SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

Sacramental Preparation

in the Pastorate of St. Francis-St. Mary and Holy Family

The sacraments are incredible moments of grace that unite us more fully to God and to our Church community! As we prepare to receive the sacraments, it is vital to focus on and foster our relationship with God and the Church. As we all know from life experience, genuine and deep relationships can’t be forged in a rush, but they are grown and deepened slowly over time through hundreds of moments and encounters. The same is true in our relationship with God and the Church!

This is why the sacramental preparation process stretches over a couple of years. It allows time for the child to form deep and lasting connections with God and the Church. When we commit this time and effort to a long and deep sacramental preparation, receiving the sacraments becomes such an incredibly joyful experience for the child!

Therefore, one completed year of faith formation is required the year before a family signs up their child to prepare for first reconciliation, first Communion, or confirmation, AND the child must also be currently enrolled in and attending faith formation during the sacramental preparation year as well. This faith formation can take place in a parish setting (as in our Family Faith Formation program) or in a Catholic school.

Please reach out to our Faith Formation Team at faithformation@thepastorate.org if you have any other questions!

SPRING '25 First Reconciliation Preparation Schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6-7pm

Wednesday, Feb 26, 6-7pm
Wednesday, Mar. 19, 6-7pm

SPRING '25 First Communion Preparation Schedule

Wednesday, Apr. 9, 6-7pm

Wednesday, Apr. 23, 30, 6-7pm

Wednesday, Apr 30, 6-7pm

Wednesday, May 28, 6-7pm (This is a “rain date” just in case one of our previous sessions has to be canceled for some reason)

There will be another opportunity to go through this preparation program

in the Fall (Wednesday evenings 6-7pm in September, October, and November; exact dates TBA).

First Reconciliation and First Communion

Children are welcome to register for the sacramental preparation program for first reconciliation and first Communion starting in their 2nd grade year (or at 7 years of age).

For the First Reconciliation and First Communion Preparation Program:

You must be a registered parishioner within the Pastorate of St. Francis-St. Mary & Holy Family in order for your child to receive these sacraments at Holy Family. We also need a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate (if your child was not baptized at Holy Family or St. Mary’s).
To prepare for First Reconciliation, you and your child will attend 3 workshop sessions on Wednesday evenings from 6-7pm. These three workshops are offered once every semester, so you may choose to register for our FALL program or our SPRING program. If you and your child miss one of the preparation workshops for any reason, you will need to wait until the next semester to complete that workshop. Once you and your child have attended all three First Reconciliation Prep Workshops, you may sign your child up to receive first Reconciliation on a Saturday at 3:30pm.
Your child will also complete a Mass Passport booklet. Every time your family attends Sunday Mass (or the Saturday vigil Mass), your child will complete a reflection page about something he or she noticed in Mass and then ask a greeter to stamp that page for them. There are 10 pages to be completed (over the course of 10 Sundays).
To prepare for First Communion, you and your child will attend 3 workshops on Wednesday evenings from 6-7pm. These three sessions are offered once every semester, so you may choose to register for our FALL program or our SPRING program. If you and your child miss one of the workshops for any reason, you will need to wait until the next semester to complete that particular workshop. After…
- you and your child have attended all three First Communion Prep Workshops,
- your child has received First Reconciliation,
- and once the Mass Passport is completed,
then you may sign your child up to receive first Communion. We will offer First Communion once a month at our Sunday Masses. Date selection for First Communion will be first-come, first-serve (once the above requirements have been met).

To REGISTER for our 2025-2026 First Reconciliation and Communion Preparation Program, please complete this registration form. Within the form, you will be asked to select whether you would like to participate in the FALL 2025 or SPRING 2026 Workshops (see dates below).

Please note that there is a registration fee of $50 to offset material costs. Remember that you also need to either register for Family Faith Formation OR have your child enrolled in Catholic school.

Confirmation

Teens are welcome to register for the sacramental preparation program for Confirmation starting in their 10th grade year. The Confirmation preparation program will take place within the context of our Pastorate’s Family Faith Formation program. The whole family is welcome to participate, but at least one parent/guardian and the teen are required to attend together. This program generally includes 8 sessions in the Fall and 8 sessions in the Spring (and a participant must attend at least 6 sessions per semester to be considered attending).

The Confirmation preparation process also includes:

a full-day retreat on a Sunday (date TBD, but usually in March)
a commitment to serve regularly in the Pastorate community, and opportunities to reflect on that service
meeting with our Pastor and writing a letter to the Bishop to describe your preparation process and explain your desire for the sacrament of Confirmation

We plan to schedule a Confirmation Mass in June of each year.

To REGISTER for our 2025-26 Confirmation preparation program, please fill out the registration form for FAMILY FAITH FORMATION. There will be a place in the form where you will note that your child will be attending the CONFIRMATION program.

Over the summer, we will reach out to all of our families registered for the Confirmation Program. At that time, we will:

Share a packet of information including more concrete program dates and information, and
Send a link to a form which will request family information (for sacramental records purposes), a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate, and a $50 fee to help offset the cost of the retreat day.

Confirmation Schedule 2024-2025

Sept. 8, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Sept. 22, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Oct. 6, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Oct. 20, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Nov. 3, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Nov. 17, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Dec. 1, 2024 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Feb. 2, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Feb. 16, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Mar. 2, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Mar. 16, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Mar. 23, 2025 FULL DAY Confirmation Retreat

Mar. 30, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Apr. 13, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

Apr. 27, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

May 4, 2025 Confirmation Preparation Session 9-10:45am

April-May 2025: Individual Interviews with Pastor

JUNE 2025: we will send a request to the Archdiocese for a Confirmation Mass to be held at Holy Family on a Sunday afternoon in June. As soon as we know which date we receive, we will let all registered families know.