SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
Sacramental Preparation
The sacraments are incredible moments of grace that unite us more fully to God and to our Church community! As we prepare to receive the sacraments, it is vital to focus on and foster our relationship with God and the Church. As we all know from life experience, genuine and deep relationships can’t be forged in a rush, but they are grown and deepened slowly over time through hundreds of moments and encounters. The same is true in our relationship with God and the Church!
This is why the sacramental preparation process stretches over a couple of years. It allows time for the child to form deep and lasting connections with God and the Church. When we commit this time and effort to a long and deep sacramental preparation, receiving the sacraments becomes such an incredibly joyful experience for the child!
Therefore, one completed year of faith formation is required the year before a family signs up their child to prepare for first reconciliation, first Communion, or confirmation, and the child must also be currently enrolled in and attending faith formation during the sacramental preparation year as well. This faith formation can take place in a parish setting (as in our Family Faith Formation program) or in a Catholic school.
Please reach out to our Faith Formation Team at faithformation@thepastorate.org if you have any other questions!
First Reconciliation and First Communion
Children are welcome to register for the sacramental preparation program for first reconciliation and first Communion starting in their 2nd grade year (or at 7 years of age).
For the sacramental preparation program:
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You and your child will attend 3 sessions on Wednesday evenings from 6-7pm to prepare for First Reconciliation. These three sessions are offered once every semester; if you and your child miss one of the sessions for any reason, you will need to wait until the next semester to complete that session. Once you and your child have attended all three sessions, you may sign your child up to receive first Reconciliation on a Saturday at 3:30pm.
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Your child will complete a Mass Passport booklet. Every time your family attends Sunday Mass (or the Saturday vigil Mass), your child will complete a reflection page about something he or she noticed in Mass and then ask a greeter to stamp that page for them.
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You and your child will attend 3 sessions on Wednesday evenings from 6-7pm to prepare for First Communion. These three sessions are offered once every semester; if you and your child miss one of the sessions for any reason, you will need to wait until the next semester to complete that particular session. After…
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you and your child have attended all three first Communion prep sessions,
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your child has received first Reconciliation,
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and once the Mass Passport is completed,
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then you may sign your child up to receive first Communion. We will offer First Communion once a month at our Sunday Masses.
To REGISTER for our FALL First Reconciliation and Communion Preparation Program, please complete this registration form. There is a registration fee of $50 to offset material costs. Remember that you also need to either register for Family Faith Formation OR have your child enrolled in Catholic school.
FALL First Reconciliation Preparation Schedule
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 6-7pm
Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6-7pm
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 6-7pm
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6-7pm (This is a “rain date” just in case one of our previous sessions has to be canceled for some reason)
FALL First Communion Preparation Schedule
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 6-7pm
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6-7pm
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 6-7pm
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6-7pm (This is a “rain date” just in case one of our previous sessions has to be canceled for some reason)
There will be another opportunity to go through this preparation program in the Spring (Wednesday evenings 6-7pm: 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/19, 5/28, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25).
Confirmation
Teens are welcome to register for the sacramental preparation program for Confirmation starting in their 10th grade year. The Confirmation preparation program will take place within the context of our Pastorate’s Family Faith Formation program (every other Sunday morning from 9:00am-10:45am from September to May). The whole family is welcome to participate, but at least one parent/guardian and the teen are required to attend together. This program generally includes 8 sessions in the Fall and 8 sessions in the Spring (and a participant must attend at least 6 sessions per semester to be considered attending).
The Confirmation preparation process also includes:
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a full-day retreat on a Sunday
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a commitment to serve regularly in the Church or wider community, and opportunities to reflect on that service
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meeting with our Pastor and writing a letter to the Bishop to describe your preparation process and explain your desire for the sacrament of Confirmation
We plan to schedule a Confirmation Mass in June of each year.
To REGISTER for our Confirmation preparation program, please fill out the registration form for FAMILY FAITH FORMATION and make sure to make note in that form that your child will be attending the CONFIRMATION program.
Confirmation Schedule
Sept. 8, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Sept. 22, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Oct. 6, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Oct. 20, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Nov. 3, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Nov. 17, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Dec. 1, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Feb. 2, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Feb. 16, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Mar. 2, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Mar. 16, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Mar. 23, 2025 FULL DAY Confirmation Retreat
Mar. 30, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Apr. 13, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
Apr. 27, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
May 4, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am
April-May 2025: Individual Interviews with Pastor
JUNE 2025: we will send a request to the Archdiocese for a Confirmation Mass to be held at Holy Family on a Sunday afternoon in June. As soon as we know which date we receive, we will let all registered families know.
