First Reconciliation & Communion For Children

Preparation sessions for First Communion are separate from and augment a child's faith formation in either our parish's Faith Formation program or a Catholic School. Sacramental preparation requires two consecutive years of faith formation.

To be eligible for First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation, a child must be at least in second grade and enrolled in at least their second year of faith formation either in a parish faith formation program or in a Catholic School. If your child is eligible for First Communion, please email Mhel Galaviz.

Year One: In the first year, the student is enrolled in the appropriate class for their school grade. (Although this is usually 1st grade, a student can be a 'year one' student in any grade.) This first year concentrates on learning about the Faith with their peers at the appropriate grade level, beginning to understand and appreciate the Mass, the Commandments, and forgiveness.

Year Two: In the second year, students enroll in the appropriate grade. (Although this is usually 2nd grade, a student can be a 'year two' student in any grade.) In conjunction with attending appropriate grade-level religious education instruction, the student is also enrolled in the Sacrament Preparation Program. Sacramental preparation includes classroom instruction (to teach the basics of our faith), at-home instruction from sacramental textbooks (to foster family faith formation), parent/child collaboration (to reinforce material in the sacramental
textbooks).

First Communion preparation starts with preparation for First Reconciliation. First Reconciliation preparation consists of six sessions that start in the Fall and end the following January. Three of these sessions occur in person and are attended by the child and one or both of their parents (parish-led sessions). The other three sessions are held at home. 

The celebration of First Reconciliation normally occurs in February.

Preparation for First Communion follows the same format, consisting of six sessions, normally starting in February and ending in April. Three of these sessions occur in person and are attended by the child and one or both of their parents (parish-led sessions). The other three sessions are held at home.

Celebration of First Communion occurs after Easter (April/May).

If your child has not been baptized, Children of Catholics younger than 7 years of age are eligible for the Rite of Baptism for Children and fall under the infant guidelines for Baptism. Please visit our Baptism Preparation webpage.

Children 7 years of age or older who have not been baptized follow an addapted process. Please see Rite of Christian Initation of Adults Adapted for Children webpage.