First Reconciliation/Eucharist 2nd Grade
2011 FIRST SACRAMENT packet
(click to download)
August 15, 2011
Dear Parents of First Sacrament Students:
The Guardian Angels Parish Community invites you and your child to participate in the preparations to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist in the year 2011/2012. The first celebrations of these two sacraments are a very precious time in your child’s life. At Baptism, as parents you accepted the responsibility of “raising your child in the practice of the faith.” Now it is time to continue the steps toward enriching your child’s faith practice.
There will be ONE parent only meeting for First Reconciliation on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 9AM. There will be ONE parent/child learning session for First Reconciliation on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 9AM. Finally, on Saturday, December 3, 2011 starting at 9AM there will be a Reconciliation Liturgy for the second grade families.
There will be THREE parent/child learning sessions for First Eucharist on Saturday, February 11, 2012, March 10, 2012, and April, 14, 2012, all starting at 9AM. This year the Sacrament of the Eucharist may be celebrated on Saturday, May 5, 2012 during the 5PM Mass, or on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at the 10AM Mass, or at a 2:30PM Mass. Rehearsals for these liturgies will be on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 9AM or 10AM depending on the First Eucharist Mass your family chooses.
It is important that your child and at least one parent come to the learning sessions. Godparents are always invited to come as well. Please set aside the time now and arrange for this to be a special time with your child – a true focus on the candidate, without distractions. The dynamics are such that you simply MUST be there. We are not equipped for siblings or other children at these sessions.
Everyone is expected to be at all the sessions. Your child must attend these sessions in order to be eligible for the celebration of the sacraments. These meetings cannot be made up. If a child is sick, please leave a message for Emily Klinker 952-227-4007 so that we can schedule a makeup session for your family. All sessions will be in St. Francis Hall or the Church at 9AM and run for an hour and a half.
In addition to the weekend parent student sessions, your child must be enrolled and participating in an approved religious education program (Guardian Angels School or Guardian Angels Faith Formation). Each family is also asked to participate in one family service experience. Your family will also be required to bring up the gifts at a Guardian Angels weekend Mass during their child’s second grade year (details to follow).
If your family is not a member of our parish, but your child goes to our school or Faith Formation Program and you would like him/her to receive the sacraments with their classmates, we recommend that you provide us with a written letter from your pastor giving his blessings to receive the sacrament in a different parish.
We look forward to helping you on this faith journey.
God Bless You!
Ms. Hritz, Ms. Klinker
cc: Fr. Doug Ebert 8/4/11mek
