First Sacrament Registration
As baptized members of God’s family, our Parish Family children who are in second grade or above are invited to continue on their path of initiation into the Catholic Church by receiving Jesus in their First Holy Communion, preceded by receiving Jesus’ forgiveness and healing through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To help prepare them to receive these sacraments for the first time, we offer First Sacrament Preparation where both child and parent will be actively involved.
In conjunction with First Sacrament Preparation, child(ren) must be active participants in a faith formation program:
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If your child attends Bishop Leibold School (BLS) or another Catholic parochial school, they will participate in religion class that provides education on the sacraments.
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If your child attends a public or non-Catholic private school, they will also need to be enrolled in either classroom catechesis (PSR) or family catechesis (GIFT) in our Parish Family community.
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If your child is homeschooled for faith formation, please contact the Assoc Dir for Sacrament Preparation (see bottom of page) to share which Catholic curriculum you use for teaching on the sacraments.
PSR and GIFT families register their children for First Sacrament Preparation through the respective registration processes for those programs.
BLS/parochial school and homeschool children enroll in First Sacrament Preparation using the following steps:
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Complete the online registration form for each child or youth (2nd grade and older) who will be receiving First Sacraments. The sacrament preparation fee is $30 per child (paid online after registration).
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Print the All 2nd Grade First Sacrament Schedule which lists the major events where children of all grades making First Sacraments participate together. This schedule lists dates and individual parish locations.
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If your child is beyond 2nd grade and making sacraments, a custom preparation schedule will be tailored to individual circumstances. Contact the Assoc Dir for Sacrament Preparation (see bottom of page).
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If your child was not baptized at Our Lady of Good Hope, St. Henry, or St. Mary of the Assumption, please submit a copy of their baptism certificate.
Confirmation Registration
Confirmation Preparation for our Family of Parishes has two goals:
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Lead teens toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit...in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life (CCC 1309). Or in the words of St. Catherine of Siena, equip them to set the world on fire!
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Prepare teens for reception of the sacrament at our Confirmation Mass on April 30, 2024.
Achieving these goals necessitates teens participate in Junior High or High School Youth Ministry sessions. In addition to Youth Ministry, Confirmation preparation sessions will prepare them to receive the Sacrament in April.
Calendar
Confirmation Preparation begins in October 2023 and runs through the Spring of 2024. Preparation will include activities with teens as they walk with their parents and sponsors, to include discipleship talks, faith goal setting, retreats and more. Preparation sessions are typically held on Thursdays or Saturdays at varying locations. Please see the full preparation schedule linked below. The 2024 Confirmation Mass will be on Tuesday, April 30th at 6:30pm at St. Henry Church.
Who can be Confirmed?
In previous years, St. Mary has confirmed in 8th grade, and St. Henry and Our Lady of Good Hope have confirmed in 7th grade. This year we are moving to a different approach. Anyone in 7th through 12th grade who has not received the sacrament of Confirmation is welcome to register for Confirmation preparation.
Confirmation is a strengthening of the spiritual grace given to us at Baptism, and specifically prepares us to be witnesses to the gospel throughout our life. This is a sacrament open to all teens who desire to receive it! Parents and teens should discuss when it would be best to receive Confirmation. This decision is dependent on a teen's openness to receiving the sacrament and their desire to serve our Lord.
Register for Confirmation
To register your teen for Confirmation, please complete the Confirmation Registration Form. There is no fee for Confirmation preparation this year. If your teen was not baptized at Our Lady of Good Hope, St. Henry, or St. Mary of the Assumption, then we will need a copy of their baptism certificate.
For more on the Sacrament of Confirmation, click here.
CONTACT: Jen Sens
Associate Director of Sacrament Preparation
