Dates
Celebration of First Reconciliation will be in Church at the following times:
Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
You decide which day and time your child comes to First Reconciliation by sending an email to bdittrich@blessedsacrament.org with the date, time and your child's name, before Monday, November 9, 2009.
This is a communal service so parents can also receive the sacrament to help encourage and reassure their children.
top
Parent Meeting
There is one parent meeting offered at two different times for your convenience:
Sunday, October 4, 2009, 12:00 to 1:30 in the school auditorium
Tuesday, October 6, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the school auditorium
At least one parent from each family who wants their child to receive First Reconciliation at Blessed Sacrament parish must attend one of these meetings.
top
Expectations
Overall
Families should try to establish two habits, if they aren’t in place already.
First, do some kind of prayer at home each day. It could be a prayer in the morning, a meal prayer, an evening or bedtime prayer. The preferred choice for this year would be to say the Our Father because that prayer is the one we expect children to know so they can more fully participate at Mass. The pattern should be the same, begin with the sign of the Cross and say the Our Father together and end with the Sign of the Cross. If the child already knows the Our Father by heart then a meal prayer or the Hail Mary would be good. Each of these prayers can be found on the Prayer Program page of the Blessed Sacrament web site.
Second, come to Mass as often as possible. Coming each week is the goal. If some pattern of regular Mass attendance is not established as a family habit, children will not really understand First Eucharist and they will have little basis for practicing the Catholic faith as they get older. If you value the sacraments enough to send your children for Religious Education then you have to consider a regular pattern of attendance at Mass to be a crucial part of the program.
top
Actual Preparation
Children will see a video and practice the confessing part of the sacrament in their class.
All families are expected to use the materials they receive at the parent meeting to introduce their children to an understanding of God’s mercy. The materials are designed so that families can spend some time together in an activity that teaches both parents and children about the love of God in this sacrament. The program has a colorful, engaging book that develops the ideas through four family sessions. Besides the family activity book parents will receive a complete outline of the communal celebration of the sacrament so that they and their children will know all the parts, songs and responses before coming to Church.
top
Reconciliation
Children will be expected to know how to make the Sign of the Cross and be able to recite the Act of Contrition. We will use the Act of Contrition on this page.
Please plan to go to confession when your child does. The priests who will be there expect that its been a long time for most adults. Because this is a communal service expect to stay for the entire hour.
top
Dress Code
Your child should be dressed neatly as if they were going to a special occasion. Boys do not have to wear jackets and ties. Girls do not have to wear fancy dresses. However, jeans, sweatshirts, T-shirts and sneakers are inappropriate.
top
Baptismal Record
If your child was not baptized at Blessed Sacrament Parish and you have not already supplied a copy of the child’s baptismal record, you need to provide a copy of the long form baptismal record. Beginning last year we asked for a copy of this record when children were registered with Religious Education for the first time. If you supplied it then, we don't need another copy. Otherwise, please contact the church where the child was baptized, explain he or she is receiving First Reconciliation and ask for a copy of the record.
top
Act of Contrition
For Second Graders:
My God,
I am sorry for all my sins.
I will sincerely try to do better.
Jesus, help me and have mercy on me. Amen.
Parents can use this too. The traditional Act of Contrition was just one way of expressing sorrow.
If you have any questions any time throughout the year do not hesitate to call Bill Dittrich at the parish house, 508-668-4700 or email bdittrich@blessedsacrament.org
Thank you for wanting to celebrate this sacrament as part of the Blessed Sacrament community.
top