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Welcome First Communicants of 2024-2025!
When a child demonstrates an ability to understand God's presence in the Eucharist, the parish invites the child and parents to prepare for reception of the Eucharist. The invitation is given when the child attains the age of discretion, i.e. about seven years of age. Throughout the time of the parish religious education, the parents extend the parish program by weekly attendance at a parish Mass, working with the text issued by the Office of Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation, and by participating in in-person sessions as a group, including a First Communion Retreat.
Sacramental Preparation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion will be family- focused. Preparation will take place primarily in the home with opportunities to come together as a group throughout the journey. Parents will be given a book for each Sacrament with a schedule for completion at home. The schedule will have a series of due dates where work will be due to catechists. Books will be brought to in-person meetings and dropped off in the back of church to be checked.
Three times for each Sacrament, we will gather together at Holy Spirit for Mass, faith sharing, and discussion of important doctrine surrounding the Sacrament your child is preparing to receive. These 3 in-person sessions are mandatory for communicants and parent(s) or another adult family member intricately involved in the child's life/faith up brining. One of the three required sessions for First Holy Communion is the First Communion Retreat. This retreat will be for communicants only.
The purpose of this organization of the program is to place the focus on the fostering of the faith at home. As parents, you are the first teachers of the faith and preparation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion involves the formation of the family.
Below are the schedules for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion for 2024-2025Click here to download a copy of the schedule. This will also be emailed to registered families.
First Reconciliation in-person Preparation Dates- Monday, September 30, 2024, 6:00 - 7:45 pm
- Monday, November 18, 2024, 6:00 - 7:45 pm
- Monday, January 13, 2025, 6:00 - 7:45 pm
First Communion in-person Preparation Dates- Monday, February 3, 2025, 6:00 - 7:45 pm
- Monday, February 24, 2025, 6:00 - 7:45 pm
- First Communion Retreat: Saturday, March 8, 2025, 9:00am - 1:00pm
All sessions will be held at Holy Spirit.
Sacramental Preparation classes are held in addition to Wednesday evening Faith Formation Classes and Religion classes in the school.
First Reconciliation Parent Meeting: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 6:00 pm
First Reconciliation Prayer Service: Saturday, January 25, 2025, 10:00 am
First Communion Retreat: Saturday, March 8, 2025, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
First Holy Communion Options:- Any Mass at Holy Spirit or St. Stephen after May 3, 2025. This must be scheduled in advance. Please reach out to Aubrey Briggs at [email protected] to schedule.
- Individual First Communions must be scheduled in advance no later than Saturday, March 7, 2025
- Saturday, May 3, 2025 in a group setting at St. Stephen. Details to follow.
- If you would like your child to participate in the group Communion Mass, you must be signed up for that Mass by Saturday, March 7, 2025