St. Peter s Parish Sacramental Preparation Program for 2018-2019 school year Note: the following are the objectives of each chapter outlined in the catechist manuals for Celebrate and Remember First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (For September) FOR PARENTS OF GRADE 2 (AND UP) STUDENTS Catholic parishes work closely with families and the school communities. The Catholic schools provide Religious and Family Life Education along with integrated Catholic values and teachings across the curriculum for your child and the parishes provide the Sacrament Preparation Program for your child. This Program will be offered at the parishes. Catechists from the parish community will facilitate the Sacramental Preparation Program with your child and the parish pastoral team will meet with the parents. The Sacramental Preparation Program is required for your child to understand the significance of the sacraments and to receive these sacraments this year. There will be a Parent Information Session to further explain the Sacramental Preparation Program and how you can continue to support your child s faith development. The Parent Information Session will be held at St. Peter s Parish on Saturday, September 29 from 1:00 2:30 PM or Sunday, September 30 from 7:00 8:30 PM. Registration is required. Please contact the parish for further details. FIRST RECONCILIATION - SESSION 1 REMINDER The first session will be held on Saturday, October 13 from. Your child will pray the sign of the cross; learn the Scripture story about first sin and the need for forgiveness; realize that God loves us and is ready to forgive us; understand that Jesus gives us the Sacrament of Reconciliation to bring us back to God when we sin; apply to their life experience the need to seek and offer forgiveness; pray for God s mercy and a change of heart; learn the scripture story about the Forgiving Father; learn that God sent His Son to save us from sin; learn what it means to be sorry for our sins; learn that God forgives us and promises new life in Jesus; understand that sins can be forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation; see the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a gift from God that brings us back into right relationships; and pray for a forgiving heart.
FIRST RECONCILIATION - SESSION 2 REMINDER The second session will be held on Saturday, November 10 from Your child will experience praying with Scripture; learn the Scripture story about the Ten Commandments; learn God s rules from the Bible; learn that Jesus came to help us to follow God s rules; understand the difference between mortal and venial sin; learn that the Sacrament of Reconciliation can help us to follow God s rules; understand the importance of keeping God s commandments; pray for help in following the Word of God; pray a prayer about being sorry and returning to God; learn the Scripture story about John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus; understand what it means to repent; explain how the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a Sacrament of conversion; make an examination of conscience; learn ways the Holy Spirit helps us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation; and pray a prayer a praise and petition to God. FIRST RECONCILIATION - SESSION 3 REMINDER The third session will be held on Saturday, December 8 from Your child will pray an Act of Contrition; learn the Scripture story about the woman who was sorry for her sins; understand the connection between the Scripture story and the Sacrament of Reconciliation; learn how the priest has the power to forgive sins through the sacrament; learn why the priest gives a penance in the Sacrament of Reconciliation; understand that sorrow for sins involves having the intention not to sin again; realize that doing a penance demonstrates our sorrow for hurting God, self and/or others; pray the Hail Mary; sing the prayer, Peace is Flowing like a River ; learn the scripture story about Zacchaeus; learn how Jesus saves us from sins that make us feel guilty or disappointed in ourselves; discover the peace of absolution; learn how the priest prays the words of absolution; discover that we are reconciled with God, ourselves and others; realize that we have to seek and work for peace.
