Sacramental Preparation with Children
A child’s initiation into the Catholic faith, which begins at their Baptism, requires a special level of commitment from both the child and their parents. As your child approaches the age when the sacramental preparation process will begin, it is important for families to understand the commitment they will undertake over the coming years. Fulfilling this commitment will lead to the reception of sacraments, which constitute full initiation of your child into the Catholic faith community.
What is required for my child to prepare for sacraments at Our Lady of Grace Parish?
V Beginning in the FIRST GRADE YEAR your child will need to participate in one full year of Faith Formation Sessions (L.I.F.E. at Our Lady of Grace) at the parish or attend an area parochial school before they can take part in the preparation process for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist which ordinarily occurs during their second full year of elementary school.
V In SECOND GRADE, your child will need to continue participation in Faith Formation Sessions (L.I.F.E. at Our Lady of Grace) at the parish or continue to attend an area parochial school. This on-going participation will qualify your child to take part in the process of IMMEDIATE PREPARATION for the sacraments. Those who are to recieve the Sacrament of Conformation must continue their regular involvement in Faith Formation Sessions at the parish or continue to attend a parochial school up to and including the year in which they are to recieve the Sacrament of Confirmation.
V The CHILD/PARENT SACRAMENT PREPARATION SESSIONS (generally six in all), which require the participation of at least one parent or guardian, will occur in the fall to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent and in the late winter to prepare for the Sacrament Eucharist during the Easter Season. Please remember that SACRAMENT PREPARATION SESSIONS are in addition to participation in regular Faith Formation Sessions or attendance at a parochial school.
PREPARATION SESSIONS for the SACRAMENT of CONFIRMATION will be scheduled to occur during the years that Our Lady of Grace is a parish at which the Bishop will confirm. Our parish is next scheduled for Confirmation during 2013-2014 and the Sacrament will be celebrated with those in 5th grade during the 2013-2014 school year. The preparation schedule for the sacrament will be dependant upon the date of the ceremony which will be established by the Bishop's Office.
V Following the reception of the sacraments a commitment to LIFETIME involvement in the Catholic way of life, by regular participation in weekend and holy day Masses, participation in parish ministries and activities, ongoing education and faith formation for your child and your entire household, is the way to ensure growth in faith.
All these things being considered, we ask that you take the time to seriously think and pray about whether your child and you, as your child’s first and most important model of faith, are ready to make such a commitment.
What are the child/parent Sacrament Preparation Sessions like?
Each of the Parent/Child Preparations Sessions is provided more than once during a given week. For example, they are may occur on a Monday and a Tuesday evening, and families are given the option of choosing the night that best fits their schedule.
Each session begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at approximately 8 p.m. and includes a short stretch/bathroom break.
The sessions are designed to provide interaction between the children and their parents, as well as, interaction with the facilitator. PowerPoint slides projected on a large screen and the use of simple worksheets by the participants’ aid in presentations.
Using a model that focuses on the KNOW WHAT, KNOW WHY, KNOW HOW approach to learning, these immediate preparation sessions are meant to help the children and their families come to a clear understanding of what we as a Catholic Church community believe about these sacraments. Why we believe as we do, exploring the Scriptural foundations of our beliefs, as well as their development in our church traditions. All of this is done as we learn how we celebrate the sacraments they will receive, using the Sacramental Rites to help the children and their families to gain a level of comfort so they can more easily participate in their celebration of the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist.