Sign up to receive one-way texts through remind.com .  You can opt to receive texts or e-mails.  You can even download the app and get push notifications right to your phone or tablet about First Communion 2016 news, events, weather related cancellations, and more!  THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN SIGNING UP FOR PREP NEWS - CLASS CODE IS @mrsyasik

The sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion are offered in the 2nd grade. 

Please be aware -  It is a Diocesan requirement that all children preparing to receive a sacrament need to be in either a Religious Education program or a Catholic school for two years prior to the sacrament.  For First Communion, that means your child needs to receive Religious Educaiton beginning in first grade. 

• All parent gatherings are held at 9:30AM & repeated at 7PM.  They are generally short, but provide key information. 

• It is likely this year that these orientations will be virtual gatherings, so it is imperative that if you do not attend SMM School or PREP that you email Karen Yasik ahead of time with your contact information to ensure that you are invited to the gathering.  If unable to attend, please call 652-7141 or e-mail  Karen Yasik.
•  

• A copy of your child's Baptismal certificate (not birth) to properly record these sacraments
• Registration form from the first grade orientation handout (see link below)
• $110 fee for all the materials.  It can be paid half in the fall and half in the spring if that is easier.    
• A completed Reconciliation workbook.  

• A completed First Communion workbook.  

• A completed banner.  

• Gathering for parents of first graders will be virtual, and in the spring.  Handout - Sacramental Timelines 2020-2021 and registration form is part of the handout
• Simple ways to add a little faith to your family life handout

• Fall Overview - this will be a virtual meeting.  The invitiation to the meeting will be through Google Meet, so Karen Yasik will need your correct email ahead of time in order to send your invitation!  Reconciliation usually takes place in the fall, but because of the proximity required for this private sacrament we will be reviewing how it will occur.  We will have the children complete the necessary materials prior to the sacrament.  This first meeting will review the timing for everything as we know it!  If you were unable to attend, we recorded the meeting and can send you the link.
• In the spring, we will hold 2 more virtual meetings to ensure that the children have everything they need to receive the sacrament.  
• Retreats - we usually hold retreats for both sacraments.  Again, we will need to adapt based on what is happening with the virus and the state laws.  We will let you know more as we do.

Orientation held 2nd grade Year:
The parent meeting for this sacrament will be virtual, and began with a video in google classroom.  Please contact me for the link to the google classroom for the video and all the papers required.  More information will be posted here as it becomes available, but if you are a parishioner who does not attend the school or have your child in PREP please be sure to email Karen Yasik ahead of time so that she can have you in the meeting invite!  Here are some resources to help you with this sacrament -
The dates/timing for this sacrament are in flux due to the personal nature of the sacrament.  Privately telling your sins to a priest from 6' apart doesn't really work.  We will let you know how this will be handled as soon as we have an answer!

First Communion Dates: Assuming the world is returning to normal, First Communions will be May 1st and May 8th at  11AM. 


Rehearsals for the sacrament: Again, assuming normal events, rehearsal will be the Wednesdays prior to the sacrament, from 6:30-7:30PM.  If your date is May 1st, your rehearsal will be April 28th; If your date is May 8th, your rehearsal date is May 5th.