First Communion
Religious Education - First Communion, English
In 2002 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops developed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in response to scandals of child sexual abuse by clergy. In response to that charter the Diocese of Santa Rosa requires that all employees and volunteers who have regular contact with parish children undergo fingerprinting by the U.S. Department of Justice, register with the Diocese of Santa Rosa, and participate in training on the recognition and reporting of child abuse.
Welcome to the English Sacrament Preparation program at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Preparation for the sacraments of Eucharist (First Communion), Reconciliation (Confession), and Baptism for older children, takes place within the context of the regular religious education program.
Religious education at Our Lady of Guadalupe involves both parent and child. Your children depend on you to learn about their faith and how to carry out that faith in their daily lives. Our purpose in the religious education program is to support and help you to nurture your child’s relationship with Jesus, and our Catholic community. Activities and classes have been designed to include the whole family.
There are four components to the sacrament preparation process:
1) Regular religious education classes - Children who are preparing to celebrate sacraments for the first time must attend religious education classes for two years. Though the traditional time for beginning sacrament preparation is in the First grade, we understand that some children may be beginning their preparation in a higher grade. Children are placed in their own grade level no matter what their level of religious education. They attend the first year and then in the second year they attend the classes focused on sacrament preparation in addition to regular classes. These classes are described below.
2) Weekly mass attendance – Our daily lives as Catholics are nourished and supported by the Eucharistic meal that unites us with Jesus and with each other.
In choosing to prepare their children to celebrate the sacraments of the Catholic Church, parents are acknowledging that the first precept of the church is to celebrate the Eucharistic liturgy every week.
Children who are in their first and second year of religious education are required to attend mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church every week unless ill or traveling.
Mass attendance is verified through a check-in process at the weekend liturgies. Children who do not attend mass will not be eligible to celebrate their sacraments.
3) Sacrament Preparation classes for students and parents – Intensive preparation to celebrate sacraments takes place during the second year of religious education. Children and parents take part in four special classes for Reconciliation preparation and four special classes for Eucharist preparation. These classes are held during the regular class time and begin with a prayer service in the church. The class then continues with more instruction in the classroom.
4) Parent workshops – Parents are required to attend one parent meeting before Reconciliation preparation and one parent meeting before Eucharist preparation. These classes are mandatory.
Children preparing for Baptism are given special instruction at a time to be arranged with the parent and catechist.
First Reconciliation usually takes place in February and First Communions and Baptisms take place in May.
Two sessions of religious education are offered. Depending on enrollment numbers, all grade levels may not be available at both sessions. The Thursday session meets from 4:30 to 5:45 pm. The Sunday session meets from 10:15 to 11:30 am. Both sessions meet in the Mary Agatha Furth Center adjacent to the church.
The first day of class for the Thursday session will be September 22, 2011.
The first day of class for the Sunday session will be September 25, 2011.
Information packets including registration forms can be found in the parish office or in the entryway of the church.
Registration fees are $55 per child with a $165 maximum per family. Scholarships and payment plans are available for those who need them. Registration fees are waived for full-time volunteer teachers and classroom helpers. Click
here to find out how you can volunteer to help in the religious education program.
Click here to download the 2011/2012 religious education schedule. Please make careful note of the dates for Parent/Student and Parent-only classes. Attendance by parents is just as crucial as attendance of children. Please do not schedule any other activities for yourself or for your child that will hinder punctuality and attendance to any of the classes.
For more information please contact:
Carole Pforsich - Director of Religious Education 707-837-8962 ext. 308
email: religiouseducation@olgwindsor.org
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