The schedule
1st Grade, Year 1: Weekly study at home/monthly Family Formation sessions, Sundays 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. (see below for a schedule of monthly meetings).
2nd Grade, Year 2 and Grades 3 - 5 catch-up: Weekly study at home/monthly Family Formation sessions, Sundays 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Empowering God’s Children schedule for First Communion students, 2020-21
Registration for 2020-21 is closed. Please contact Jen Henry, Coordinator of Children’s Ministries Ministries if you would still like to have your child or teen participate.
2nd Grade, Year 2 and Grades 3 - 5 catch-up: Weekly study at home/monthly Family Formation sessions, Sundays 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Empowering God’s Children schedule for First Communion students, 2020-21
- Sunday, October 11 (at the end of the regularly scheduled class)
- Make-up: October 18 after the 9:00 mass.
Registration for 2020-21 is closed. Please contact Jen Henry, Coordinator of Children’s Ministries Ministries if you would still like to have your child or teen participate.
Our parish has a two year preparation program for First Communion (also known as First Eucharist) and First Reconciliation preparation. Why? The mysteries of the Eucharist and Reconciliation require that the child have a deep foundation in order to understand and fully receive the Sacraments.
We offer an approach that is centered on the family and their journey with the child in sacramental preparation and faith formation. Rather than weekly classes in a classroom setting, parents guide their children in weekly study for 30–45 minutes in a home setting. A complete curriculum and resources are provided to each family, and a parish catechist-shepherd is available to you to answer questions, to guide you in making this special time with your children fruitful and enriching, and to track the progress of your child through the preparation.
Once per month, at least one parent and their student are required to attend class with the catechist–shepherd and other families in your group where special topics are emphasized, fun activities are included, assignment assessments collected for the month, and opportunity is given to ask questions and share experiences.
A family-centered approach deepens the role the domestic church plays in the faith formation of each child, providing opportunities for the entire family to learn, pray, and grow in relationship with Christ. Providing flexibility for instruction in the home with fewer class sessions is also intended to reduce the burden on busy families for whom weekly classes can become more a burden than a joy. The support of your catechist–shepherd and other families in your group offers opportunities to connect your experiences as a family with the body of Christ and to find resources to assist you as you prepare your child for their encounter with Christ through the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
We offer an approach that is centered on the family and their journey with the child in sacramental preparation and faith formation. Rather than weekly classes in a classroom setting, parents guide their children in weekly study for 30–45 minutes in a home setting. A complete curriculum and resources are provided to each family, and a parish catechist-shepherd is available to you to answer questions, to guide you in making this special time with your children fruitful and enriching, and to track the progress of your child through the preparation.
Once per month, at least one parent and their student are required to attend class with the catechist–shepherd and other families in your group where special topics are emphasized, fun activities are included, assignment assessments collected for the month, and opportunity is given to ask questions and share experiences.
A family-centered approach deepens the role the domestic church plays in the faith formation of each child, providing opportunities for the entire family to learn, pray, and grow in relationship with Christ. Providing flexibility for instruction in the home with fewer class sessions is also intended to reduce the burden on busy families for whom weekly classes can become more a burden than a joy. The support of your catechist–shepherd and other families in your group offers opportunities to connect your experiences as a family with the body of Christ and to find resources to assist you as you prepare your child for their encounter with Christ through the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
Year 1First Communion preparation normally begins in the first grade. If your child does not attend a Catholic school, you will need to participate in Family First Communion Year 1 preparation and miss no more than TWO monthly sessions to advance to Year 2. If your child attends a Catholic school, their school's religion classes will count as their Year 1 preparation.
All students are required to participate in Mass every weekend and holy day. Older students in need of First Communion Preparation:
Non-Catholic School Students: If your child is in second grade but has no prior year of Faith Formation, they will need to first complete First Communion Year 1 preparation. Please register them for First Communion Year I. If your child is in third through fifth grades, please contact Jennifer Henry, Coordinator of Children’s Ministries. Catholic School Students: If your child is in third through fifth grades at a Catholic school, they are not required to participate in Year 1 preparation. They should register for First Communion Year 2 Catholic School. Middle School and High School Students:
Please contact Fernando Cartagena, Director of Youth Ministry. These students will prepare for the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation through our Youth Ministry program. |
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year 2Any student entering into a First Communion Year 2 or Elementary Sacramental Prep Year 2 must first have completed the prior year of Faith Formation in a parish, Catholic school, or Catholic homeschooling program approved by the parish.
If the year was completed anywhere other than in our parish Faith Formation program, a verification letter must be provided by the school or parish in which it was completed and sent to our parish offices. |
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Catholic School Students
The Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) initiate a child into the life of the Church. For this reason, children receive Sacraments in their home parish (which may or may not be where they attend school). Since Catholic schools do much of the preparation for First Communion and First Reconciliation, students in Catholic schools only meet four times a year in our parish program for Year 2 preparation (they join four of the eight monthly Family Formation sessions). Parents, please send us verification that your child has completed a Year 1 program (e.g. letter from parish, copy of school report card, etc.) here. Important Requirements: Register your child for the First Communion Year 2 Catholic School class.
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Home-school Students
We ask students who are home-schooled using a Catholic curriculum to present texts of the curriculum for prior year and current year formation to the Director of Faith Formation and register in the Catholic School class. Important Requirements: Register your child for the First Communion Year 2 Catholic School class.
All other schools
Year 2 Non-Catholic school students participate in the Family Fist Communion preparation at home and meet together monthly throughout the year. Important Requirements:
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Save the Dates
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Monthly Family Formation Sessions
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Special dates
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