First Reconciliation is also known as Penance or Confession. This Sacrament of Reconciliation celebrates God’s forgiveness of our sins. We fail in our lives as Christians, and God remains constant in mercy and forgiveness.
First Communion is also known as First Eucharist. This Sacrament of Communion celebrates the participation of the Body and Blood of Christ. The event means that the children have studied and understood, to the best of their abilities, the mystery of transubstantiation, the changing of the substance of ordinary bread and wine into the substance of Christ’s body and blood. It is important to prepare for these two Sacraments in order to fully understand why God calls us to participate as a community in the Body of Christ. According to the United States Catholic Bishops, these Sacraments takes place on or about the age of reason, this is understood to be around the age of seven. In the United States, traditionally this has meant those children are in the second grade. Sacramental preparation is a collaborative effort between family and parish and as such, requires parents or guardians to participate in the program.
An essential part of the preparation of First Reconciliation and First Communion is regular worship in Sunday Mass, participation in religious education, and a commitment
on the part of the parents to the religious education of their children after this Sacrament. Not only will these students be preparing in class for the full understanding of First Reconciliation and First Communion, but also at home with the guidance of their parents. Preparation for the first celebration of the Sacrament of Penance takes place in the Fall of second grade. Preparation for the first reception of Holy Communion takes place in the Spring of second grade.
Each student must be baptized before receiving these Sacraments. If your child was not baptized at Christ the King Parish, please make a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate and bring it to the First Reconciliation Parent Meeting. The parent meetings also help explain the Sacrament and what will take place at the actual ceremony of First Reconciliation and First Communion. The Archdiocese requires at least one parent attend the parent meeting. There will be a sign in sheet in the church foyer to record attendance.
Confirmation at Christ the King is a two year course that begins in seventh grade, Confirmation Prep 1. Eighth grade, Confirmation Prep 2, will consist of classes, a parent meeting, completion of the Confirmation folder, and a retreat. Confirmation is set by the Archbishop and usually is between February and April. Any student desiring to be confirmed that is older than seventh grade will need to attend both seventh and eighth grade and will be confirmed after the second year.
Not only will these students be preparing in class for the full understanding of Confirmation, but also at home with the guidance of their parents and a sponsor chosen by the Confirmation student. Each Confirmation student will be asked to choose a confirmation Saint and a Sponsor. The parent (s) will be asked to discuss saint and sponsor selections. A Sponsor must meet the following criteria: be baptized and confirmed as a Catholic, someone who actively lives out his/her faith (a practicing Catholic) and can serve as a role model. They must be at least sixteen years old, not the candidate's parent, a person the candidate feels comfortable talking with and is available to the candidate. The responsibilities of the Sponsor include: reflect with the candidate concerning the meaning of Confirmation and Christian Faith, write a letter of recommendation to the Director of Religious Education that the candidate is ready to be confirmed. They also must present the candidate for Confirmation to the Archbishop. Each student must be baptized before receiving this Sacrament If your child was not baptized at Christ the King Parish, please make a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate and bring it to the Confirmation Parent Meeting. The Archdiocese requires at least one parent attend the parent meeting. There will be a sign in sheet in the church foyer to record attendance.
To become a full member of the Church means that we accept the responsibility of serving Christ in others. Remember the Scriptures, “Christ came to serve and not to be served!” For this reason, each candidate for Confirmation is asked to perform service hours to reinforce the reason we say we are Disciples of Christ!Each Candidate must complete 20 hours of service. The Candidate is to complete a service project(s) that benefits someone outside the immediate family.
In order to make the program meaningful for the students, and in order to be fair to all candidates, only 2 absences are allowed before disciplinary action may occur, including the potential to ask a student to wait until a later time to be confirmed.
We will have a Confirmation retreat. This is a refreshing and needed break from a routine for the students as we have time for spiritual discernment, reflection, and community building with Christ the King Religious Education and School youth preparing for Confirmation. The retreat has become a favorite part of the program for the students in the past. The retreat is mandatory for all students wishing to be confirmed in the spring.
Rite of Christian Iniation for Children: Older students who need their Sacraments
Students 3rd grade and higher who have not yet received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion will attend a class in addition to their current Religious Education class time. All candidates must be baptized before receiving the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion. Please talk to the Religious Education Director if your child needs to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion and is 3rd grade or higher.