Fall 2014. Agenda Diocesan Guidelines Readiness for Celebration of First Penance and First Eucharist Preparation Process Administrative: Registration.

PARENT SACRAMENT MEETINGFall 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 Lord 2

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 Lord 3

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 Lord 4

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 Lord 5

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 Lord 8

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 Lord 9

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 Lord 10

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 Lord 11

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 Lord 12

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 bookEpiphany of the Lord 13

Paperback:

Prayers $5 eachBibles $25.00 or $35.00

[email protected]

You can go to www.smp.orgTo order yourself or download the App for $3.95

Available for Purchase (if you want)

Epiphany of the Lord 14

Need childcare during retreats?

[email protected] 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 Lord 15

Contact Information

Email is our preferred method of communication Add epiphanycatholic.org as safe sender

◦Office: 281-578-8271

[email protected] (Sac. Coordinator)

[email protected]

Fax: 281-578-9161

Story Time

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?

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

“This sacrament is not about our being bad;

it’s about God being so good.”

Page 7, Together, (parent magazine)

Message

God’s Gift of Reconciliation

How to work at home with your childrenExpectations 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

For Example: Chapter One

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”

Chapter One, continued

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

Complete & Return Book

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)

EXPECTATIONS

Child understands difference between:◦Good and bad choices (page 25)

◦How to make an examination of conscience (66-68)

◦Family attends Mass

REVIEW

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

Reconciliation Retreat (Next Time)

Theology of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Fr. Tom

Epiphany of the Lord 29