First Communion and First Penance at Christ the King Catholic Church

First Communion and First Penance at Christ the King Catholic Church

Contents Introduction & General Information 3 Catholic School Children 3 Huron Valley Catholic School Exception 4 Children not at Catholic Schools 4 Class Structure & Text 4 Class Schedule 6 Parental Involvement 7 Important Dates 7 First Penance 8 Introduction 8 First Penance Date 8 First Penance Interview Questions 9 Five Steps to a Good Confession 10 Confession Format 10 Act of Contrition 11 An Examination of Conscience 11 First Eucharist 12 Introduction 12 First Eucharist Interview Questions 13 First Communion Song 14 Attire for First Communion 14 Seating for First Communion 14 Pictures on First Communion Day 14 Why Easter Sunday? 15 2 Front Cover image: The Last Supper, Juan de Juanes

Introduction & General Information This year your son or daughter will be entering an important stage of preparation for two wonderful Sacraments: First Penance and First Eucharist. The usual age for receiving these Sacraments in the Diocese of Lansing is 7 or 8 years old (2nd Grade). At Christ the King, preparation for these Sacraments consists of Wednesday classes (afternoons from 4:15-5:45 or evenings from 7:00-8:30) throughout the school year. These classes are required for any children attending public schools and strongly encouraged for everyone! This booklet will provide you with the information you need to plan for the year ahead. We look forward to getting to know this year s wonderful 2nd graders of Christ the King! Catholic School Children Children who will receive First Penance and First Eucharist at Christ the King, but attend Catholic schools, are not required to attend Wednesday classes at Christ the King. However, the area Catholic schools (HVCS and SSA) are not parish schools. This means that they are not permitted by Canon Law to provide the Sacraments of First Penance (HVCS has an exception for this sacrament) and Eucharist and therefore are not required to prepare their students for these sacraments. Although children do receive daily religious education in school, they are not specifically prepared for the sacraments they will receive at Christ the King. For this reason, we require our second graders from Catholic Schools to attend a few classes throughout the year in order to be sure they are adequately prepared for the sacraments. These dates are: 1st Penance Interview: March 11th, 2015 1st Eucharist Interview: March 25th, 2015 1st Eucharist Practice: April 4th (Holy Saturday) from 10:00-11:30am Church Tour/Party (optional): May 13th, 2015 3

Huron Valley Catholic School Exception If your child attends Huron Valley Catholic School, there is an exception in place for First Penance. HVCS offers their students the opportunity to receive their First Penance at school. We have given the teachers there our interview questions for 1st Penance and they have agreed to conduct the interview at school to be sure the students are ready. So, if you have a child at HVCS and he or she would prefer to receive First Penance at school that is fine and he or she would not be expected to come on March 11th to be interviewed. Children not at Catholic Schools Classes at Christ the King involve opportunities that are not normally available to individuals or families. For example, the children will get to see how a Deacon makes Holy Water; have visits from Fr. Ed; visit the Sanctuary; have the Blessed Sacrament in their classroom and more. Weekly E-mails from the Catechists to the parents outline what the children did and learned in class and what they should do with their parents at home to prepare for the next week s class. Parental involvement is key to helping children really absorb their faith and treasure the teachings of the Church. Attending Wednesday classes allows children to interact with their Church family and form important friendships with children their own age who share their faith. As the Church faces persecution and ridicule, it is important that we all form strong friendships with people who will encourage us in our Catholic faith. Children need friends who can provide support in faith, and classes at Christ the King can help bring about those friendships. Class Structure & Text Wednesday classes are an hour and a half long and are taught by a trained Catechist assisted by an aide if the class size calls for one. The textbook is Jesus Our Life Third Edition of the Faith and Life Series. We ask parents to read the textbook chapters assigned in class with their children. 4

Typical classes include a prayer time; teaching on topics such as Creation, who God is, forgiveness, the Passion of Christ and Easter; and practice time for how to receive the Sacraments. Special classes include an opportunity to give their lives to Jesus, Eucharistic adoration, visits to the Sanctuary, visits from the Deacons to make Holy water and more. Every week, the Catechist will send an E-mail summarizing what the children learned that week and any instructions for the next week. Parental involvement is so important in solidifying what children learn in class, so please plan to make time each week to read the text and discuss what they learned in class. Catechists only get to teach your children for 1.5 hours once a week; you as parents have the opportunity to teach your children so much more! The kids will be given a plastic folder to hold their homework sheets and any cards / handouts they receive during class. The simple activity sheets will help reinforce the teaching; please take time to help your child complete the homework and return them in the plastic envelope. For each completed assignment, your child will receive a sticker on their envelope. At the end of the year, they will get a treat based on how many activities they completed. 5

