Sacrament Preparation Program
The purpose of the sacraments is to make people holy, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God. They nourish, strengthen and express our faith. The very act of celebrating sacraments effectively assists us to receive God’s grace. In our preparation for and celebration of the sacraments we are involved in the deep mysteries of our Catholic faith and tradition. The celebration of the sacraments flows from, is built on, and enriches the faith of the whole Christian community.
Preparing for First Communion
Children require adequate spiritual and catechetical formation in their preparation for the reception of First Communion. However, the approach is not limited to teaching things about the sacrament, but also includes initiating children into a Christian way of living and worshiping in a community. Catechesis leads children to discover the joy of living in communion with God and with others. A child’s family and the Christian community’s day-by-day living of the Christian life becomes the first step in a child’s preparation to receive this sacrament. Finally children are to be helped to participate more meaningfully in the celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy. This includes instruction about the meaning of the ritual, symbols and parts of the Mass. Parents have a right and a responsibility to be intimately involved in preparing their children for First communion. Parents’ regular participation at Sunday Eucharist is an important aspect of their preparation of their children for the sacrament. Parents need to attend their program classes in order to carry out this right and responsibility.
Important points to consider:
| - Full, conscious and active participation at Sunday Eucharist week after week is the most powerful and most significant means parents have for preparing their child to receive communion for the first time. |
| - There should only be one program both for parents of school children and parents of children who attend religious education classes. |
| - Eucharist is one of the three sacraments of Christian initiation, the Easter season is the most appropriate liturgical time for celebrating First Communion. |
| - Children, who have reached the age of reason, generally around age seven, are extended an invitation to celebrate the sacrament of Eucharist. We invite children to enter fully into the heart of Christian faith through participation in the Eucharist. |
| - Preparation for Eucharist will include proper catechesis regarding and preparation for the sacrament of penance which normally precedes the celebration of Eucharist. |
| - Readiness is evidenced by the child’s desire to receive Communion, the ability to distinguish ordinary bread and wine from the Eucharist, an understanding of the mystery of Christ, and an ability to receive Communion with faith and devotion. It is also important that the child has a familiarity with and basic understanding of the Eucharistic liturgy and recognizes the communal nature of the sacrament. |
| - Children need to participate in a sacramental preparation program for at least one year prior to entrance into immediate preparation. Thus Sacrament preparation is a two-year process. |
For specific information on dates and times at St. Alphonsus please see forms and schedules.
Preparing for First Reconciliation or Penance
Catechesis of children seeks:
| - to make clear the relationship of the sacrament to the child’s life |
| - to help the child recognize moral good and evil, repent of wrongdoing, and turn for forgiveness to Christ and the Church |
| - to encourage the child to see that faith is expressed by being forgiven and forgiving |
| - to encourage the child to approach the sacrament freely and regularly. |
Parents have a right and a responsibility to be intimately involved in preparing their children for first penance. Parents need to attend the parent sessions in order to gain the understanding to carry out this right and responsibility.
The parish will offer classes to help parents grow in their own understanding and appreciation of reconciliation, as well as enable them to participate readily in catechizing their children. Parents are to teach their children at an early age what the meaning of forgiveness is and offer forgiveness to them throughout their lives.
Important points to consider are:
| - All children should be prepared for the sacrament but no child shall be obligated to approach the sacrament other than that which binds all Catholics, namely conscious awareness of personal, serious sin. |
| - Children need to participate in religion classes for at least one year prior to immediate preparation for this sacrament |
|
- A child is considered ready to celebrate the sacrament of penance when there is:
| * An awareness of the relationship of love with God and neighbor |
| * A growing ability to distinguish between good and evil |
| * A knowledge that relationships with God and others can be broken through Sin |
| * The need to assume personal responsibility for actions or omissions |
| * An awareness of conscience (the need to make choices) |
| * The experience of personal sorrow for failures to love and the need to express that sorrow. |
| * The realization that one must try to change unloving behavior |
| * An acceptance of personal and communal responsibility for decisions and the consequences of those decisions |
| * An understanding that the sacrament of penance is a special sign of God’s forgiveness and of reconciliation with one’s neighbor |
| * An awareness that the Church provides the opportunity to experience God’s loving forgiveness. |
|
| - Children have a right to a fuller catechesis of this sacrament each year. As they develop deeper understandings of sin, choice and forgiveness, they need to continue to be catechized throughout all the grades. |
For specific information on dates and times at St. Alphonsus please see forms and schedules.
Preparing for Confirmation as a JUNIOR in High School
By a signing with the gifts of the Spirit, confirmation enriches baptism with the Holy Spirit, binding the individual more perfectly to the Church. The sacrament also strengthens the candidate to witness more fully by word and deed bringing fullness to the Body of Christ, our church family. Confirmation is a continuation of the journey of Christian Initiation from Baptism, through Eucharist, to Confirmation.
Formation for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation begins with “required confirmation preparation” in the tenth grade, and ends with the celebration of the sacrament during the Easter Season of the eleventh grade. These years of preparation Include four catechetical elements: Community, Worship, Service, and Message.
Preparation:
|
Message
|
Confirmation preparation itself is concerned with the rite of confirmation and the signs, symbols and images related to confirmation. It focuses on the life of Christian discipleship lived in the context of a Catholic Community. Ingredients of the message component of preparation include: the laying on of hands, anointing, contact with the community of believers, water, oil, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Sign of the cross, baptismal vows, prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, litany, fasting, service, study of scripture, |
|
Worship
|
The worship component of confirmation preparation includes opportunities for deepening prayer and faith. Commitment to Eucharist and Eucharistic participation are central in the life of a fully imitated Catholic Christian. Saying, “YES” to confirmation means saying “YES” to participation in a Eucharistic community. |
|
Community
|
Confirmation preparation takes place in the context of community. Confirmation candidates need committed adults to lead them to a recognition of and identification with the Christian community. For this reason, it is important that the total parish feel a part of the [program. |
|
Service
|
As part of the preparation for confirmation, the involvement in community service is critical. “The experience of Christian community leads naturally to service”. To live as Christ lived is to live a life that responds to the needs of others – at home, at school, in the community. While service is an essential component of preparation for conformation, it should be seen as constitutive of the gospel than as a project to be completed or hours to be counted. |
For specific information on dates and times at St. Alphonsus please see forms and schedules.
|
