The Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist initiates a person into the Roman Catholic Community of believers. The reception of these three sacraments are the foundation for Christian living as members of the Catholic Church. As followers of Jesus our faith is nurtured through scripture and tradition and celebrated in the Liturgy. We are transformed by sharing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - the Paschal Mystery.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation teaches children the healing and forgiveness offered in Christ. Many students first experience of Reconciliation will be in 2nd grade. Our focus is on general understanding of love and forgiveness. We re-examine this sacrament again each year. As students learn a more in-depth, broader, and more personal meaning of reconciliation. The focus is more on whom we are called to be as followers of Christ. It concentrates on the beatitudes and Ten Commandments, as guides for our individual daily lives.
Reconciliation Services are offered for students and their families during the religious education year during Advent and Lent.
Preparation for the reception of Eucharist typically begins in 1st grade and the students receive First Communion in the 2nd grade. Through the reception of Eucharist we are united to Christ in the breaking of the bread. Eucharist is a celebration, a joyful meal shared with each other each week.
Confirmation
While every level of the religious education program is a stepping stone closer to Confirming our faith, students officially begin the discernment for Confirmation beginning in typically in the 7th grade. Our seventh graders are now disciples and are called to learn all they can about Jesus, and their faith community. Then, in 8th grade students are called to act on what they discovered by taking on the role of Apostle. Confirmation calls them to now use their knowledge to be the hands and feet of Christ to others.
Our Confirmation program gathers all the 8th grade students of the parish together as a community for a journey to grow spiritually, emotionally and socially as they prepare for the reception of the sacrament. Students are challenged to grow in their knowledge of and understanding of scripture and tradition. Students are challenged to grow in their personal faith life. It is very important that students also learn to reach out to the larger community through works of mercy and service. The reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation occurs as a result of the student's personal mature commitment to live out their Catholic life.
Please know that our program is NOT
a Sacrament program. Families are expected to send their children to Religious Education every year from grade 1 until Confirmation in grade 8 to continue learning and deepening their understanding of our rich Catholic Faith.