FIRST RECONCILIATION - SESSION 4 REMINDER The fourth session will be held on Saturday, January 12 from Your child will pray a prayer thanking God for his eternal goodness and mercy; learn the Scripture story about the lost sheep; understand that Jesus loves us even when we sin and rejoices when we come back to him; learn more about and review the gifts of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; learn that the Sacrament ritual ends with Scripture verses that praise and thank God; understand that Jesus always love us; pray an echo prayer to Jesus the Good Shepherd; pray with Jesus words; learn the Scripture story of Jesus assuring his Apostles of help and peace; understand why Jesus keeps calling us to conversion; to become familiar with the rituals for receiving and celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation; understand why we are called an Easter people ; discover ways we share the new life of Jesus; learn that Jesus calls us to follow him each day; realize that the Sacrament of Reconciliation can help us to follow Jesus more closely; and pray about being an Easter people. FIRST EUCHARIST - SESSION 1 REMINDER The first session will be held on Saturday, February 2 from Your child will pray the Sign of the Cross as a sign of our Baptism and participate in a naming ritual; learn the Scripture story about Jesus calling the first Apostles; understand that as members of the Church, we belong to Christ; name the three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation); recall that Baptism welcomes us into the Church and takes away all sin; learn that confirmation strengthens our faith and that in Eucharist, we receive the real presence of Jesus; learn what is involved in preparing for First Eucharist; realize that Jesus abides with us; pray a prayer of thanksgiving; pray a prayer that thanks and praises God; meditate; learn the Scripture story about Jesus feeding the hungry crowd; realize that Jesus is with us when we gather at Mass; learn that when we receive Holy Communion, we receive Jesus Christ himself; learn about the four parts of the Mass; Introductory Rite; Liturgy of the Word; Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites); explore why Sunday is the most important day of the week; and pray the Act of Faith, the Act of Hope and the Act of Love. FIRST EUCHARIST - SESSION 2 REMINDER The second session will be held on Saturday, March 2 from
Your child will pray a prayer and gesture for God s mercy from the Penitential Act at Mass; learn the Scripture story about Jesus eating with sinners; understand how sin affects our relationship with God and others; explain the difference between mortal and venial sin; learn that the Eucharist is offered as a sacrifice for our sins; experience praying one of the prayers for God s mercy from the Penitential Act; learn how the Penitential Act at the beginning of Mass helps us to prepare for Holy Communion; pray a prayer asking God to forgive us and to help us to forgive those who have hurt us; pray a psalm-based prayer; learn the Scripture story about how God created the world; understand that all the good things we have in our lives are gifts of God s love; learn that Jesus is God s greatest gift; explain why Sunday is called the Lord s Day (Sabbath); learn that the Gloria sung at Mass is a prayer of praise; understand why we go to Mass on Sunday; and pray the first part of the Gloria with gestures. FIRST EUCHARIST - SESSION 3 REMINDER The third session will be held on Saturday, April 6 from Your child will pray a prayer about listening to the Word of God; learn the Scripture story about Jesus reading from the Old Testament; understand how God speaks to us through Sacred Scriptures; learn about the two parts of the Bible (Old and New Testaments); learn about the Liturgy of the Word; learn that the Holy Spirit can help us to listen to the Word of God; realize that we can ask other people to help us to understand the Scriptures; pray a prayer that asks for God s help to be a faithful disciple, pray A Profession of Faith by renewing the promises of Baptism; learn the Scripture story about Jesus healing a blind man; understand that the Creed we pray at Mass is a statement of our beliefs; learn that the Trinity (Father; Son and Holy Spirit) is a central truth of our faith; learn the creeds we pray at Mass (Nicene and Apostles); realize that each time we pray the Creed, we renew our baptismal commitment; appreciate the gift of faith we received at Baptism; and pray a prayer of faith asking Jesus to help us to believe, follow and share his teachings. FIRST EUCHARIST - SESSION 4
REMINDER The fourth session will be held on Saturday, April 13 from Your child will learn how to meditate ( Maranatha Prayer Come Lord Jesus); learn the Scripture story about the Last Supper; learn that Jesus gave us the Sacrament of the Eucharist at the Last Supper; understand what takes place during the Liturgy of the Eucharist; learn that after the consecration, Jesus is truly and completely present; realize that when we pray the Great Amen, we are saying that we believe in real presence; review why the consecration is the most solemn moment of the Eucharistic Prayer; pray a prayer based on the Eucharistic Prayer; pray and gesture the Lord s Prayer; learn the Scripture story about Jesus teaching his disciples to pray; learn what Jesus means by the Kingdom of God; understand why Jesus tells us to call God our Father ; learn the meaning of each part of the Lord s Prayer; realize that God is our loving Father and that we are all members of God s family.