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FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2025-2026

Dear Parents/Guardians,
It is with profound joy that Holy Family Parish welcomes you and your child as you embark on this journey of sacramental preparation.  All sacraments are times of joy and of paramount importance in the life of the Church and each of her members.  The sacraments are acts of   the Church, having both a personal and communal dimension.

The Church extends an invitation to the children who have reached the age of reason, (7 years and up ) to prepare for and celebrate these sacraments.  It is the family who decides when the proper time has arrived to celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation & First  Eucharist.

As parents, you have the wonderful opportunity of preparing your child to celebrate the sacraments.  The Catholic schools provide ongoing Religious Education and the INITIAL preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and The Eucharist.  The family is the centre of the IMMEDIATE preparation, leading to the celebration of a sacrament.  At Holy Family Parish, parents are invited to attend the meetings, to assist you in preparing your children to celebrate these sacraments.

Parents are invited to spend time in prayer and discussion, to determine if this is the appropriate time to prepare your children for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.  If you are ready to begin the sacramental preparation program, please   complete the registration form online with all required information.

We will be using the preparation program “We Prepare for Reconciliation” and “We Share in the Eucharist”.  This family resource will provide you with the background needed to prepare your child.  At the time of first parent meeting, please be prepared to make a program donation.  Your donation is used to cover the cost of the books, supplies and meetings. (Suggested donation $75) 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the parish office. Thank you and blessings.

IN CHRIST,
Fr. Prem Sagar Addagatla
Administrator, Holy Family Parish                                  

 

Registration for 2026 coming soon.
 

FAQ’s     First Holy Communion & First Reconciliation: 

  1. Is there a cost associated with this preparation program and why?
    Yes, there is a requested donation of $75 to cover the costs of books and other preparation materials. Payments are to be made on the Parent Information Night.

  2. If my child did not receive First Communion in Grade Two, can he/she receive it when he/she is older?
    Yes, please speak to the pastor or the sacramental preparation coordinator.

  3. Can validly baptized non-Catholic children receive First Communion?
    Only those baptized in the Catholic faith can receive the sacrament of First Communion. If you would like your child to receive this sacrament, please speak to the priest.

  4. Can a non-baptized or non-Catholic child receive First Communion if they are enrolled in a Catholic school?
    No, only students who are baptized in the Catholic faith can receive the sacrament of First Communion.

  5. Can an Eastern Catholic or an Orthodox child receive First Holy Communion?
    Baptized children from these ecclesial communities normally received First Communion along with Baptism and Confirmation in their own church. They may be prepared and presented for a solemn reception of the Holy Eucharist. Speak to the priest about your particular situation, especially if the child has a Roman Catholic parent or, if the parents would like to be received into the Catholic Church.

  6. Why must I take part in a parish-based program when I am attending a Catholic School?
    Children of the Catholic faith are required to receive the sacraments in the parish where the family attends Sunday mass. The immediate preparation for the celebration of the sacraments is the responsibility of both the parents and the parish. The best preparation of children is actual attendance of the Holy Mass on Sunday, praying together, and learning about God together as a family.
  1. Why are parents involved in this process?
    As St. Augustine once said, parents are called "not only to bring children into the world but also to bring them to God".[3] The Church involves parents in the faith of their family from the start because parents are called to be "the first preachers of the faith" to their children. [1] The parents "are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their off-spring". [2] For this reason the Church calls the Christian family, "the domestic church" (CCC: 1655-1658).

  2. Why must I submit a Baptism certificate for any of the sacraments?
    As Baptism is the gateway to all other sacraments of the Catholic Church, the parish needs to make sure the candidate/sponsor is validly baptized.

  3. What happens if I miss one of my preparation classes?
    Missing a preparation class means you must notify the sacramental preparation coordinator if you're sick or have a serious conflict. Without a valid reason for missing, you may have to withdraw from the program and rejoin later.