Fall 2014

Agenda  Diocesan Guidelines  Readiness for Celebration of First Penance and First Eucharist  Preparation Process  Administrative: Registration for Retreats  How to work with your children/Expectations  Fr. Tom: Theology of Reconciliation Epiphany of the Lord2

Opening Prayer The arms of God reach round us, we rest in their embrace; the heart of Jesus invites us, we look upon his face; the Spirit breathes upon us, welcome, this time of grace. Epiphany of the Lord3

Requirements for Sacrament Prep  Registered parishioners  Regularly attended Faith Formation or Catholic school last year  Currently enrolled in Faith Formation or Catholic school this year  Attend Mandatory Parent Sacrament Meeting  Child baptized Catholic (if not see me after meeting) Epiphany of the Lord4

Diocesan Guidelines: First Penance  Candidate – age and readiness  Parent or Guardian responsibility: ◦ Sunday Mass, FF Class (2 years), sharing of faith  Preparation emphasis: ◦ God loves us ◦ Understanding good and bad choices/sense of right & wrong ◦ Asks for forgiveness/Understanding of forgiveness ◦ Relate to child’s life experience Epiphany of the Lord5

Diocesan Guidelines: First Holy Communion  Awareness of our relationship with God  Participate in and understand the Mass ◦ Reverence of the Word  An understanding of the Eucharist ◦ Desire to receive Holy Communion ◦ Understand Real Presence Reverence of Body & Blood of Christ  Our call to serve Epiphany of the Lord

Preparation Process  Grades 2-5 ◦ 1 Mandatory parent meeting ◦ 1 Parent AND child Retreat for First Reconciliation ◦ 1 Parent AND child Retreat for First Eucharist ◦ 1 Parent AND child Church tour and celebration walkthrough  Grades 6-12 ◦ Meet with Glenna immediately following this meeting for details and schedule Epiphany of the Lord8

Requirements for Sacrament Prep  Registered parishioners  Regularly attended Faith Formation or Catholic school last year  Currently enrolled in Faith Formation or Catholic school this year  Attend Mandatory Parent Sacrament Meeting  Child baptized Catholic (if not see me after meeting) Epiphany of the Lord9

Day of Retreat: What to Expect  BE ON TIME (if you are late, you will need to reschedule for another retreat)  Arrive at PAC (Parish Activity Center) for Classroom Assignments  Take your child to classroom  Parents gather in the Epiphany Room (upstairs in the PAC) Epiphany of the Lord10

Registration For Retreats FOR STUDENTS NOT ALREADY REGISTERED:  Turn in today or as soon as possible: ◦ Completed Reconciliation and Eucharist Workshop Form ◦ Sacrament Workshop book fee ($40/student) ◦ Baptism Certificate ◦ Letter of Attendance (if needed from a previous parish)  The registration form must be turned in prior to registering online  Good attendance at FF (max. of 3 absences) Epiphany of the Lord11

Register Online for Retreats/church tour  Register online for retreat day/time beginning August 26 at: sacraments.epiphanycatholic.org  Envelope Number needed to register online ◦ Found on label on child’s book  Changes to Workshop dates? ◦ Go online to above link to make your own changes Epiphany of the Lord12

Additional Information  All Parents Sign-In at back tables  Already registered? ◦ Pick up child’s book: labelled with child’s name & ID ◦ Inside child’s book is an information sheet on how to register for workshops Not yet registered?  Pick up and complete registration forms  Return with payment and child’s baptism cert.  Parent will need to stop by office to pickup student book Epiphany of the Lord13

Paperback: Prayers $5 each Bibles $25.00 or $35.00 anycatholic.org You can go to To order yourself or download the App for $3.95 Available for Purchase (if you want) Epiphany of the Lord14

Need childcare during retreats?  Supply: ◦ Name of event ◦ Date of event ◦ Last name ◦ Number of children who need nursery ◦ Ages of children ◦ Pay $5/child to the nursery workers Epiphany of the Lord15

 is our preferred method of communication  Add epiphanycatholic.org as safe sender ◦ Office: (Sac. Coordinator) Fax:

1. What are your expectations for your child’s celebration of the Sacraments? 2. What was your first confession like? 3. Do you celebrate the Sacrament now? Why or Why Not? 4. How will preparing/celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation change your family life?

“This sacrament is not about our being bad; it’s about God being so good.” Page 7, Together, (parent magazine)

God’s Gift of Reconciliation How to work at home with your children Expectations for the Retreat

 God created us to live in friendship with him  Adam and Eve (retell story using stickers)  Define FAITH WORDS in bold print: ◦ grace ◦ temptation ◦ original sin ◦ Savior ◦ reconcile

 Identify ways we accept the gift of God’s friendship  Have the child do the activities  Pray together  Review the chapter  “I share with my family”

 Go through all Six chapters through page 79 (approximately 30 minutes each)  Don’t rush through the material – one chapter at a time  Review material with your child before bringing them to the next retreat  Child needs to bring completed book with them to their classroom at retreat

 Parents work through book with child  Child completes activities, stickers, understands faith vocabulary  (pages 78-79)  Child knows how to make: ◦ Sign of the Cross (page 72) ◦ Act of Contrition (page 74 – short form is okay)

 Child understands difference between: ◦ Good and bad choices (page 25) ◦ How to make an examination of conscience (66-68 ) ◦ Family attends Mass

 Parent and child attend retreats  Parent takes child to classroom with their completed workbook – (catechists will review & children will practice how to go to confession)  Children will return to Epiphany Room and work on a project with parent & prayer service  Parent’s will receive Eucharist workbooks at the Reconciliation Retreat

Theology of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Christ be with us, Christ within us, Christ behind us, Christ before us, in the path we take, Christ walk with us, on the road we tread, Christ go before us. Be a lamp for our steps and a beacon for our eyes, that we may know through change and growth the presence of the One who has said, I am with you always. Amen.

Epiphany of the Lord29