Sacramental Catechesis

Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church.  The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven.  In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins.  With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church.

Baptized children can be prepared to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation usually by the age of 7 or 8. This preparation is always done in parishes and is usually carried out during the same period that the child is preparing for First Communion. Contact your neighborhood parish to inquire about this period of preparation.

**If you are a parish coordinator, click here for resources on Reconciliation.

The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:23-25) The Eucharist (also called Holy Communion) is the source and summit of the Christian life. At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by words of Christ spoken by the priest and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ’s Body and Blood. Christ is therefore really and truly made present in the Eucharist. Participation in the Eucharist unites us with Jesus, sustains and strengthens us in our earthly pilgrimage, helps us long for eternal life, and unites us to all the members of the Church.

Reception of First Eucharist usually takes place in a parish setting. Children who have been baptized begin by attending a parish Faith Formation Program or Catholic School and can then enroll in the sacramental formation process to prepare to receive this marvelous gift of the Eucharist. During this same period of formation, children are also prepared to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before First Communion.

**If you are a parish coordinator, please click here for First Holy Communion resources.

OCIA is a process meant to form adults and children of catechetical age seeking the fullness of the Christian life and to become disciples of Jesus, their teacher. This includes a gradual initiation into the mystery of salvation, the practice of faith, hope, and love, and other virtues in a succession of liturgical rites leading to the sacraments of initiation.

The Order of Christian Initiation is designed for:

1) Anyone who is 7 years old or older that has never been baptized. 
2) Anyone who is 7 years old or older that has been validly baptized in another religious tradition that is considering joining the Catholic Church
3) Those baptized in the Catholic Church that are uncatechized and now are seeking to complete their sacramental initiation. 

Please contact your local parish for more information or to begin this process. 

The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis partners with the Office of Worship to provide guidelines, support, and resources to those who are responsible for the coordination of this process. Click here for more information.