Sacramental PreparationSacramental PreparationParent MeetingParent Meeting

First EucharistFirst Eucharist

Sacramental Prep Parent Sacramental Prep Parent MeetingMeeting

•Welcome

•Opening Prayer

Reflection & DiscussionReflection & Discussion

• Think back to your own celebration of First Eucharist.

• What do you remember?

• What does receiving the sacrament of Eucharist mean for you as an adult?

Important DatesImportant Dates

•Assignment Due Dates– February 23– March 16– April 6

•Retreat – April 10 – 9:30AM -12:30PM

•First Eucharist – April 17 or April 18

BooksBooks

Using the BooksUsing the Books• Set aside a specific time during the Set aside a specific time during the

week to work on the lessons.week to work on the lessons.

• The Family guide lays out everything The Family guide lays out everything you will do and what you will need you will do and what you will need for the lessonfor the lesson

• Each chapter offers an introduction Each chapter offers an introduction for the parent to read and reflect on for the parent to read and reflect on before beginning the lesson with the before beginning the lesson with the child.child.

Using the BooksUsing the Books

• Books follow the same format as the Books follow the same format as the ones used for First Reconciliation ones used for First Reconciliation preparation:preparation:– Celebrate the RitualCelebrate the Ritual– Share the Scripture StoryShare the Scripture Story– Discover the Faith of the ChurchDiscover the Faith of the Church– Make a DifferenceMake a Difference– Together as a FamilyTogether as a Family

Ending the Time with Your Ending the Time with Your ChildChild

• Review the part of the Mass referred Review the part of the Mass referred to in the chapterto in the chapter

• Complete assignment questions.Complete assignment questions.

• Practice/Discuss the two ways of Practice/Discuss the two ways of receiving the Body of Christreceiving the Body of Christ– On tongueOn tongue– In handsIn hands

Ending the Time with Your Ending the Time with Your ChildChild• Practice receiving communionPractice receiving communion

– Make a small reverent bow (chin to chest)Make a small reverent bow (chin to chest)– If by hand, we use these phrases in teaching:If by hand, we use these phrases in teaching:

• Make a throne for JesusMake a throne for Jesus• Hold hands out flat at heart level Hold hands out flat at heart level

– Make & maintain eye contact with the minister.Make & maintain eye contact with the minister.– Say Amen in response to “Body/Blood of Christ”Say Amen in response to “Body/Blood of Christ”– Consume Body and Blood before returning to Consume Body and Blood before returning to

pewpew

• Conclude with the Closing Prayer given in Conclude with the Closing Prayer given in the Family Guide.the Family Guide.

AssignmentsAssignments• Have your child answer the questions as Have your child answer the questions as

they read the chapter.they read the chapter.

• Turn completed work into your child’s Turn completed work into your child’s religion teacher by the due date listed on religion teacher by the due date listed on assignment sheet.assignment sheet.

• These will help us assess your child’s These will help us assess your child’s understanding of the sacrament & understanding of the sacrament & readiness to receive.readiness to receive.

• Assignment sheets will be posted on the Assignment sheets will be posted on the church website www.stmchurch.orgchurch website www.stmchurch.org

Mass AssignmentsMass Assignments

• There are only 30 spaces available per There are only 30 spaces available per mass.mass.

• Saturday, April 17 5:00PM Mass is fullSaturday, April 17 5:00PM Mass is full

• Sunday, April 18 10:00AM Mass is full Sunday, April 18 10:00AM Mass is full

• Sunday April 18 12:00N Mass has 10 spaces Sunday April 18 12:00N Mass has 10 spaces available.available.

• If you do not see your child’s name listed If you do not see your child’s name listed for any of the mass times, please see Sarah for any of the mass times, please see Sarah at the end of the meeting.at the end of the meeting.

Retreat VolunteersRetreat Volunteers

• In the packet there is a list of In the packet there is a list of volunteers for the retreat on April 10 volunteers for the retreat on April 10 and what area they volunteered to and what area they volunteered to help with.help with.

• Reminders to volunteers will be Reminders to volunteers will be mailed prior to the retreat.mailed prior to the retreat.

Dress Code- GirlsDress Code- Girls• Dress Dress

– Traditionally whiteTraditionally white(but not required)(but not required)

– Can have Can have embellishments of any embellishments of any colorcolor

• Nice shoesNice shoes

• Optional itemsOptional items– GlovesGloves– VeilsVeils– Other hair adornmentsOther hair adornments

Dress Code - BoysDress Code - Boys• Slacks Slacks

– blue, black, or blue, black, or khakikhaki

• Dress shirt Dress shirt – Any colorAny color

• Nice shoesNice shoes• Tie Tie

– can be clip-oncan be clip-on

• Optional itemOptional item– jacketjacket

PhotographyPhotography• NO pictures or video recordings will be NO pictures or video recordings will be

allowed during the celebration of Mass allowed during the celebration of Mass except by the designated professional except by the designated professional photographer.photographer.

• Spencer’s Studios will be taking portraits Spencer’s Studios will be taking portraits (individual or family) in the cafeteria beginning 1 (individual or family) in the cafeteria beginning 1 hour and 15 minutes before and ending 15 hour and 15 minutes before and ending 15 minutes before your assigned Mass time. minutes before your assigned Mass time.

• Every child will have his/her picture taken as they Every child will have his/her picture taken as they receive Communion from Fr. Tom.receive Communion from Fr. Tom.