Class Topic Date 1 Ch. 1 & 2 Who is God 9/17/2014 2 Ch. 3 & 4 God the Creator 9/24/2014 3 Ch. 5 & 6 Original Sin & Baptism 10/1/2014 4 Ch. 8 God Gives Us His Laws of Love 10/8/2014 5 Ch. 9 I Choose to Love God 10/15/2014 6 Ch. 17 Asking Forgiveness 10/22/2014 7 Ch. 18 Jesus Forgives 10/29/2014 8 Ch. 19 Sacrament of Penance 11/5/2014 9 Ch. 20 Making Up for Offenses 11/12/2014 10 Ch. 21 The Good Shepherd 11/19/2014 No Class Thanksgiving Break 11/26/2014 11 Ch. 32 Mary our Mother 12/3/2014 12 Advent, practice Penance 12/10/2014 13 Ch. 22 The Last Supper / Our Lady of Guadalupe 12/17/2014 No Class Christmas Break 12/24/2014 No Class Christmas Break 12/31/2015 14 Ch. 25 Holy Mass 1/7/2015 15 Ch. 26 What We Do at Mass 1/14/2015 No Class - Catechist Training 1/21/2015 16 Ch. 27 Jesus Comes to Us 1/28/2015 17 Ch. 28 Jesus, My Lord and My God 2/4/2015 18 Ch. 23 Jesus Dies 2/11/2015 No Class Ash Wednesday 2/18/2015 19 Practice Penance & Eucharist 2/25/2015 20 Practice Penance & Eucharist 3/4/2015 *21 Interviews for First Penance 3/11/2015 No Class Parish Mission 3/18/2015 First Penance Saturday 3/21/2015 *22 Interviews for First Communion 3/25/2015 No Class Holy Week 4/1/2015 * First Communion Practice 4/4/2015 * First Communion Easter Sunday 4/5/2015 No Class Easter Break 4/8/2015 23 Ch. 24 Resurrection 4/15/2015 24 Ch. 29 & 30 Ascension/Pentecost 4/22/2015 25 Ch. 31 The Church / St. Joseph 4/29/2015 26 Ch. 34 Heaven 5/6/2015 27* Church Tour & Party 5/13/2015 6

Parental Involvement Even if your child is receiving excellent preparation at school or in class, please do not forget that parents are the primary catechists of their children! Parental involvement is critical in preparing the children of Christ the King for their Sacraments. Reading the assigned text with them, talking over what they learned in class, helping them learn prayers and practicing how to receive the Sacraments are all important things that parents can do to help solidify what children learn in class. Another way that parents can help their children to fully enter into the Sacraments is to be sure that they are receiving the Sacraments regularly and properly themselves. Leading by example is incredibly important! Important Dates Mark your calendars for these important dates and times! Classes Begin: September 17th, 2014 1st Penance Interviews: March 11th, 2015 1st Penance: March 21st, 2015 (Saturday) at 1 p.m. 1st Eucharist Interviews: March 25th, 2015 1st Eucharist Practice: April 4th, 2015 (Holy Saturday) 10:00-11:30am 1st Eucharist: April 5th, 2015 Easter Sunday at 11:30am Mass Church Tour/Party: May 13th, 2015 Classes End: May 13th, 2015 7

Introduction First Penance The Church holds that at the age of reason (typically age 7 or 8) children are able to choose to commit sin. In the mercy of Christ, as soon as sin enters their lives, so too does his grace and forgiveness, this happens through the ministry of the Church in the Sacrament of Confession. As Catholics, we believe that it is Christ who sits in the confessional and hears our sins and Christ himself, through his death on the cross and resurrection in glory, who brings us mercy and draws us back into relationship with the Father. The Sacrament of Penance washes the soul clean of all sin and draws us back into a relationship of union with God. Reconciliation is a wellspring of graces not only does it free the soul from sin, but it strengthens in it the habits of virtue. Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23). In light of this truth, the faithful should run to the Sacrament of Penance! Jesus desires to save us from death and bring us back to life in God. The faithful are encouraged to attend the sacrament at least once a month, and are required by Canon law (989) to receive it once a year. As catechists and parents, we should do everything in our power to foster a deep love for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in our children. Children should never fear to go to Confession. One of the best things parents can do is to make sure you give your children the opportunity to go to Confession regularly. Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace might also reign in righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21) First Penance Date The date for First Penance this year is Saturday, March 21st, 2015. The children will first attend a brief penance service at 1 p.m. and then will take turns receiving the Sacrament. Typically, the last child has received the Sacrament by 2:30 at the latest. 8

