Introduction

“At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharist sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice on the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.” (CCC #133)

1. Celebrating the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time should be an integral part of the ongoing religious experience of a child. Receiving First Communion further initiates a child into the life of the Christian community. Catechesis should take into consideration the child’s age, ability and development.
2. Children must have at least one year of faith formation before entering into the First Communion Program.
3. During the month of May we celebrate two to three masses for the children celebrating their First Communion. These masses are usually celebrated on a Saturday morning. It is preferable to celebrate at a regular Sunday liturgy.
4. Since Sacraments are a community celebration, reception of First Communion should occur in a communal setting at a Sunday celebration of the Mass. All members of the parish community should  be advised of and invited to the celebration of this sacred event.
5. As the primary educators of their child, parents/guardians have the first and most important influence on the faith development of their child. The best and most fruitful catechesis for the reception of First Communion must involve them. St. Charles provides catechesis for parents/guardians on Eucharist before their child’s first reception of the sacrament. This catechesis is meant to present the Church’s rich teaching of the sacrament is designed to deepen the parents/guardians understanding and love of the sacrament so they can guide their child into fuller participation in the life and worship of the Christian community.
6. The normal time for a child to be catechized for the reception of First Communion is in the winter and spring seasons of second grade, after having been prepared for the reception and receiving of the Sacrament of  Penance. The preferred time for the reception of First Communion is during the Easter Season.

Policies

1. At least one parent/guardian should be a practicing, active member of our Parish Faith Community, known as St Charles.
2. Parent/guardian must provide a copy of the child’s Baptismal certificate if baptized in a parish other than in the one in which he/she will receive First Holy Communion.
3. Parent/guardian and the child are expected to participate in the Sunday Mass every week.
4. A child must have completed the previous year of formal religious education in a Catholic school, the St Charles Parish program or in their previous parish. The parish curriculum must have been completed either at home or in parish classes as outlined in parish policies.
5. The child must be currently participating in a program of systematic approved catechesis either in a Catholic school or as a registered student of a parish program. A child who is receiving religious education as part of an overall home school program must follow text that is currently listed on the conformity list approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops..
6. The parent and child must attend all the required sessions set up by the First Communion Coordinator.
7. A child must have been thoroughly prepared for and celebrated the sacrament of Penance, unless some serious pastoral reason suggests otherwise in a particular case, to have the use of reason.

Catechesis

A.  Catechesis for the sacrament of Penance is to precede and be kept distinct and separate from the catechesis for the celebration of First Holy Communion.

B.  Catechesis is to be based on the Rite of First Eucharist, be attentive to the experiences of the child, be sensitive to language and family considerations, and foster active involvement in the liturgical celebrations.

C.  Catechesis for the child must be taken from text that have been found to be in doctrinal compliance with the Catechism of the Catholic Church by the Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Catechism and should:

1. Familiarize the child with the major events in Christ’s life as proclaimed in the Gospels. Special attention should be given to the Last Supper, the Jewish roots of this covenant meal, and the Paschal Mystery.
2. Familiarize the child with the Mass and encourage their full, active and conscious participation. The bread and wine are changed, a change traditionally and appropriately expressed by the word transubstantiation, so that while the appearance of bread and wine remain, the reality is the Body and Blood of Christ.
3. Help the child understand that under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and divinity.^.
4. Present the Eucharist as a sign of communion with God and the Catholic community as the “sacrament of sacraments.”
5. Help the child understand the celebration of Eucharist: as a living sacrifice and a sacred meal, as thanksgiving, as nourishment for the Christian life, as the source and summit of the Christian life, and as a call to works of charity, service, missionary activity and witness to the faith.
6. Instruct the child on: the reception of Christ’s Body and Blood in an informed and reverent manner, the reception of the Body of Christ either in the hand or on the tongue, the reception of the Blood of Christ from the chalice, the Eucharistic fast, the obligation to be free from serious sin before sharing in Holy Communion and the obligation to share in Holy Communion at least during the Easter Season.
7. Help the child learn the prayers and responses used during the Eucharistic celebration.
8. Encourage the child and their families to celebrate the sacrament of Eucharist regularly  and often after their First Communion.

Discernment of Readiness

Parent/guardian and the catechist are expected to foster the child’s desire and readiness to celebrate First Communion.

A child should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the difference between the consecrated bread and wine (the Body and Blood of Christ) and ordinary bread and wine.

It is ultimately the responsibility of the parish Pastor or Sacramental Minister in collaboration with the parent/guardian, program director and catechist to ensure that the child has reached the age and/or use of reason and are properly prepared

One parent and child must attend a First Reconciliation workshop located in Borromeo Hall.  More workshops will be available in Fall 2012.

After attending a First Reconciliation workshop, you may then schedule a First Reconciliation Ceremony.  More First Reconciliation Ceremonies will be available in Fall 2012.

One parent and child must attend a First Communion workshop located in Borromeo Hall, select one date below by clicking the link after the date you would like to attend, please only register your child: 

First Communion Workshop March 3, 2012  9am to 12 noon http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1845202049

First Communion Workshop March 10, 2012 9am to 12 noon http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1845236151

Select the First Communion Ceremony you would like to attend by clicking the link after the specified time:

First Eucharist Ceremony April 28, 2012 at 10:30am http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1845322409

First Eucharist Ceremony May 5, 2012 at 10:30am http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1845340463

First Eucharist Ceremony May 5, 2012 at 1:30pm http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1845350493