Saint Augustine Sacred Heart

Lifelong Faith Formation

Sacrament Preparation for
First Holy Communion & First Reconciliation

Welcome to this most wonderful year! Celebrating a sacrament for the first time is an important step in the life of a child as a Catholic Christian. In recognizing parents as the primary religious educators of their children, the Catholic Community of Jeffersonville's sacramental preparation relies on the cooperation of family for preparing the children for First Reconciliation and First Communion. Parents also have the responsibility to see that their child attends Mass each Sunday.

Sacrament Retreats

The retreats are an opportunity for the children celebrating First Reconciliation and First Communion to explore the sacrament and its meaning with a parent or other adult they care about. It also provides parents an opportunity to share the experience with their child.

First Reconciliation

reconciliationThe children will be learning about God's compassionate love, Jesus' warm forgiveness, and his gift of peace to his friends during the preparation for First Reconciliation. Reinforcing each week’s lesson at home, will give the parent an opportunity to anticipate some questions their child might ask, and to share some of their insights about reconciliation and forgiveness. These weeks of preparation can lead to many years of comfortable discussions as their child continues to grow and learn from God, from their parents, and from the Parish faith community. During Mass, parents should help their child recognize the parts of the Mass in which we regularly ask forgiveness and make peace as a regular part of worship.

For the Sacrament of Reconciliation, children need to learn the Ten Commandments and the Act of Contrition.

First Holy Communion

hostCelebrating this sacrament for the first time children must have “sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so as to understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity” (Code of Canon Law 913). The children are encouraged to explore some of the many "gifts" that God has given them, for example peace, forgiveness, friendship, and creation. The children are asked to think about what Jesus (through scripture) is teaching us about each gift, and what they can do in their lives to share and use each gift well. We reflect on God's greatest gift - that of Jesus. The children are encouraged to think about what receiving Jesus in Holy Communion means for them and what changes it should make in their own lives.

During our preparation, the children will be learning the proper procedure for receiving Communion. Parents should review this procedure with their child periodically to insure they understand. The children should also know the Our Father, Hail Mary, and how to make the sign of the cross correctly. First Communion Parent Prayer

Dress for First Communion: The girls are to wear white dresses, First Communion veil, white socks, and white or black shoes. The boys will wear good trousers and a white dress shirt with a tie, or a suit if you prefer.

If you are interested in enrolling your child in the preparation classes for First Communion and First Reconciliation, please contact the Faith Formation office at 812-282-1231.

 

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PDF formImportant Dates
Printable copy

2011-2012 Sacrament Preparation Schedule:
Important Dates for both Sacred Heart School and Children's Faith Formation

First Reconciliation

reconciliation

arrow Parent Meeting and Orientation for First Reconciliation:
Sunday, September 18th at 9:30 a.m. in St. Augustine Church

arrow First Reconciliation Retreat:
Sunday, November 13th 8:30 at Mount St. Francis. Retreat includes participation in the 10:15 a.m. Sunday liturgy at Mount St. Francis.
arrow First Reconciliation Celebration:
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 7:00 p.m. at the Catholic Community of Jeffersonville's Advent Penance Service celebrated at St. Augustine

First Communion

arrow Parent Meeting and Orientation for First Communion:
Sunday, January 15th at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart

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arrow First Communion Retreat: Sunday, March 11th 8:30 at Sacred Heart. Retreat includes participation in the 11:00 a.m. Sunday liturgy.

arrow Dress Rehearsal at St. Augustine: Thursday, April 12th - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
arrow Dress Rehearsal at Sacred Heart: Friday, April 13th - 6:00-8:00 p.m.

arrow First Holy Communion Celebration:
Sunday, April 15th, 2012
      8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Augustine
   11:00 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart

 

  
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Children's Faith Formation

2011-2012 CFF Preparation SchedulePDF form

First Reconciliation
August 14 - Opening Day – CFF Registration
21 - CFF Class
28 - St. Augustine Anniversary Brunch
September   4 - No CFF Class ... Labor Day Weekend
11 - No CFF Class ... St. Augustine Parish Harvest Dinner
18 - First Reconciliation Parent Meeting 9:30 in St. Augustine Church
25 - CFF Class: Lesson 1 – I Belong to a Loving Community
October   2 - CFF Class: Lesson 2 – We Keep God’s Commandments
11 - CFF Class: Lesson 3 – We Can Act Like Jesus
16 - CFF Class: Missionary Sister Loretto
23 - CFF Class: Lesson 4 – Jesus Teaches Us to Forgive
30 - CFF Class: Lesson 5 - Jesus Gives Us the Holy Spirit
November   6 - CFF Class: Lesson 6 – I Prepare for First Reconciliation
13 - First Reconciliation Retreat at Mount St. Francis
20 - CFF Class: Advent Fair
27 - No CFF Class ... Thanksgiving Weekend
Tuesday, November 29th - First Reconciliation Celebration
                                        7:00 p.m. at the Advent Penance Service
December   4 - CFF Class: "TRIPLE T Sunday"
            collect tissue, toilet paper & paper towels for Advent Project.
11 - CFF Class: "PB&J Sunday"
            collect peanut butter & jelly for Advent Project
18 - CFF Class: "Cereal Sunday"
            collect boxes of cereal for the Advent Project

First Communion

January   8 - CFF Class - Epiphany Celebration - "Clothe the Baby Jesus Sunday"
15 - First Communion Parent Meeting 9:30-10:30 at Sacred Heart
22 - CFF Class: Lesson 1 – I Belong to a Community
29 - CFF Class: Lesson 2 – Our Community Remembers Jesus
February   5 - CFF Class: Lesson 3 – Jesus Gathers People Together
12 - CFF Class: Lesson 4 – Jesus’ Special Supper
19 - CFF Class: Mardi Gras Pancake Breakfast / Bottles for Haiti distributed
26 - CFF Class: Stations of the Cross
March   4 - CFF Class: Lesson 5 – Our Community Shares a Meal
11 - First Communion Retreat: 8:30 at Sacred Heart
18 - CFF Class: Lesson 6 – My First Eucharist; 1st grade Prayer Service
25 - No CFF Class: Spring Break
April 1 - Palm Sunday
8 - THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD – EASTER SUNDAY
Thursday, April 12 - First Communion Rehearsal & Pictures at St. Augustine > 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, April 13 – First Communion Rehearsal & Pictures at Sacred Heart > 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 15th, 2011
First Holy Communion Celebration at St. Augustine, 8:30 Mass
First Holy Communion Celebration at Sacred Heart, 11:00 Mass