• Purchase of any portraits and photos is optionalPurchase of any portraits and photos is optional

Special Seating RequestsSpecial Seating Requests

• Last page of packet is a form to Last page of packet is a form to request special seating for the request special seating for the following reasons:following reasons:– Less than 5 family members attending Less than 5 family members attending

MassMass– A relative with limited mobility A relative with limited mobility

(ie walker, crutch, cane or wheelchair)(ie walker, crutch, cane or wheelchair)

– Related to another family and you wish Related to another family and you wish to be seated near each other or in same to be seated near each other or in same pew.pew.

First Eucharist RetreatFirst Eucharist Retreat

•Saturday, April 10Saturday, April 10

•9:30AM – 12:30PM9:30AM – 12:30PM

•At least one parent must join us At least one parent must join us in the church at 11:45AM for in the church at 11:45AM for practicepractice

RetreatRetreat• DressDress

– Comfortable clothesComfortable clothes

• ArrivalArrival– Begin arriving at 9:00AMBegin arriving at 9:00AM– Sign child in at main doors of the Activity Sign child in at main doors of the Activity

Center Center – Volunteers arrive with your child by 8:45AMVolunteers arrive with your child by 8:45AM– All volunteers must be here by 9:15AMAll volunteers must be here by 9:15AM

• PickupPickup– Retreat will be dismissed from the Church after Retreat will be dismissed from the Church after

rehearsalrehearsal

Retreat – Parental Retreat – Parental ParticipationParticipation

• At least one parent or adult family At least one parent or adult family representative must be present in the representative must be present in the church at 11:45AM for rehearsal and final church at 11:45AM for rehearsal and final reminders regarding day of First Eucharistreminders regarding day of First Eucharist

• Letter to your childLetter to your child– Opportunity to share with your child how proud Opportunity to share with your child how proud

you are that they are participating in this you are that they are participating in this sacrament.sacrament.

– Due with child’s assignment #1 on Feb. 23Due with child’s assignment #1 on Feb. 23– Form will be available on church website Form will be available on church website

www.stmchurch.orgwww.stmchurch.org

Day of First EucharistDay of First Eucharist

• Sign in child at the cafeteria by 30 Sign in child at the cafeteria by 30 minutes prior to your assigned mass minutes prior to your assigned mass time. time.

• Portraits begin 1 hr 15 min prior and Portraits begin 1 hr 15 min prior and finish 15 min prior to start of mass.finish 15 min prior to start of mass.

• Pews will be assigned randomly for Pews will be assigned randomly for each mass taking into consideration each mass taking into consideration any special requests.any special requests.

Day of First EucharistDay of First Eucharist

• Each family will have one full pew Each family will have one full pew reserved. reserved.

• Children will process into the church ahead Children will process into the church ahead of priest at the beginning of Mass.of priest at the beginning of Mass.

• Fr. Tom will call the children forward to sit Fr. Tom will call the children forward to sit on the floor in front of the sanctuary for on the floor in front of the sanctuary for his homily and to gather around him at the his homily and to gather around him at the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Day of First EucharistDay of First Eucharist• Children will return to pews for the Our Father.Children will return to pews for the Our Father.

• When it is time to receive communion:When it is time to receive communion:– Child and two adults will be directed to stand in lineChild and two adults will be directed to stand in line– Child will go forward first to receive from Fr. Tom.Child will go forward first to receive from Fr. Tom.– Picture will be taken at this pointPicture will be taken at this point– Two adults will then receive.Two adults will then receive.– Adults are asked to stand at the first pew so a clear Adults are asked to stand at the first pew so a clear

photo of your child may be taken.photo of your child may be taken.– Please be aware that another child is coming Please be aware that another child is coming

forward to receive after the adults and try not to forward to receive after the adults and try not to block the photographers shot.block the photographers shot.

Day of First EucharistDay of First Eucharist

• Please remind family members that no Please remind family members that no photographs or video recordings are photographs or video recordings are allowed during mass except by the allowed during mass except by the designated person.designated person.

• Those who will be receiving on Sunday, Those who will be receiving on Sunday, please be aware that the previous Mass please be aware that the previous Mass may still be going on when you arrive and may still be going on when you arrive and parking may not be readily available.parking may not be readily available.

Day of First EucharistDay of First Eucharist

• Fasting before MassFasting before Mass– Rule is that you should not eat at least one Rule is that you should not eat at least one

hour prior to receiving communion.hour prior to receiving communion.– Please make sure that if your child needs to Please make sure that if your child needs to

eat that he or she has done so early enough to eat that he or she has done so early enough to allow for the hour fast .allow for the hour fast .

• ReceptionReception– There will be a cake and punch reception in the There will be a cake and punch reception in the

Activity Center after every Mass. Activity Center after every Mass. – Certificates and a small gift from the parish will Certificates and a small gift from the parish will

be given out at the reception.be given out at the reception.

Day of First EucharistDay of First Eucharist

• Nursery will be open during the Nursery will be open during the 10:00AM Mass as usual.10:00AM Mass as usual.– If not enough families request nursery If not enough families request nursery

services for the 5:00PM and 12:00N services for the 5:00PM and 12:00N Masses the nursery will not be open.Masses the nursery will not be open.

• Children Children will notwill not be part of the be part of the recessional.recessional.

Last questions or Last questions or comments?comments?

Please See Sarah if your child’s Please See Sarah if your child’s name is listed below:name is listed below:

• Aidan RobertsAidan Roberts

• Jay WardlawJay Wardlaw

• Nicholas KhemmanyvongNicholas Khemmanyvong