First Communion and First Reconciliation
-
-
Sacramental Preparation
Welcome to sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion! For many years, families at St. Gabriel Church have prepared their children for these sacraments through a combination of workshop-retreats and at-home materials. We look forward to supporting your family as you grow in faith and in your relationship with Jesus.
This preparation is IN ADDITION TO the religious education your child is receiving through our parish's Family Faith program or in their Catholic school.
Age 7+ and registered parishioner of St. Gabriel Church
Eligibility RequirementsBaptized (must provide child's baptism certificate - email copy here)
Not baptized? Learn more hereCompleted religious education last year (2023-2024 school year) in a parish faith formation program or by attending Catholic school (diocese requirement)
Currently enrolled in religious education (2024-2025 school year) in a parish faith formation program or attending Catholic school (diocese requirement)
Register for a Preparation Session
Choose from 2 sessions: begin preparation in the fall or winter, depending on your family's schedule and your child's readiness.
Preparation includes two required day retreats for parents and children.
A $30 materials fee per student is payable with online registration.
Students must meet eligibility requirements (above) and be enrolled all year in Family Faith and/or Catholic school.
Session A: Begins fall 2024 (REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED)
- Reconciliation Retreat: Saturday, October 19, 2024*
- First Reconciliation: November 6, 2024 6 pm and December 5, 2024 at 6 pm in the church or at weekly parish confession times.
- Eucharist Retreat: February 22, 2025*
- First Communion: Received in spring 2025 (many dates will be available)
*Retreats take place at St. Gabriel. Both student(s) and parent(s) attend.
If you miss a retreat, you will have the opportunity to move to the next session to complete preparation. No make-up retreats will be offered.Session B: Begins winter 2025 (REGISTRATION ONLINE BELOW)
- Reconciliation Retreat: March 15, 2025*
- First Reconciliation: Date to-be-determined or at weekly parish confession times
- Eucharist Retreat: TBD*
- First Communion: Received in fall 2025 (many dates will be available)
*Retreats take place at St. Gabriel. Student(s) and parent(s) attend.
If you miss a retreat, you will have the opportunity to move to the next session to complete preparation. No make-up retreats will be offered.See other frequently asked questions below.
Questions? Email Erica MacIvor
-
-
Register for Grades 1- 5 Family Faith
-
Students must be enrolled in religious education (in the parish and/or in Catholic school) both the year before AND the year of receiving First Communion.
Find grades 1-5 Family Faith registration here
-
-
Frequently Asked Questions
-
-
To prepare for and receive First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, a student's family must be registered parishioners of St. Gabriel Church. The Diocese of Charlotte requires that children:
- Be baptized (every family must provide their child's baptism certificate - submit copy below)
- Completed religious education last year (in a parish Faith Formation program or attending Catholic school)
- Are currently enrolled in religious education (in a parish Faith Formation program or attending Catholic school)
-
-
-
For many years, families at St. Gabriel Church have prepared their children for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist through a combination of workshops and at-home workbooks. This year, we will continue this approach with two parent-child day retreats that support the home-based learning materials. As the Catechism teaches, parents are the primary catechists. Our parish is here to support you.
If you and your child(ren) are ready to begin preparation to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and first Eucharist, you may choose to register for:
Session A (Begins in the fall) will receive first Communion in the spring
Session B (Begins in the winter) will receive first Communion in the fall
-
-
-
- Registered St. Gabriel Catholic Church parish families with a St. Gabriel School 2nd grader: Please register online and submit your baptismal certificate.
- Parents of 2nd grade St. Gabriel School students who are not registered in the parish: Please contact your home parish to participate in their sacramental preparation program. Our hope is that each family fully participates in their home parish community.
- Parents who are registered parishioners of St. Gabriel Catholic Church and whose 2nd grade children attend another MACS school: Please register online and submit the baptismal certificate.
-
-
-
You must provide your child's baptism certificate - even if he/she was baptized at St. Gabriel.
Request baptism certificate from St. Gabriel Church
Take a picture or scan the certificate and email it to [email protected]
-
-
-
A book fee of $30/student due with registration
It is expensive to run the programs of Formation. Prayerfully consider continuing to support the mission of St. Gabriel through regular offertory contributions. This is an important part of spiritual leadership of your family.
-
-
-
As a part of our program, the child(ren) preparing for Sacraments and at least one parent will attend 2 required retreats - one on going to confession and one on receiving the Eucharist. Retreats will be on Saturdays (1 per semester) from 9:00 am-11:30 pm or 1:00pm to 3:30 pm at St. Gabriel School Cafeteria.
If you miss a retreat, you will have the opportunity to continue preparing with the next session of Sacrament prep families the following semester.
-
-
-
There are no make-up dates for parent/child retreats for first Reconciliation and first Communion. If you miss a retreat, you will have the opportunity to continue preparing with the next session of Sacrament prep families the following semester.
-
-
-
If your child is preparing for Sacraments in 2024-2025, he/she will receive First Communion either in the spring semester of 205 or the fall semester of 2025.
Session A (Beginning fall 2024) will receive first Communion in spring 2025.
Session B (Beginning spring semester 2025) will receive first Communion in fall 2025.
-
-
-
Interested in receiving sacraments as an adult? Learn more here.
-
-
-
If your child is 7 years-old or older and has not yet been baptized, please email Erica at [email protected] for more information on preparing for Sacraments
-
-
-
-
The Real Presence of Jesus
Jesus said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. " (Jn 6:51-55).
The Catholic Church professes that, in the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine—the glorified Christ who rose from the dead after dying for our sins.
By his Real Presence in the Eucharist Christ fulfils his promise to be with us "always, until the end of the age" (Mt 28:20).
Learn more here.
-
