Faith Formation

Guidelines for First Penance and First Communion:

• Diocesan policy requires that a child preparing for the sacraments has begun his/her religious education in the first grade either in the school or parish program.
• Families must be registered members of St. Mary Parish.
• Preparation for First Penance will be held during the fall with reception of the sacrament at a communal celebration in the spring during the first communion retreat.
• Preparation for First Communion will be held during the spring of the year.
• Children are expected to attend Sunday Eucharist on a regular basis.
• All children are required to attend a retreat day as part of the preparation process for both sacraments.
• Parents who have not attended preparation classes within the last three years are required to attend a catechetical session that will be held during the children's retreat.
• A copy of the child's baptismal certificate (if not baptized at St. Mary) must be produced prior to sacramental reception.

  Guidelines for Sacrament of Confirmation:

• Candidate must be a baptized practicing (evidence of attending Mass regularly) Catholic in the sophomore year of high school.
• Candidate must be a registered member of St. Mary Parish.
• Candidate must have a copy of their Baptismal certificate from the parish in which he/she was baptized unless their Baptism was at St. Mary.
• Candidates will attend classes as noted on the Faith formation calendar.  Candidates are required to attend classes for two years prior to reception of the sacrament. Excused absences will include illness or family emergency. Candidates will be expected to make-up any class missed.
• Candidate must attend a Confirmation Retreat.   This is a diocesan requirement for Confirmation.
• Each candidate must request Confirmation in a written letter to the pastor.    Interviews will be scheduled prior to Confirmation.
• The Candidate will select a sponsor.  The sponsor must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic over the age of 17.  Under Canon Law parents are ineligible to be sponsors.  If the sponsor is a member of another parish, the sponsor must send a sponsor certificate signed by their pastor stating they are eligible to be a sponsor. A service commitment will be asked of each candidate.  Candidates are asked to participate in the service projects of the Parish Youth Ministry and Liturgical Ministry.