CHILDREN’S SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

Children’s Sacramental Preparation

Sacramental Preparation Year 1: First Reconciliation

2nd – 5th Grade
Beginning with Salvation History, students preparing to receive First Reconciliation are introduced to the plan of God’s mercy which culminates in the redeeming work of Christ. We use the Word of Life curriculum to help the youth understand sin and the need for grace, God’s merciful love, be introduced to the Rite of Reconciliation, and be able to make an examination of conscience. In addition to weekly classes, a unique retreat in the Spring allows the youth to become more comfortable with the act of confession and be confident in God’s love and mercy.

6th – 12th Grade
We begin with a walk through of Salvation History using the Bible Timeline Encounter and Venture from Ascension Press, which brings youth into the great story of God’s redeeming work. We then follow a program based on the YouCat series, which teaches youth the Rite of Reconciliation and the importance of prayer. Youth are given more understanding of God’s love in Salvation History, Christ’s Redemptive work on the Cross, the 10 Commandments, and how to make a good examination of conscience. Most importantly, students will learn of the divine mercy of God, a gift they will receive in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Sacramental Preparation Year 2: Confirmation and First Holy Communion

3rd – 5th Grade
We use the Word of Life curriculum which prepares children to be strengthened and nourished in the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. Students learn about the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, befriend their Confirmation Saint, and learn about the beauty of the liturgy, with an emphasis on the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of our Catholic Faith. In addition to classes there is a Spring retreat, which further catechizes and deepens the faith of the youth and is designed for the youth to learn more about the sacraments they are receiving.

6th – 12th Grade
We use a combination of the Chosen: Your Journey to Confirmation series and the Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Explained series, to prepare youth to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Collectively, these resources allow the youth to dive ever deeper into the mysteries of their Catholic Faith, discover how they can live out the teachings of the Gospel, and become equipped to share their faith with confidence. In addition to classes there is a Spring retreat, designed for the youth to learn more about the sacraments they are receiving.

Baptism for Older Children

Infants – Age 6
Children six years old and under are received into the Catholic Church through infant baptism. Preparation for this sacrament is required of both the parents and Godparents. Please fill out this form or contact our parish office at 303-781-6093 to arrange for your child to receive the sacrament of Baptism.

Ages 7 – 17
Children seven and older are received through the Order of Initiation of Children who have reached Catechetical Age. Following the norms stipulated by the USCCB National Statutes for the Christian Initiation of Adults in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), this is a two-year program in which children will gradually be evangelized, catechized, and prepared to receive their sacraments of Christian Initiation. Beginning with their first year, Children will be enrolled in an age-appropriate class that will introduce them to the Most Blessed Trinity, Scripture, the Liturgy, Prayer, the Saints, and the fundamentals of our Catholic Faith.
In their second year, children will continue to grow in their relationship with God and the Catholic Church by preparation to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. Youth preparing to be Baptized will need to select a Godparent and Sponsor, ideally the same person. After they enter the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil, youth will continue their formation through mystagogy, an ancient Christian practice which further deepens their understanding of the Catholic Faith and additionally prepares them to receive First Reconciliation soon after the Easter Vigil.

Restored Order of the Sacraments

“The world needs saints. Even as our society becomes more distant from faith and more forgetful of God, it still hungers for joyful witnesses who have been transformed by Christ. At the same time, new generations of Catholics need grace to sustain them in a non-Christian environment. To answer these needs, I have decided to restore the Sacraments of Initiation to their original order, that is, Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. This will make available every sacramental grace the Church has to offer to children who have reached the age of reason.”

In 2015, His Excellency, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila promulgated his Pastoral Letter Saints Among Us: The Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation. With this document, Archbishop Aquila mandated that all parishes within the Archdiocese of Denver must transition to having youth receive their sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion in 3rd Grade. In doing so, His Excellency enables youth to receive the gifts of the sacraments at an earlier age, thereby being more equipped to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

“Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church 1285

The restored order places the Sacraments of Initiation in their proper order: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist. While Confirmation completes the graces received in Baptism, both are ordered to the Holy Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our Catholic faith. For more information on the Restored Order of the Sacraments, visit the Archdiocese of Denver website. Click here to learn more about the sacrament of Confirmation within the Restored Order, including both a written and a live recording of FAQ.

Registration for the 2024-2025 Faith Formation programs is now available! Click here to register your children for all programs. You can also register in the parish office during normal business hours.

For more information, help in registering your child, or volunteering opportunities, contact Robert at formation@holynamedenver.org.

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