offered for six weeks beginning in October and for another six weeks during Lent. Registration forms can be found in the entrances to St. Augustine and St. Joseph Church or at the St. Augustine/St. Joseph Parish Center.

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Volunteers

The St. Augustine/St. Joseph Religious Education Programs are in need of volunteers. Please see the Volunteer Sheet for a listing of programs you can help with.

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Learning About L.I.F.E. - Love, Infatuation, Friendship, and Exploitation - A Family Based Program on Relationships.

The St. Augustine/St. Joseph Religious Education Program will be implementing a new program to address Christian Sexuality. Learning about L.I.F.E is a family-based program that helps open doors of communication between parents and children at appropriate developmental levels. It emphasizes positive loving relationships and helps children recognize and avoid relationships that are unhealthy and destructive.

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St Augustine/St Joseph Parish Community located in Minster, Ohio and Egypt, Ohio would like to extend a hearty welcome to all families and individuals moving into our parish. The Mission of St Augustine/St Joseph Catholic Church is to provide an adequate and appropriate environment and resources where people may gather to hear the Word proclaimed. As a cluster, we celebrate the Eucharist, the sacraments, and provide the members of all ages the opportunity to grow in the practice of their faith, learning how to fully keep God's commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor.