Please return the following items to the Office of Faith Formation by the Parent Orientation meeting on Thursday, October 8 th :

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1 Dear Parents/Guardians, According to our records, your child enters Grade 2 or higher during the school year. That means your child may be ready to begin the process for the celebration of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. If you feel your child is not ready to pursue preparation for these sacraments, you may wait for a later time. If you feel you have received this letter in error, please notify the office so we may correct our records. We have scheduled with Msgr. Jay O Connor a Parent/Guardian (adults only) Orientation meeting on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall. We will outline our parish process for preparing your children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Please come to the Orientation meeting so we can answer questions you may have regarding the process and celebrations of the sacraments. You will find two attachments enclosed: the First Reconciliation/Eucharist Application for , and a description of the process and guide, with a calendar of events, to help you determine your child s readiness to prepare for the sacraments. Please return the following items to the Office of Faith Formation by the Parent Orientation meeting on Thursday, October 8 th : A completed First Reconciliation/Eucharist Application (make additional copies if you have more than one child preparing for a sacrament) A copy of your child s Baptismal Certificate (if not baptized at Our Lady of the Fields). Group First Reconciliation Liturgy will be held on: Monday, December 14, 2015 at 6:30pm Group First Communion Liturgies are: Saturday, April 30, :00am and 2:00pm Saturday, May 7, :00am and 2:00pm Please note that a maximum of 30 children receive at each celebration with limited guest seating. You also have the option of having your child receive at a regularly scheduled weekend or daily Mass after the parish celebrations of First Communion. The Office will confirm the date and time of your liturgy. We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with your family this year. Please review the important enclosed information. Yours in Christ, Andrea McGill Reddinger Coordinator of Children s Faith Formation Dr. Thomas E. Little Pastoral Associate of Evangelization and Faith Formation

2 Guide for Parents about the process for preparing for the Sacraments of 1 st Reconciliation and Eucharist Our Lady of the Fields follows the archdiocesan policy for the reception of sacraments. The diocese requires that before a child can be considered a candidate for sacraments, s/he must have completed the equivalent of one year of faith formation just prior to immediate preparation for the sacrament, and must be currently enrolled in a program. Formation can be done through the parish faith formation program or Catholic school. Parents are the primary teachers of their children. Our process recognizes this truth and supports you in your ministry. Catechists will work with you as you prepare your child/ren for these sacraments. The parish conducts special celebrations to introduce the children to the sacraments. Working together, we hope to offer the very best preparation for First Reconciliation and Eucharist. Our parish process for sacramental preparation offers our children the individual attention and personal care they need. We open them to experience the liturgical prayer of our Christian community more deeply. Many of our church leaders, including our catechists, priests, deacons and other community members will be involved in this process. We want a partnership of parents and the parish community working together for the good of our children as they prepare to encounter Christ in our sacramental way of life. A calendar is enclosed in this mailing and will be reviewed at the Orientation meeting. All families with children in this process need to be enrolled in faith formation classes through the parish or Catholic school. The Church teaches us that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives. It is important for us to gather each week as a community to be strengthened to live our lives in the marketplace. St. Augustine teaches us, See the Body of Christ. Eat the Body of Christ. Become what you eat. With the reception of Jesus, we are empowered to live a life of discipleship. Families are expected to weekly Mass. Children learn best by doing and thus we help to create a hunger to experience Christ in Word and Sacrament. Together, we celebrate and become what we eat: the Body of Christ in the world.

3 Date Time Event Location Notes Thursday 7pm Parent Orientation for 1 st Reconciliation/Eucharist Parish Hall Parent Session only 10/8/15 (1 st Reconciliation books will be distributed) Monday 11/30/15 6:30-7:30pm Walk Through the Rite of Reconciliation Deadline to turn in completed 1 st Reconciliation Workbooks Parish Hall Parents /Candidates should Monday 6:30pm Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Retreat Church Families 12/14/15 (Confession will be heard only for the children receiving 1 st Reconciliation) 1/17/16 2pm-4pm Tour of the Church (1 st Eucharist books will be distributed) Church Parents /Candidates should 2/21/16 2pm-4pm Walk through the Mass Church and Parish Hall Parents/Candidates should Monday 3/7/16 7pm Family Reconciliation Service Church Children may receive 1 st Reconciliation at this service. Open to the parish. 3/13/16 2pm-4pm 1 st Eucharist Mini-Retreat Parish Hall Parents/Candidates 3/20/16 Deadline to turn in completed 1 st Eucharist Workbooks Faith Formation For candidates in Grades 2 and older For Saturday, April 30, :00am Tuesday 4/26/16 6:30pm 1 st Eucharist Rehearsal Church Parents/Candidates Saturday 4/30/16 11:00am Group 1 st Communion Church Families For Saturday, April 30, :00pm Thursday 4/28/16 6:30pm 1 st Eucharist Rehearsal Church Parents/Candidates Saturday 4/30/16 2:00pm Group 1 st Communion Church Families For Saturday, May 7, :00am Tuesday 5/3/16 6:30pm 1 st Eucharist Rehearsal Church Parents/Candidates Saturday 5/7/16 11:00am Group 1 st Communion Church Families For Saturday, May 7, :00pm Thursday 5/5/16 6:30pm 1 st Eucharist Rehearsal Church Parents/Candidates Saturday 5/7/16 2:00pm Group 1 st Communion Church Families For Individual 1 st Communions If you wish your child to receive 1 st Communion at a regular weekend or weekday Mass during the Easter season, please contact the office so we can schedule it.

4 1 st Reconciliation and 1 st Eucharist Application Candidate's Name (First) (Middle) (Last) Grade: Complete Mailing Address Home Phone Cell Phone Child Attends: Faith Formation at OLF SOTI Slade Other( ) Baptism Information Place of Birth: (City and State) DOB Is child baptized Catholic? Yes No Church of Baptism City and State Date of Baptism (Please provide a copy of your child's baptismal certificate. If baptized at OLF, please indicate the baptism date to help retrieve the record. Certificates are due by orientation meeting) Parent Information Father's Full Name Mother's Full Name (First) (Middle) (Last) (First) (Middle) (Maiden) (Last) If applicable: Is non-custodial parent aware of and supportive of sacrament preparation? Yes No Non-Custodial parent name, address, phone, and (if necessary) For Office Use Only: Orientation Date Walk Through of the Rite of Reconciliation Tour of the Church Walk Through of the Mass Mini-Retreat Recorded/Bapt. Registry Volume # (page) (Registry #) Recorded/Euch. Registry Volume # (page) Recorded/ParishSoft Notes Date received Certificate rec d

5 I would like to schedule for the following dates and times: (Name) 1 ST RECONCILIATION Please indicate which date you wish for your child to receive 1 st Reconciliation. Monday, December 14, :30pm Monday, March, (Family Reconciliation Service) 7:00pm You always have the option of having your child a regularly scheduled Reconciliation on Saturdays at 4:00pm (however we do ask that you let us know when so we can notify the priest). 1 ST EUCHARIST Please indicate a first and second choice. Please note that a maximum of 30 children receive at each celebration. Seating is limited to approximately 10 guests per family including the candidate. You also have the option of having your child receive at a regularly scheduled weekend Mass: Saturday 5:00pm, 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am, 12:30pm or 6:00pm or weekday Mass 8:30am. Seating is not limited for guests at a weekday Mass. Mass preference will be confirmed by the office. Number of guests including candidate who will be ing Mass:. 2 nd...saturday, April 30, :00am (Practice Tuesday, April 26, :30pm in church) 2 nd Saturday, April 30, :00pm (Practice Thursday, April 28, :30pm in church) 2 nd Saturday, May 7, :00am (Practice Tuesday, May 3, :30pm in church) 2 nd Saturday, May 7, :00pm (Practice Thursday, May 5, :30pm in church) 2 nd Individual at Mass (Tentative date/time: ) Requirements 1. Must complete the equivalent of one year of faith formation prior to immediate preparation. 2. Must be enrolled in a faith formation or Catholic School while preparing for the sacrament. 3. Attend Parent Meetings. 4. Completion of the text and ance at Sessions, Mini-retreat and 1 st Eucharist Practice. 5. Preparation and study at home with family members. I have read and understand the above requirements. I will help my child meet these requirements before celebrating the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Please return at the Orientation meeting. Parent s Signature Date