First Penance Interview Questions Below is the list of questions with the answers that we will expect each child to know before receiving First Penance. The interviews will be on March 11th, a week and a half before they receive their First Penance on March 21st. Q: You are getting ready to go to confession. Why do we go to confession? A: We go to confession to tell God that we are sorry for our sins, and He forgives us. Q:. What is sin? A: Sin is a decision we make not to follow God s ways. Q: What are the two kinds of sin? A: There are mortal sins and venial sins. Q: What is grace? A: Grace is God s life in us. Q: When do we first receive that grace? A: Baptism. Q: Tell a story that Jesus told about forgiveness. A: e.g. Parable of the Prodigal Son, Parable of the Lost Sheep Q: This story tells us that God is ready to forgive us. Why? A: Because he loves us very much. Q: Is God happy to see us in confession? A: Yes, He is happy to forgive us. Q: What are the 5 steps to making a good confession? A: See the section entitled Five Steps to a Good Confession. Q: What are two other names for the Sacrament of Confession? A: The Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of Penance. Q: Let s practice going to confession. A: See the section entitled Confession Format. 9

Five Steps to a Good Confession 1. Examine your conscience, ask the Holy Spirit for help! 2. Be sorry for your sins. 3. Make up your mind not to sin again. 4. Confess your sins to a priest. 5. Do the penance the priest gives you. Confession Format 1. Enter the confessional and greet the priest. 2. Say Bless me Father, for I have sinned. This is my first confession. (Or It has been how long since my last confession. ) Make the Sign of the Cross. 3. The priest tells you to begin your confession. Tell your sins to the priest. 4. The priest talks to you and gives you a penance to do after the confession. 5. Then the priest asks you to say your Act of Contrition. 6. While you say the prayer or after it, the priest gives you absolution forgiveness of your sins! 7. He makes the Sign of the Cross over you, make the Sign of the Cross when he does. 8. The priest then says Go in peace, your sins are forgiven. 9. Say Thank you Father! 10. Exit the confessional and do your penance as soon as you can. 10

Act of Contrition Below is the version of the Act of Contrition that Father Ed would like all of the children to memorize. Please work with your child on memorizing this version: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because they offend you my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen. An Examination of Conscience Below is an examination of conscience that your child can use to prepare for confession. I pray to the Holy Spirit to help me look into my heart: Holy Spirit, help me to know how I have loved. Help me to know how I have failed to love. Help me to be sorry for failing to love. Help me to trust in God s forgiveness. Amen. How much do I love God? Do I pray to God? How often? Do I think about God when I pray? Do I say God s name with love? Have I used God s name in the wrong way? Do I celebrate Sunday by praying at Mass? Have I caused my family to be late to Mass? How much do I love others? Do I obey my parents and people who take care of me? Am I kind and loving to my family and others? Have I hurt anyone? Do I call other people bad names or make fun of them? Was I too selfish to share or help others? 11

Have I wanted someone else s things so much that I am no longer happy and thankful for what I have? Do I treat my body and the bodies of others with respect? Am I honest? Have I taken something that was not mine? Do I tell the truth? Have I told any lies to anyone? Introduction First Eucharist Jesus said to them I am the bread of life; he who come to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35 You have given them bread from heaven, having all delight within it. (Prayer from Benediction) In the Eucharist we welcome the Triune God into our mortal bodies. In Baptism, God claimed the hearts of your children for Himself, and in the Blessed Sacrament He gives them His flesh and unites their hearts to His in a new way. Your children are preparing to participate in the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, where Heaven is wed to Earth! When they have completed their catechesis, they will go to the altar to receive Christ, the bridegroom. Jesus Himself has brought your sons and daughters to this day and invites them to this Sacrament; the Church too invites them to have full, active, and conscious participation in the liturgy to the extent that they are able. Read through the sections below to find out the details of receiving their First Eucharist at Christ the King. First Eucharist Interview Questions Below is the list of questions with the answers that we will expect each child to know before receiving their First Communion. They should be prepared to answer these questions by March 25th, 2015 two weeks in advance of receiving their First Communion. 12

