Sacramental Preparation

First Reconciliation Prayer Services:

Contact the Children's Faith Formation Staff if your child needs to make other arrangements to receive First Reconciliation.  

Learn more here for other Reconciliation opportunities at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Pope Francis has stressed the “social dimension of evangelization” with a renewed emphasis on the missionary witness of families in the home and in their own communities.  Indeed, we know that Christian witness begins in the home - in the domestic Church - with the promises parents make at the Baptism of their child.   It continues in the witness of the faith community, in the Mass, and in the instruction of the child.  Everything a parent does and says is witnessed by his or her children.  It is the parent who first “Open(s) wide the door of faith” (Porta Fidei, Vatican) to his or her son or daughter.   It is this door that welcomes a child to a faithful life,  a way of being that shows the love and forgiveness that is the earmark of a follower of Christ. 

Recognizing the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation, St. Joseph Catholic Church endeavors to provide a rich program that encourages family participation. 
Our Coordinators in Children's Faith Formation pay special attention to the preparation received by catechists, parents and children. 

Parents with a child receiving this sacramental preparation are urged to:

• Attend Mass regularly with your children.  Children who know the Mass will come to a better understanding of the sacrament(s).
• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation - offered every Saturday, 11am-12pm at St. Joseph. Take your children along.  Children will be more invested in something if their parents are first. 
• Attend parent and child gathering opportunities.  These offer ideas and opportunities to share faith between parent and child. 
• Remember that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament of love and healing.  When we come humbly to Christ we receive his grace, which gives us strength and courage in our daily lives.  
• Practice prayers with your children.  The Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, along with the Act of Contrition (below) should be memorized in preparation for deepening your child's relationship with Jesus through the sacrament(s).
• Some Dos and Don'ts for Parents: Reconciliation

The Rite of Reconciliation

• An examination of conscience.  We prepare for the sacrament by praying and thinking about our words and actions. 
• Confession.  We tell about the words & actions for which we are sorry. We talk to the priest as in a normal conversation and listen to any advice he may give.
• penance.  The priest tells us something good we can do or prayers we can say to show we are sorry and to make up for our wrong choices.
• An act of contrition. We ask forgiveness for our sins in a special prayer of sorrow to God.  A prayer of contrition must include:  telling God you are sorry, promising to try not to sin again and to make up for your sins, asking God to forgive you in Jesus’ name.
• Absolution. God’s forgiveness (taking away) of our sins.  The priest makes the Sign of the Cross as he says, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  These words assure us of God’s forgiveness.  We are reconciled with God and one another.
• Prayer of thanksgiving.  We give praise and thanks to God for His love and forgiveness.  We bring Jesus’ love and forgiveness to others.

In order to participate in First Holy Eucharist in the Archdiocese of Chicago, a child over the age of 7 must first prepare for and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This means that "First Communion" classes really incorporate two sacraments:  the healing sacrament of Reconciliation and the community sacrament of First Communion.  
For more information regarding what is expected in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please vist the Reconciliation Information webpage.

Prior to this very important year, children over the age of 7 must have received a good year of general instruction in their Catholic faith.  A "good year" means the child attends class regularly and seems generally prepared to move forward into the sacramental year.  He or she should have good knowledge of basic prayers, such as the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be, as well as regular attendance at Mass.

Children enrolled in Promise Grades 1 and 2 will receive the necessary sacramental preparation during their Children's Faith Formation sessions.
Children older than second grade are enrolled in 8 weeks of sacramental preparation sessions in the spring of their second year of CFF sessions in addition to CFF learning level sessions.  

Short YouTube Videos on Communion & the Mass that are Great for Class & Home!
 

Communion, or Eucharist, is first and foremost Christ drawing near to us in the grace of sacrament.  When we bring our children to the Mass, we affirm our desire for them to grow in faith as Catholics.  As they grow older, it is natural for our children to develop a deep and loving relationship with Jesus.   At the Eucharist, we remember the great love of God and Jesus’ saving grace; His life, death and resurrection, which brings us new life. We give thanks for the grace of the sacrament and the promise of full unity with God.  At Mass, we offer God gifts of bread and wine. God returns our gifts of bread and wine as Jesus.  The Eucharist is truly a remarkable and special gift from our Lord.

Use some of your time at home as a family to work on your child's banner together. If you do not a banner kit already at home, click here for instructions for making your own banner with craft supplies you may already find at home.

Check with the Faith Formation office in February to purchase and pickup a banner kit for $20.

Year One Participation: (generally youth begin in 7th grade at St. Joseph)

• Attend peer group sessions. The majority of these sessions are hosted by catechists in their homes so you may hear the term "Home Group" used for all 7th and 8th grade Peer Groups, even those which are hosted on-site at St. Joseph Church.  
• Attend, along with their parents, a Commitment Mass. Before the Commitment Mass, please complete and return the Parent and Confirmandi Commitment Form to the Faith Formation Office. This form can be found here: in the 7th Grade Confirmation Handbook.
• Perform a minimum of 4 Service Projects totaling at least 10 hours of service in the community individually, with family, with their Peer Group, or with other groups they belong to. 
• Record Service, Mass and Saint reflections regularly in the journal or Google forms provided.

• Continue to attend Peer Groups with the same group as Year 1. Direct preparation is added to these sessions which teach about the Sacrament of Confirmation.
• Attend, along with their parents, a Saints Showcase Mass. 
• Attend a required Confirmation retreat. Peer Groups will be assigned to attend together one of the two retreat dates offered at St. Joseph. If a candidate cannot attend the retreat date please contact the Faith Formation office to find a retreat offered by another parish in the area.
• Perform an additional minimum of 10 hours of service.
• Please complete and return to the Faith Formation Office:
  • Saints poster
  • Confirmation Information Sheet and Sponsor Statement 
  • Letter to the Bishop 
  • Instructions and forms are here: in the 8th Grade Confirmation Parent Handbook.
• Record Service, Mass and Faith reflections regularly in the paper journal or Google forms provided.

• First Day: Sunday, September 11, 2022
• Last Day: Tuesday, April 26
• First Reconciliation: Friday, January  27 (CFF) and Saturday, February 4 (School)
• Confirmation: Saturday March 4 or Saturday, March 11
• First Eucharist: Saturday, May 6 and Saturday, May 13