First & Preparation Guidelines

Class Dates

Confirmation Classes will now take place on Sunday mornings from 10:40am - 11:50am. 1st yr. Confirmation will be meet in the Msgr. Smyer Reception Room & 2nd yr. Confirmation will meet in the Youth Center.

Sponsor Meetings & Interviews Teens receive the Sacraments of First Please reference the Reconciliation & Communion before they attached calendar for dates can receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. when sponsors or parents Teens in grades 6-12 who haven't received First Reconciliation will be asked to attend () and First Communion, must have attended one year of meetings about the Confirmation process. Faith Formation prior to beginning preparation for First Communion in which they may also begin preparation for Confirmation. First Reconciliation /Communion FC Interview R C Dates RECONCILIATION FIRST COMMUNION CONFIRMATION Dates will be given at the first parent meeting along At home with aid of At home with parents 2 yr. process in with books. parents for 2-3 for 2-3 months which teens attend months including 1 including 1 interview classes Sunday interview with the with teen and mornings from teen & parent. parents. 11:40am-11:50am.

1 The First Communion process takes place in two main stages:

Preparation for Reconciliation

1. The Reconciliation stage begins with a parent meeting in which all families are given a book covering Reconciliation and instructed on the best way to work through the book. Parents take this home and are given 2 to 3 months to complete the curriculum with their children. At a set date, all the children will be invited to the Church where interviews will be conducted in order to ensure that they have the basic understanding necessary to receive the Sacrament. Following this, a penance Service will be scheduled and all the children will receive their First Confession.

Preparation for 1st Communion.

2. After this is the First Communion stage. Again, another parent meeting is held in which all the families are given book covering First Communion & the Holy . After 2 to 3 months another set of interviews are conducted and once this is completed the children will then receive their First Communion in the late spring and the process will be complete.

During both stages, parents are the primary catechists for their teen. As such, there are certain unique expectations that must be met in order for this process to be a success. Below is a list of the expectations that accompany preparation:

• During preparation, children are still expected to attend the Confirmation classes in the parish on Sunday morning at least 70% of the time (unless the tee is enrolled at Holy Cross Catholic Academy). • As with all practicing Catholics, children are expected to attend Sunday Mass weekly with the parent(s), unless for a grave reason. To ensure this, the teen will be required to place special envelopes in the collection basket each Sunday. • For each stage, families are given 2-3 months to complete the given curriculum. Parents are expected to work through this curriculum throughout the 2-3 months on at least a weekly basis. • Families must be registered members of St. Mary’s Cathedral. • Children must be baptized (If not baptized the children will need to enter into our RCIA program in order to receive Baptism and 1st Communion).

CONFIRMATION Preparation for Confirmation lasts two years beginning in the 6th grade. All those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation are required to attend Confirmation Classes on Sunday Mornings from 10:40AM - 11:50AM. Teens are expected to attend at least 70% of the time (unless the teen is enrolled at Holy Cross Catholic Academy). Teens must also attend one retreat a year. Lastly, Sponsors/Parents are asked to attend a meeting once year to discuss the role of the sponsor and given resources to aid them in waking with the teens towards Confirmation.

2 St. Mary’s Confirmation Calendar 2017-2018 Confirmation Classes meet Sunday Mornings from 10:40am – 11:50am. Confirmation Year #1 meets in the Msgr. Smyer Reception Room, and Confirmation Year #2 meets in the Youth Center.

September February 10th – Classes Begin 4th – Classes 17th – Classes 11th – Classes 24th – Classes 18th – No Classes *(Both Classes in the Youth Center) Presidents Day Weekend 25th – Classes October *(Both Classes in the Youth Center) 1st – Parent Meeting 8th – No Classes March Columbus Day Weekend 4th – Classes 15th – Classes *(Safe Environment Make-up #2) 22nd – Classes 11th – No Classes 29th – Classes Spring Break Safe Environment Day 18th – No Classes Spring Break November 25th – Classes 4th – Be Not Afraid Retreat* 5th – Classes April 12th – Classes 1st – No Classes 19th – Classes Easter Sunday *(Both classes in the Youth Center) 8th – Classes 26th – No Classes *(Safe Environment Make-up #3) Thanksgiving Weekend 15th – Classes 22nd – Classes December 29th – Classes 3rd – Classes *(Both Classes in the Youth Center) 10th – Classes 17th – Classes May 24th – No Classes 6th – Classes Christmas Holiday 13th – No Classes Mother’s Day January 20th – Last Day of Classes 7th – No Classes *(Both Classes in the Youth Center) Christmas Holiday 14th – Classes 21st – No Classes 26 Classes in Total MLK Weekend *Confirmation teens must attend 70% of 28th Classes the classes each year. *(Both classes in the Youth Center) *Retreat is a requirement for all *(Safe Environment Make-up #1) Confirmation Teens.