Q: What Sacrament are you preparing to receive? A: Holy Communion, Eucharist Q: Does the bread and wine really become Jesus? A: Yes Q: When does that happen? A: At the consecration during Mass, when the priest says the words of Jesus This is my Body This is the chalice of my Blood Q: When was the first Mass? A: At the Last Supper Q: How should you prepare to receive Holy Communion? Make sure your soul is healthy. Go to confession if you have committed a mortal sin. Participate in the Mass. Speak to Jesus and listen to Him in the Mass. Know who you are about to receive. Q: Now that you will be receiving Holy Communion, should you drink or eat snacks or chew gum in Church? A: No. Q: Why not? A: We don t eat or drink anything but water for one hour before receiving Jesus. Q: What happens to us when we receive Jesus? A: We receive grace (God s life) to help us to live and grow as sons and daughters of God. Q: What do we do after we receive Jesus? A: We thank Him! We pray and ask Jesus for help. Q: Show me how you will receive Holy Communion Heart Question: Do you want to receive Holy Communion? Why? 13

First Communion Song On the day of their First Eucharist, children who want to participate can sing a meditation song after Communion. We will send an MP3 file and PDF of the music via email. We will practice the song and simple hand motions during our Holy Saturday practice. Attire for First Communion First Communion is an important occasion, so please be sure your child is dressed appropriately. For the boys, this means dress pants and dress shoes with a button-down shirt and tie. A sport coat or vest is optional. For the girls, a white dress is traditional with dress shoes. A veil is optional, if the dress comes with gloves and a purse those will need to be left in their pew before Communion. Seating for First Communion With the large number of children receiving their First Communion, we will only be able to reserve seats for the children not for their families. Please arrive early to find seats for your family. We will send out a seating chart ahead of time to let you know where your son or daughter will be sitting. Pictures on First Communion Day A professional photographer will be taking pictures of each child as they process into church, and as they receive the Blessed Sacrament for the first time. We ask that parents please remain in their seats, and NOT take pictures at that time, to preserve the sense of reverence and awe for your child and to avoid confusion as children make their way back to their seats. Pictures will be available at no cost shortly after the First Eucharist Mass. Father Ed will be available for pictures after Mass as well. If you would like a picture with Father Ed, you will need to line up in the Main aisle with your child, and have the family ready at the side if you want to include them when you reach the altar. The photographer will NOT be taking the pictures with Father Ed, so please bring your camera for that. 14

Why Easter Sunday? Many people wonder why we have First Communion on Easter Sunday at Christ the King instead of a more convenient Sunday. While recognizing that Easter is a busy time for families, there are many reasons that Father Ed decided that Christ the King will celebrate First Communions on Easter Sunday. First, Easter Sunday is the most graced day of the year. By receiving their First Communion on this day, our children are receiving maximum grace: the greatest gift of the Church on the greatest day of the year. Second, by receiving the sacrament on Easter, it is easy for the children to remember the day they made their First Communion. Father Ed recalls a conversation he had with a little boy about to make his First Communion on Easter Sunday. The little boy said, I m so excited to be receiving my first communion on the day Jesus rose from the dead. Third, it is in keeping with the tradition of the early Church to receive the sacraments of initiation during the Triduum. There is a liturgical significance and rightness to receiving the Eucharist for the first time on Easter. If it were possible, we would have Confirmation on Easter Sunday as well, but for that sacrament we are dependent on the Bishop s schedule. Fourth, having the children receive during Mass on Easter Sunday instead of some other day during the year helps to keep the focus on Jesus and what he did for us. The sacrifice of the mass should always be the focus, no matter what sacrament is happening during that time. Although it is not always a convenient time for families, it is a worthwhile sacrifice to make for your children to ensure they receive all of the grace available to them in this wonderful sacrament. We hope that knowing the reasoning behind having First Communion on Easter Sunday will make it easier for you to make the potential sacrifice in vacations and family traditions this year. 15

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 Christ the King Catholic Church 2014 2015