Reception of the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
Parents of children who are coming to the end of Year 2 at school should, in June of that year, contact the Sacramental Programmes Co-ordinator following the information given in the Parish Newsletter or in response to a letter sent to them by Sister Maureen McNamara (Sacramental Programmes Co-ordinator). A meeting will be arranged for registration and a copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate will be required.
Children attending Catholic Schools will join the Sacramental programme in September, as they begin Year 3, to be prepared for the Celebration of First Reconciliation and for the Celebration of First Holy Communion.
First Reconciliation (First Confession) takes place in January and First Holy Communion in May or June, both dates being set at the beginning of the programme.
Children attending non-Catholic Schools will join a pre-Sacramental class for a year when they are in Year 2, prior to the year when they will be part of the Sacramental programme (Year 3).
The programme followed is I BELONG. It is based on everyday experiences. As each chapter unfolds the children will explore a theme connected with the Mass. They then go on to think about the same theme in the Old and New Testaments and the Church.
There are opportunities for the children to explore and grow in their faith, to learn to pray, to write and draw freely, colour pictures and complete wordsearches, which they love!
There are regular sessions throughout the year led by Sister Maureen McNamara and a group of ten catechists. There are parents meetings led by one of the priests, and Celebration Masses for the whole family. Children are encouraged to participate in these Masses, maybe reading prayers or being part of the offertory Procession.
The children’s sessions and parents meetings take place on Wednesday evenings, 5.00 to 6.00pm. The Celebration Masses take place at the 10.30am Sunday Family Mass.
It is essential that we are all fully committed to all that this most important year offers us, to grow in the love of Jesus present in the Sacraments and present in one another.