SACRAMENTS: (Jr & Sr High):

Responsibility for sacrament preparation is shared between the parents and the parish.  All parents and students are asked to follow theArchdiocesan and parish guidelines for preparing for the sacraments.  Failure to do so may result in the postponement of the student’s celebration of the sacrament.  A student is to be enrolled in the Youth Ministry program (on-site or Jr. high home study) or in a Catholic school in addition to participating in the sacrament preparation program.  Regular attendance in the faith formation sessions at least one yearimmediatelyprior to entering the sacrament preparation program is also expected.  Any youth who has not recently been involved in faith formation sessions may be required to attend an 8-week course entitled Basic Catholic Formation before entering sacrament preparation sessions.  Special circumstances can be addressed by calling the Faith Formationoffice.  A copy of thestudent’s birth certificate and  baptismal certificate will be required in order to celebrate the sacraments.

SACRAMENT PREPARATION FOR RECONCILIATION AND EUCHARIST:

1. Attendance by the child at grade-level appropriate Faith Formation sessions one year immediately prior to andduring the year of sacrament preparation.  This is the minimum involvement in Faith Formation.  It is a life-long process.

2 .Attendance at an eight-week course entitled Basic Catholic Formation is required for most students beginning the preparation process in grades 6-12.  These sessions will be held on a week night (generally Monday or Tuesday) from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the fall of either the first or second year of preparation.

3. Attendance at a PARENT ONLYSACRAMENT INFORMATION MEETING held in the fall, usually in September or October.  At this time, the discernment and celebration preparation processes will be discussed and parents will be given the paperwork to register their child for the Reconciliation and Eucharist preparation sessions.  ATTENDANCE AT THIS MEETING IS AN ARCHDIOCESAN REQUIREMENT AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE KNOW YOU FEEL YOUR CHILD IS READY TO PREPARE FOR AND CELEBRATE RECONCILIATION AND EUCHARIST. Parents need to bring copies of their child’s birth certificate and baptismal certificate to the mandatory meeting.

4. Attendance by the child at a series of three preparation classes for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  These will be held on a week night (generally a Monday or Tuesday) from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. beginning in January or February of the second year of preparation.  Parents will attend a parent session one time during one of these sessions, usually the first one.

5. Attendance by the child at a series of four preparation classes for the Sacrament   of Eucharist.   Thesewill be held on a week night (generally a Monday or Tuesday) from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. beginning after the Reconciliation sessions in the second year of preparation.  Parents will attend a parent session one time during one of these sessions, usually the first one.