All parents that have a child receiving First Reconciliation and First Eucharist during the 2023 -2024 CCE year must attend a Sacrament Information Meeting.

Sacrament Information Meeting
Thursday, January 18, 2024 - 7pm
This meeting is for PARENTS ONLY
The children are NOT REQUIRED to be there.

Archdiocesan policy states that the preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation shall occur before the reception of First Eucharist. This preparation is primarily the responsibility of the parents. Our program for the preparation and reception for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is aimed at involving the parents and children in a concrete experience that can help each grow in their Catholic Faith.

The child’s readiness for the celebration of the sacrament is to be determined by the child, the parent, and the pastor or his delegate.

A child’s readiness for the celebration of the sacrament is to be judged using the criteria such as:

• A trust in God’s forgiving love
• A sense of belonging to the Church community
• An understanding of forgiveness, a desire to give and receive forgiveness
• A sense of right and wrong and of the reality of evil
• A knowledge of sin, an ability to describe wrong-doing in his/her own words
• An ability to say, "I’m sorry" to express a sense of repentance.

Children wishing to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) for the first time will:

• be in the second grade or higher
• Child must have actively participated in faith formation (parish, school, homeschool) for at least one year immediately before going through the preparation process.
• Child must be actively participating in faith formation (parish, school, homeschool) while going through the preparation process.
• Complete the work in the sacrament book with the parent or guardian at home. 
• Attend both Reconciliation sessions and the Reconciliation retreat. 
• Please note - this sacrament does not require godparents.

• Complete the sacrament book with the child at home.  The child and at least one parent must attend all sessions and sacrament retreat.
• Help the child learn their prayers: i.e. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Act of Contrition etc.
• Turn in a copy of the child's Baptismal certificate as soon as possible.

FIRST RECONCILIATION 
The celebration of First Reconciliation for the children with Father Chris will be celebrated in small groups
Scheduled dates are February 22, February 29, March 5. March 14
All children meet at 4:00pm in chapel of new church