Sacrament Preparation Agreement
(Applies to all parents of children in grades 1-8 who are in sacrament preparation classes)
Dear Parents,
At your child’s baptism the priest asked you this question:
“Parents and godparents, you have asked to have your child baptized, in doing so you are accepting the responsibility of bringing him/her up in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to teach him/ her to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?”
To which you responded with the solemn vow before God and the priest, “I do.”
We at the Cathedral are committed to helping you fulfill this vow. There is no greater commitment you make as a Catholic parent than to teach your children to love our Catholic Church and to help them to develop a deep and abiding love and devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ. Our home-based religious education program and catechesis will prepare your child to receive the sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church. However, preparation for the sacraments begins with the regular practice of our Faith in the home by the family. As a prerequisite and a minimum, you as the parent must commit that your family will follow the precepts of the Catholic Church. These are the bare minimum requirements for a faithful Catholic to be in good standing with the Church.
The Precepts of the Catholic Church are:
1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor.
2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.
5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.
At our parish, Sacrament Preparation is normally a three-year process culminating with the reception of the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Eucharist in the Spring of the third year.
Year 1- (Grade 1 and/or 6 years old): Home preparation
1. Register for Families of Faith on the parish website
2. OPTION 1- Complete the 1st book in the “Our Holy Faith” Series (St Augustine Academy Press) at home with your child. In person classes are not required for this option. (Registration fees cover the cost of the books)
3. OPTION 2- Your child attends St. Anthony’s Little Ones class once a month while parents go to parent Class, and the family works though the “A Family of Faith” books together at home. (Registration fees cover the cost of the books
* Please indicate on the registration form which option you choose so the correct books are ordered for your family.
Formal preparation for Sacraments generally begins at age 7 or grade 2 in our diocese, but indeed the hope is that the child’s heart and mind are preparing in the home even from birth with the faithful and gentle teaching and example of the parents. When this is the case, the child comes to formal sacrament preparation with a fertile and receptive heart, ready to learn more about what the Church teaches and what we believe.
Year 2- (Grade 2): Preparation for First Penance
1. Register for Families of Faith on the parish website
2. Registration fees include the purchase of the Baltimore Catechism and “A Family of Faith” books (Sophia Institute Press)
3. At least one parent and the child must attend monthly classes at the parish.
4. The child must attend the First Reconciliation mini retreat in the Spring and then the child will presumably be prepared to make their first confession in March.
Year 3- (Grade 3): Preparation for Confirmation and First Holy Eucharist
1. Register for Families of Faith on the parish website
2. Registration fees include the purchase of the Baltimore Catechism and “A Family of Faith” books (Sophia Institute Press)
3. At least one parent and the child must attend monthly classes at the parish.
4. The child must attend the First Holy Eucharist mini retreat in the Spring and then the child will presumably be sufficiently prepared for the reception of both Confirmation and First Holy Eucharist in May.
Once your child has received all sacraments of initiation, it is no longer required for the child and parent to attend monthly catechesis classes however, it is highly encouraged that the family continue to come to monthly classes. This helps the family to remain active in the parish community and it helps with continuing growth and knowledge in our beautiful Church through on-going catechesis for the whole family. Parents are welcome and encouraged to come to the parent classes even if they do not have a child in a class.
RCIA for Children (included in St Peter's Class)
These children are in 4-8 grade and are technically in OCIA, having not received sacraments at the normal age in our diocese (third grade). They are coming monthly while their parents attend the parent class. If your child is in OCIA, and is preparing for one or more sacraments, these are your requirements:
1. Register for Families of Faith on the parish website
2. Registration fees include the purchase of the Baltimore Catechism and “A Family of Faith” (Sophia Institute Press)
3. At least one parent and the child must attend monthly classes at the parish.
4. The child must attend the two mini retreats in the Spring and then the child will presumably be sufficiently prepared for the reception of all sacraments.
*Unbaptized children in grades 4+ will receive sacrament preparation in one year with the goal of receiving all of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil in April. Baptized children in grades 4+ will prepare for one year with the goal of receiving sacraments with the younger children in May.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this form! Kindly complete the acknowledgement below: