HOLY EUCHARIST

The Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. CCC 1322

FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAM OVERVIEW

At St. Mary's we are no longer offering a two year formation program. We are now adopting a readiness approach to Sacramental preparation. This means, a child will receive their sacrament when they understand what the Sacrament means, knows basic Catholic prayers and fulfills Diocesan requirements (minimum of two years) to receive the Sacrament.

Click here for 2024-2025 First Communion Year 1 Schedule

Click here for 2024-2025 First Communion Year 2 Schedule

Parents

Attend sessions 2 times per month with your children (or parent meetings if enrolled in CGS)
Celebrate Mass every week and Days of Obligation. Help your child follow what is happening during Mass.
Lead your children in the practice of the faith by your example
Teach your children the faith
Practice prayers (Prayers)

Children

Students will attend sessions 2 times per month (or weekly if enrolled in CGS)
Students will have solid knowledge of prayers and doctrine.
Students will follow the behavior guidelines
Students will realize the First Communion Check List
Know the Steps to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Requirements for Registration

A copy of child’s birth certificate
A copy of child’s Baptismal certificate (if child is Baptized)
Attend a parent meeting (please see the Faith Formation home page for scheduled dates)

First Holy Eucharist

Canon 914: It is the responsibility, in the first place, of parents and those who take the place of parents as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as early as possible, preceded by sacramental confession; it is also for the pastor to be vigilant lest any children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed.

Children are to be prepared for First Penance and receive the Sacrament of Penance prior to receiving First Communion. First Penance would normally be received a couple of months or more before First Communion.

Children who are well prepared for Penance generally welcome this opportunity to experience God’s mercy. (Parents/guardians of a child who may indicate that their child is “too young” for Penance. In such a case, after due pastoral discernment, delay of both Penance and Communion is often the most suitable resolution)
At least 6 sessions of immediate preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The family must be intimately involved with the formation of a child’s moral conscience and ordinarily integrates the child into the wider ecclesial communities, parents should be involved in the preparation of their children for this sacrament so that they can affirm and reinforce frequent participation in the sacrament.
Children need to learn of God’s unconditional love for us.
Children need to learn of Sacramental forgiveness and reconciliation.
Children need to recognize the presence of good and evil in the world and their personal capacity for both.
Children need to recognize the need for forgiveness, not only from parents and others, but from God.
Children need to explore the meaning of the symbols, gestures, prayers, and scriptures of the Rite of Reconciliation.
Children need to learn that the faithful are “obliged to confess all serious sins committed after baptism”.
Children need to learn that true forgiveness comes from repentance, confession, reparation, and absolution.
Children need to learn that a mortal sin is of grave matter committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.
Learn that the priest is given the faculties to forgive in the name of Christ.
Learn that a priest is bound by the seal of confession to keep absolute secrecy. (NDC 133-136)
Build it.