Children Who Attend Local Catholic Schools Children who attend a local Catholic school will not be expected to attend Religious Education classes here but may if they so desire. Catholic School students may celebrate sacraments both here and, in their school, but are encouraged to participate in only one. Parents are excused from attending Sacramental preparation programs in both programs as long as attendance is fulfilled in one of the programs
Enrollment of Candidates to Sacramental Program Students who are eligible for sacramental preparation shall become candidates for that sacrament when they have fulfilled the following requirements: That parents agree: to attend parent meetings; to assume responsibility for the good attendance of their child; to complete the home activities with their child.
Upon completion of the program, the candidate will be eligible to celebrate the sacrament based on the following recommendations:
1. The pastor's approval with input from the Director of Religious Education (DRE) and catechists but more importantly:
2. Parents recommendation
3. Student's expression of desire to celebrate the sacrament.
Must Have Completed The Year Previous Unless a child has been in the religious education program the previous year he/she will not be accepted as a candidate in a sacramental preparation program.
Time of Sacraments In compliance with the Archdiocese Liturgical Policies, students are prepared for first reconciliation and first communion in the 2nd grade. Unbaptized children of catechetical age (7 years of age) are Baptized, Confirmed and receive First Eucharist in one ceremony on Holy Saturday and are part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for Children. They are prepared for 1st Reconciliation later. Baptized and catechized children are put in their correct school grade and meet with the DRE or another member of the RCIA team in preparation for the sacraments needed. Other flexible solutions to these cases are offered. In all cases parents have a say in when in readiness to receive a sacrament.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for Children
This process is for children between the age of seven through 8th grade who have not been baptized as infants. Children will prepare to celebrate all three sacraments of initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist - usually at the Easter Vigil. This program is also for children who have been baptized as infants in another faith or in the Catholic Church but have not yet been catechized.