Sacrament Preparation

We at St. Michael the Archangel are honored to share your child's journey to the sacraments with you!  It is not only our privilege, but also a blessing to work hand-in-hand with you, the primary educators in your child's faith formation, to help catechize and prepare your children for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. 

Preparing for the Sacraments is a two year commitment and process.  All children who are preparing to receive the sacraments of Penance & Reconciliation and Eucharist are required to successfully complete the two-year faith formation program.  Children currently attending Catholic school will participate in sacrament preparation without having to additionally attend Sunday or at-home CCE.

Please note that registration in Sunday Faith Formation, Home School Faith Formation, or a Catholic school does not automatically register your child for the Sacrament Preparation program. Children who are not registered for Sacrament Preparation by the registration deadline are not eligible to participate in the given academic year.  Sacrament preparation is separate and distinct from parish faith formation and Catholic school religion class.

To be eligible for Sacrament Preparation, children must:

• be baptized in the Catholic faith
• be in 2^nd grade or higher
• successfully complete one year of faith formation or Catholic school during the previous academic year
• be enrolled in St. Michael Children Faith Formation or a Catholic school during the current academic year.
• be enrolled in the Sacrament Preparation program in addition to being enrolled in St. Michael Children Faith Formation or Catholic School

To register for Sacrament Preparation, parents must:

• enroll their child(ren) in Sunday CCE, Home Study CCE or Catholic school
• enroll their child(ren) in the parish Sacrament Preparation program using the electronic form (see below) 
• pay the enrollment fee
• submit a copy of the child's baptism certificate (even if baptized at St. Michael the Archangel)
• sign and submit p. 3 of the Celebrating the Sacraments Guidelines and Expectations.

There are several mandatory parent meetings and family retreats during the Sacrament Preparation year.  These meetings and retreats are essential to the program because they provide the necessary catechesis and tools parents need to fully prepare their children for the sacraments of Penance & Reconciliation and Eucharist.  Family formation helps parents pass on the Catholic Faith to their children and grow in faith and holiness. This model enables parents to be “the primary educators in the Faith.” [General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) 255]

Parents are advised to record all dates on all calendars and make the necessary arrangements to be present at each of the meetings and retreats. 

NB:  There are no make-up sessions. 

Failure to:

• register by the deadline
• attend all meetings/workshops/retreats
• submit complete assignments 

will result in a child's removal from the program during the registered academic year.

Registration for the 2020-2021 academic year opened March 13 and closes September 29, 2020 .  Click here to view the Sacrament Preparation Calendar for 2019-2020.  The calendar for 2020-2021 will be available by July 2020.