GETTING READY TO ENCOUNTER JESUS!
The Sacraments of First Reconciliation & First Communion
Welcome to the Sacrament Preparation Process for St. Robert Bellarmine Parish! As a family with a child continuing this season in faith formation you all are embarking on a journey in which your family will encounter Jesus Christ, our Savior in a real way and develop a deeper friendship that will last a lifetime.
Preparing to receive a sacrament is a process with three essential components:
- LIVING FAITH through your family life at home;
- LEARNING FAITH through parish formation opportunities;
- LOVING FAITH through worshipping and serving with the parish family
This process begins with the Sacrament of Baptism and continues throughout our lives. As your child begins their elementary school years they should also begin to expand their understanding of their relationship with Jesus Christ, and our Catholic faith. Once a solid connection to Jesus Christ along with a foundation in understanding how to life our faith established, preparations to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion may begin.
Of Note: Our parish’s Sacrament Preparation process is part of an overall Faith Formation process, either through enrollment in our parish school or parish Faith Formation. Families who are seeking to prepare an older child for reception of the Sacraments should refer to our Family Faith Formation page for more information.
Information for Year I Sacrament Preparation Families
In order to discover what you should be doing Year I of Sacrament preparations with your first grader, click on the Parent Letter link below. Year I families will be contacted throughout the school year with more information.
Year I Sacrament Preparation Parent Letter
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Saturday April 25 / Sunday April 26
Parent – Child Retreat THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED
To the Parents of the First Communion Class of 2020-
I do hope that you and your family are healthy and safe. We are facing very challenging times of which there seems to be more questions than answers with each passing day. One answer we can be assured of is that we are not alone in these struggles. Our Lord is always with us no matter what no matter where. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic our parish school moved to an e-learning platform as did the public schools. While this creates a strain on parents, many who are working from home, some who have been laid off, and others who continue to work as they perform essential services; guiding your child’s e-learning can be quite overwhelming.
Please know that all will be well and together in faith we will get through thie struggles we now face. I want to encourage you to continue preparing your child at home for their reception of First Communion. Once we are able to gather again as a family of faith the parent-child retreat and the celebration of First Communion will be rescheduled.
In the meantime, our parish website and app have resources for you and your family to stay connected to our God and our parish family.
While the celebration of Mass has been suspended at this time, consider using your normal Mass time to read and reflect on the Sunday scriptures as a family!
Preview Sunday’s scriptures, reflect, and open a dialogue with your family
Don’t have a Bible! Click here to locate both the daily and Sunday readings
Or use the Parish App to view Mass each week.
https://www.parishsolutionsco.com/bellarmineil.html
Continue to seek ways to Share the Good News with others!
Ways for Families to Share the Good News!
Resources for Families during this Health Crisis
Helping Children and Teens Cope with Anxiety About COVID-19 Click: This article, put out by Seattle Children’s Hospital, offers tips for helping children and teens who are trying to make sense of what the outbreak means for their families and communities.
How to Handwash Catholic Style: Put out by the Diocese of Dallas, this is a fun but helpful way to help parents guide children to thoroughly was their hands (and pray at the same time) during the COVID-19 . Click : Attachment 1
Resources for Year II Parents
Forms to Complete and Submit for Year II Families
Sacrament Preparation Fee Form
Parents need to submit a Baptismal Certificate for the child preparing for Sacraments
