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Sacraments

25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

Reconciliation

First Reconciliation Parent meeting will be Monday, January 12, 2008. We urge all parents to attend. No children please. You will be given information about your child's first Reconciliation and Father Mark will also be attending to speak with the parent in regards to the Sacrament.

First Reconciliation will be on Monday, February 9, 2008. The children will be receiving this sacrament in the evening along with the Holy Rosary CCD children. The time is to be announced. Parents are welcome to meet us in the church at the designated time. As your child finishes receiving the Sacrament, comes out of the confessional, you may find a place in the church to pray with your child. Your child will also say their penance at this time.

This is an exciting time for your child. He or she will be excited, most often not nervous to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Your child will have the option to sit behind the confessional curtain in the confessional OR sit facing Father in the confessional. Most all children like to sit 'face to face' with Father. They are much more comfortable talking with father in this way.

In class we will refer to this Sacrament as Sacrament of Penance, Sacrament of Forgiveness, and Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Your child will need to have the Act of Contrition prayer memorized by January 18, 2008. I will be sending a copy of this home in December. We will be working on memorizing this at school also.

Here are some of the steps that we will be teaching your child:

1. Praying to the Holy Spirit so that we may look into our hearts.

2. Examining your conscience.

3. Confession your sins.

4. Telling God you are sorry (The Act of Contrition).

5. Being Absolved from our sins from Father Klasek.

6. Doing Penance (prayers or good deeds)

A Parent Reminder

The children are getting so excited and anxious to make their First Penance. The date is Monday, February 9th. We would like to remind you that you are welcome to come to the church and wait quietly while your child makes First Penance. This will take place in the evening and we will let you know what time when Father makes that decision.

Thanks for all of your help!

Second Grade Teachers

MAT 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

F irst Communion

Last updated on 8/19/08 .

Dear Parents,

This is a reminder regarding First Holy Communion on Saturday, April 25th 2008 at 10:00 am.

Please have your child in their 2nd grade classroom by 9:45, NO LATER. The teachers will lead the children in line over to church.

The First Communion Class will walk down the middle aisle and sit together in the first three pews on both sides of the middle aisle. If you are facing the altar the boys are on the left and the girls are on the right.

After mass is over, class pictures will be taken on the altar steps. We ask you to please wait until the professional photographer has finished before you take pictures with your own cameras. Also, please refrain from taking pictures when your child goes up to receive Holy Communion. It may be a distraction to your child if many parents are up at the front crowding around. The professional photographer will take a picture of each child at this time. There will also be a professional video made of the Mass. The tapes will be available for purchase. (see the photographer info sheet given at the parent meeting)

A reception will follow immediately in the Family Life Center (school gym) for all the First Communicants and their families. You may meet your child there right after they have gotten their class picture taken in church. Please do not take your child from church. We would not want any child to miss the class picture.

The Monday following the big day, April 27th, will be a game/activity day. Favorite board games and/or activities may be brought to school on that day for sharing. Also, see snack/drink list for that day. (note sent home separate) They will also receive their First Communion certificate and a few other items on this day. PLEASE make sure they show/give you those items when they get home.

On Wednesday, April 29rd, Father will bless any religious items the children may have gotten for First Communion.

We thank you for all your help and support in making First Communion so special for all those attending, and especially for your child receiving this Blessed Sacrament.

Sincerely,

Second Grade Teachers

Early Information About First Communion

First Communion, as stated in the school calendar, will be on Saturday, April 25th at 10:00am. Students will need to be here by 9:45am.

The parent meeting for First Communion will be in April and date and time TBA. This meeting is mandatory. At least one parent should attend and no children please. Father will be speaking about the sacrament of Communion and teachers will be giving additional information about the ceremony/mass.

The Holy Rosary Ladies Guild will have a booth set up outside the cafeteria, before and after the meeting, selling religious articles and gifts for purchase.

For those already looking at Communion attire, please follow these guidelines as you make your choices.

Boys – long or short sleeve white shirt, dark dress pants, a tie (a darker colored tie usually looks a little nicer), dark socks, and black or brown dress shoes. Boys may wear a suit jacket but it is not necessary. Often many of them take them off because they are too hot. Also, for the class picture they will not wear the suit jacket if they do have one.

Girls – The Communion dresses need to be white, off white or crème colored please. Long sleeve, short sleeve and sleeveless is okay but NO straps. The dress can be just above the knee, tea length or to the floor. The girls may wear veils or small crown of flowers or something similar to that. Small necklaces and earrings are okay. They may have gloves, bracelets, and yes some even want a little purse to bring the whole outfit together, but these items WILL NOT be allowed during the mass or the group pictures. Teachers will not be responsible for any of these items. Many girls leave these with mom and put them on for the individual pictures.

Hopefully these notes help you prepare for the less secular part of the Holy Communion Sacrament.

More information will come as we get closer to the date.