Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Reconciliation is done every year in our parish. Registrations for 2018 are closed as the program is underway. The program is called "Blessed" and has been developed by the Dynamic Catholic organization. You can check it out here: https://dynamiccatholic.com/blessed.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is first celebrated during Lent and followed by First Holy Communion in June.
Classes will run Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the parish hall at O.L.G.C. for six consecutive weeks before each Sacrament. Class attendance and Mass attendance will be mandatory on those weeks to participate.
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Dear Parents,
Please take some time to review Unit 4 before the next class. We will be starting Unit 5 on Sunday, May 27th. This will be our last Sunday class. As the children have now learned all the parts of the Mass – it may be a good opportunity for them to sit through the entire Mass (omit Children’s Liturgy) for one Sunday prior to First Communion.
We will have a First Communion retreat on Friday, June 1st from 9:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. For students at St. Mary’s school, we will provide permission slips to be handed in, so the students may leave class to attend. We will pick them up and return them to the school. For all other students, we hope that arrangements can be made so that your child can attend the retreat. We will meet in the parish hall at 9:30 a.m. to review all the Sacrament details. The children will have an opportunity to practise receiving the host (unconsecrated). We will also show them where their family will sit and answer any other questions. We will discuss and confirm attendance when we see you on Sunday, May 27th.
On Sunday, June 3rd we will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The children are asked to be at the church at 10:30 a.m. Cake and coffee will follow Mass in the parish hall… please bring your family, the children will receive a certificate and small gift. If you have any questions, please give the office a call. Thank you very much for all of your continued support.
Sunday, May 6th
This week we began learning about the Eucharist in Unit 4. These are the most important lessons we will study as we prepare for First Communion. Students should fill in the "Show What You Know" section for Unit 3.
Sunday, April 29th
This week we learned the 4 parts of the Mass and spent most of our time exploring Unit 3.
Sunday, April 22nd
This week's homework was to "LISTEN" for God in last Sunday's Mass.... 'Did you hear something special at Mass.... in the reading, the hymns, the Eucharistic celebration?' Record it on the Journal with Jesus page 49. Students should also fill in the "Show What You Know" pages 46-47. Please be sure the children bring their books this Sunday. Thank you for your continued support.
Sunday, March 4th
Dear Parents, this past Sunday we continued to review Unit 5: Your First Reconciliation. The children reviewed the 5 steps of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Unit 6 is a beautiful unit on developing good habits of prayer, receiving the Sacraments and attending Mass. Although we did not have time to cover it all... please enjoy the remainder of this beautiful book at home. We will see you on Thursday, March 22nd for First Reconciliation! Students are asked to meet at the parish hall at 6:30 p.m. that evening before the Sacrament so we can do a quick review. (Parents may wait in the church... everyone is welcome.)
Sunday, February 25th
Dear Parents, this past Sunday we began to cover Unit 5: Your First Reconciliation. The children were introduced to the 5 steps of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They decorated a prayer booklet that they will be able to bring into Confession with them to help them remember the five steps. We did not have time to finish up this chapter... so next week - our final Sunday before Reconciliation, we will review Unit 5 and quickly summarize Unit 6. We did not specify homework this week... but reviewing the 5 steps with your child, looking through the chapter and trying the "Show What You Know" page 170-171 would be helpful :) Thank you.
Sunday, February 18th
Dear Parents, we covered Unit 4: Forgiveness & Healing. The homework this week will be the "Show What You Know" pages 128-129. We enjoyed taking a few minutes to "Journal with Jesus" this week... We did not have time to view video #5 which was a reference to the "Our Father" prayer on pages 118-119. See you next Sunday!
Sunday, February 11th
Dear Parents, we covered Unit 3: God Sent Jesus to Save Us. We did not have time to watch videos 4 or 5 or read about Pentecost (pgs. 92-93) - Feel free to review those pages together if you'd like. Homework: Please complete the "Show What You Know" pages 98-99. See you next Sunday.
Sunday, February 4th
Dear Parents, we covered Unit 2: The Best-Version-of-Yourself. This was a hefty chapter with lots of information. We did not have time to watch video 5 or read the Bible story of Adam & Eve (pages 54-57) - Feel free to review those pages together if you'd like. Homework: Please complete the "Show What You Know" pages 62-63. Thank you for your support :) See you next Sunday.
Sunday, January 28th
Dear parents, today we covered Unit 1: You are Blessed. Homework: Please read pages 6-7 and help your child fill in their “Gratitude List” on page 9. As always, the “Journal with Jesus…” page is optional but encouraged. Thank you for your support and commitment. Next Class: Sunday, February 4th at 9:30 a.m. in the parish hall at O.L.G.C. Students are asked to please bring their workbook and indoor shoes. We will be working on Unit 2: The Best Version of Yourself. The class schedule is available below.