Sacramental Preparation for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation

These "First" Sacraments are milestones in your child’s on-going Catholic formation.  Preparation for the Sacrament of First Holy Eucharist is a two year program spanning the 1st and 2nd grades.
 
Older children who have not received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist will be ministered to on an individual basis.  Please contact the Parish office if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received these Sacraments, so that necessary arrangements can be made.

Students enrolled in St. Gabriel Elementary School prepare for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation as part of the religious curriculum of Second grade. Students enrolled in the Sunday Morning Religious Education Program will prepare for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation as part of the 2nd Level curriculum. Each year of religious instruction builds on the knowledge gained in previous years. Therefore, it is expected that students starting the 2nd grade Sacramental preparation year have completed their 1st grade religious education class.

All students and their parents can expect to attend additional meetings and workshops throughout the year to enhance their sacramental preparation. These meetings are important because they offer an explanation of the parent's role in the preparation of the children for the Sacraments and will provide you with a list of all upcoming dates.

First Reconciliation is usually offered in January during a special Penance liturgy. First Eucharist is celebrated with the parish community during several Sunday Mass times in the spring. Contact the Coordinator of Children’s Formation, Cyndi Marlow for more information.

• Sunday Website by St. Louis University:  http://liturgy.slu.edu/   Has readings, Student (from SLU) reflections, Praying toward Sunday, Spirituality for  Sunday, Get to Know the Readings and Music for Sunday for each week. Faith First
• Faith First for Families:   http://www.faithfirst.com/html/family/family.html   Find weekly readings, answers to common questions kids ask, a church tour, and more general information about the faith.
• Making First Reconciliation a Priority (what a parent thinks influences their child’s perception)     http://new.catholicmom.com/2009/07/23/making-first-reconciliation-a-priority-by-elizabeth-ficocelli/
• Act of Contrition worksheet (fill in the blanks) http://www.catholicmom.com/2007_lesson_plans/contrition_worksheet.pdf
• Reconciliation Word Search http://www.catholicmom.com/printables/reconciliation_word_search.pdf 
• Eucharist Word Search   http://www.christiancoloring.com/cmpdf/yearofeucharist/yoegeneralws.pdf
• Ten Tips for a Better Confession   http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0890.asp 
• Reconciliation: An Experience of Forgiveness (from a teen’s view) http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/YU/ay0199.asp
• How to Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation Today   http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0800.asp
• Preparing for Confession   http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0800.asp
• Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest?  http://www.americancatholic.org/UpdateYourFaith/answers.asp?QY0199
• I feel so uncomfortable; can this Sacrament be good or me? http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Mar2000/Wiseman.asp#F1