Preparing children for the Sacrament of Reconciliation allows us to show them that God is love and that in mercy He is always ready to forgive, no matter what the wrong. It assures them that God already knows the secrets of our hearts, but sometimes we need to name these aloud in order to prepare our hearts to renew the experience of God's love and forgiveness. It shows them that just as God is One, God dreams that we might all be one as well--one with each other and one with God. God's will is that all people will be reconciled with one another and with God. What an extraordinary gift!
DIRECTIVES FOR FIRST RECONCILIATION
Canon 914: It is the responsibility, in the first place, of parents and those who take the place of parents as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as early as possible, preceded by sacramental confession; it is also for the pastor to be vigilant lest any children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed.
• Children are to be prepared for First Reconciliation and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance prior to receiving First Communion. Both sacraments would generally be received in grade two. First Reconciliation would normally be received a couple of months or more before First Communion.
• In a given parish, First Communion could be postponed to third grade, if indicated by available resources, the number of children or the time needed for adequate preparation of both children and parents.
• The readiness required for the Sacrament of Reconciliation consists in the capacity to discern between right and wrong, together with an understanding, appropriate to the child’s age, of what sin is. The readiness required for First Communion is not dissimilar: the ability to recognize the difference between the Eucharist and ordinary bread (and wine).
• Children who are well prepared for Reconciliation generally welcome this opportunity to experience God’s mercy. Parents/guardians of a child occasionally may indicate that their child is “too young” for Reconciliation. In such a case, after due pastoral discernment, delay of both Penance and Communion may often be the most suitable resolution.
• The universal law, as reiterated by the particular law of our Archdiocese, does not permit the parish program to orient the group, as a whole, away from receiving First Reconciliation prior to First Communion. The pastoral norm is: First Reconciliation prior to First Communion.
• Delaying the preparation and reception of First Reconciliation until sometime after First Communion is not permitted by the universal Church or by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Canon 914: It is the responsibility, in the first place, of parents and those who take the place of parents as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as early as possible, preceded by sacramental confession; it is also for the pastor to be vigilant lest any children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed.
The First Eucharist Afternoon of Reflection is a time for the parents and their child(ren) to prepare for the reception of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is usually held shortly before the reception of First Communion. It takes into consideration the attention span of the children. The afternoon is meant to provide an opportunity to review the meaning of the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist in ways especially meaningful to the children. The instruction and invitation to receive Jesus into their hearts with fasting, love, reverence, and joy should be presented in such a way that all may come to know the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Body and Blood consecrated at Mass.
GIFT BEARER
Each child working toward the reception of their First Holy Eucharist will be required to be Gift Bearers at a Parish celebration of Mass during one of the designated Weekend Masses. Please see below for sign-up and instructions on what to do as a Gift Bearer.
First Eucharist Family Gift Bearer Sign-up - Sign-Up happens only on-line. Click here to go to the online sign-up.
GIFT BEARER INSTRUCTIONS
When you enter the Gathering Space, inform an usher that you are present to bring up the gifts for Mass.
It may be easiest for you to sit in the aisle near the gift table, which is in front of the Baptismal Font.
After the homily, we recite the Creed. After the Creed, the Lector prays the petitions and we respond. Then the ushers will take up the collection to bring some of the people's gifts up to the altar. After the collection, the priest will finish preparing the altar and move to the aisle along with the servers. You will then get up and go to the gift table.
Please have the First Communicant candidate carry one of the gifts! Pick up the one (1) cruet of wine and the one (1) bowl of unconsecrated hosts. There should be at least two family members, including the First Communicant, to bring up the gifts. Other family members may walk along, but the First Communicant candidate should carry up one of the gifts!
Walk slowly down the aisle towards the priest who is standing just below the Sanctuary steps.
Hand the gifts to the priest.
After Fr. Britto has taken the final gift from your family, he will bow to you. Then you will all bow together towards Fr. Britto and the altar after Fr. Britto bows to you, prior to returning to your seats.
Once you bow, please turn and go back to your seats.
***If you have any questions, contact the Director of Christian Formation in the CF Office at 673-4831 ext. 7406, or [email protected]***