Our Diocese makes the following recommendations:
Children in our Catholic schools are normally prepared for their First Reconciliation and celebrate the sacrament in grade 2, or at about age seven.
Preparation
Children attending a Catholic school will be prepared by their teachers, at school.
Children who do not attend a Catholic school, or missed receiving the sacrament in grade 2, are prepared at St Joseph Church in the Parish-Based Program. Parents are required to attend the 6 sessions with their child.
Parish-based classes: January 16, 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20, 2024, at 6:45 pm
One of the best ways for you to prepare your child for this sacrament is to model forgiveness and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our children learn about forgiveness when we forgive them, each other, and ourselves.
Parent Sacramental info night: February 12, 2024, at 7 pm
Parents will be asked to attend an information zoom meeting. The link to the meeting will be emailed the day of the meeting. Parents will learn more about the sacrament of Reconciliation and on how they can support their children as they journey to receive this sacrament.
Presentation of students preparing for Reconciliation: February 17/18, 2024
Families are invited to come at any of the Masses of this weekend. The children will be called forward with a parent, Godparent or Guardian to the front of the church to be presented to the parish community. The parish community will welcome and pray for these children and families as they continue their preparation to receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Celebration: February 25 , 2024 at 1:30 pm & 3 pm
Children will be asked to come for their First Reconciliation depending on where they were prepared. TBA.
Resources
You can watch Brother Francis talk about The blessings of Confession and “The Power of Forgiveness” on Formed.org. If you haven’t signed up yet, please register as being a member of Saint Joseph Grande Prairie.
Catholic Central- Reconciliation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abVVsG1TGL4
Registrations
All children need to be registered online. Online registrations are open until September 30th. A confirmation email will be sent in October (sorry, our system does not send automatic confirmations right after submitting the form).
For more information, please contact Beatriz at SJC-Sacraments@gpcsd.ca or call 780-532-2351, ext. 228.