1st Holy Communion

These sacraments require the completion of one year of religious education prior to entering the program. A child may do this pre-year beginning with first grade. There are two cycles of first confession/communion preparation. Those students who completed a full year begin in a fall cycle. Students who finish catechesis successfully in the spring may join the Spring cycle which finishes in July or wait until the following fall. There are programs for all grade levels of children beginning with second grade. Older students are placed in their age groups. Programs are in English or Spanish.

See the 'Children & Youth' link under the 'Faith Formation' tab for more on schedules and locations of classes.

Adult Catholics that have not received their First Holy Communion are invited to prepare for this sacrament through the R.C.I.A., or Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Go to the 'RCIA - Becoming Catholic' link under the 'Faith Formation' tab

R.C.I.A., while primarily instituted for the un-baptized, is also the process by which Catholics that lack First Holy Communion, or lack BOTH First Holy Communion and Confirmation are properly prepared for the sacrament(s).

Because Catholics in this situation are uncatechized, the Church expects them to be prepared for the sacraments and the commitment of living out their faith along with the un-baptized. The minimum time that this preparation might take place is one liturgical year, but no exact time is predicted up front; it is a process of formation and depends upon the spiritual and moral maturity of each individual.

Catholics lacking only the Sacrament of Confirmation are prepared through the Adult Confirmation preparation.