Our preparation process is driven by a child’s readiness and includes children attending 2nd grade and up. Parents who find that their child is not yet ready can wait another year while the child grows in their ability to understand the sacraments.
The preparation for Reconciliation and Holy Communion of children is home-centered, which means that parents work with their child at home as well as attend preparation here at the church with the child. Sessions are offered at 2 different times during the week on Sunday afternoon or Monday night.
The preparation for these sacraments requires two continuous years of religious education or faith formation.
First year of preparation: is offered at the academic grade level of religious education, Second year of preparation consists of attendance to the grade level of religious education and separate sessions for sacramental preparation.
These separate sessions (on the second year) are offered as follows:
For First Reconciliation:
There are 4 classes and a parent/child retreat. First Reconciliation takes place in November, before Thanksgiving.
For First Eucharist or Holy Communion:
There are 6 classes and a workshop. Holy Communion is celebrated the first weekend of May. Date TBD by pastor.
In recognition to the parents’ contributions, there is no extra fee for sacramental preparation. But enrollment in catechesis or RE and the regular fee for the grade materials apply. Please visit: https://stcatherine.org/children-formation/. If your child was baptized at another parish, please send, or bring a copy of your child’s baptismal record to the main office as soon as you enroll your child for the catechetical year. Attn, Sacramental Catechesis.
If you have recently moved to our parish, welcome! Registering your family is easy. Please visit: https://stcatherine.org/join-st-catherines-community/ Then, visit: https://stcatherine.org/children-formation. Lastly, provide a brief letter or email from the previous parish noting your child’s attendance in an appropriate religious formation program and the child’s baptismal record as soon as possible. For more information, please contact the office at 972-492-3237.
The diocese of Fort Worth does allow home study for regular grades when the children are not attending sacramental formation. Once in this formation, it is recommended to attend sacramental sessions in person. Nevertheless, if your family home-schools for academic subjects or the child has a health condition preventing attendance in person, the diocese allows the Director of Sacramental Catechesis to make exceptions.
Mass attendance is an absolute requirement for children preparing to celebrate a sacrament. If your child is missing all or part of Mass on a regular basis, other than for very serious reasons, you will be asked to come back for classes another year when the Mass attendance requirement is being met. Only during extreme circumstances, livestream Mass is acceptable.
As of May 20, 2021, Most Rev Michael F. Olson STD, MA stated that the obligation to attend Mass remains in effect by virtue of Divine Law and the Precepts of the Church, and excepting legitimate reasons (like a compromised health, inclement weather or during an emergency) binds every Catholic under penalty of grave sin. He continues saying that livestream Mass does not substitute for actual presence.
Please complete the registration form using the link below:
ELEMENTARY SACRAMENT FORMATION REGISTRATION
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