A sacrament of healing & a sacrament of forgiving

What is First Reconciliation?

Reconciliation is a healing sacrament instituted by Christ's earthly mission nearly 2000 years ago. The Church continues this mission in offering to all Catholics the opportunity to seek both forgiveness from God and from others. For young children preparing to receive Reconciliation for the first time, a series of preparatory classes are required to help both child and parent understand the healing power of love and forgiveness.

Preparing for the sacrament at St. Peter's

Each fall, St. Peter's offer a series of seven weekly classes that meet prior to the Sunday morning mass. As reconciliation is a never ending sacrament that stretches from childhood to adulthood and beyond, it is important that both parents and catechists work together to impart this essential piece of our faith.

Forming young children to understand the importance of this sacrament in relation to their faith life is extremely critical as the child grows in awareness of how their actions intimately affect others. It becomes the difference between recognizing a mistake and what constitutes a sin.

Below is a list of the full requirements for both parents and children seeking to receive First Reconciliation at St. Peter's. A parent must:

• Be a confirmed Catholic in the Church.
• Be a registered parishioner at St. Peter's for a minimum of 3 months
• Attend all required preparatory classes

The child must:

• Be in second grade
• Be baptized
• Attended Religious education or Catholic School for a minimum of 1 year prior to requesting the sacrament
• Attend all required preparatory classes with their parents

Receiving the sacrament at St. Peter's

First Reconciliation is offered in a special evening liturgy for both the children and their parents. To register your child or for more information about our other sacramental preparatory programs, contact our Office of Faith Formation.