Sacramental Life

• Infant Baptism
• First Reconciliation (see below)
• First Eucharist (see below)
• Confirmation (see below)
• Matrimony 
• Priesthood (Office of Vocations)
• OCIA (RCIA) (Become Fully Initiated in the Catholic Church)

The Family Rosary Way of Grace

Building Faith within Family

Resources to enliven faith in the home and parish

New Sacramental Preparation Resource Will Help:

• Families and parish leaders prepare children to receive sacraments: 
  •  Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation.
• Build up the domestic church (in each home) and connect it more vibrantly with the sacramental and communal life of the parish. 
• Support parish leaders to better accompany and partner with parents to enliven faith in the home and parish.

The New Resource is:

• Based on Sacred Scripture and the mysteries of the Rosary.
• Implemented during the coming months of Nov, Jan, Feb & Mar (see outline below).  
  •  Offering 1 Parish Session & 
  •  3 Home Sessions each month.
• Encouraging family habits of prayer, story, and reflection.
• Meant to be used in conjunction with a primary children’s ministry curriculum (ie, Alive in Christ, Faith and Life, Families of Faith, Family Rosary Curriculum) or can be adapted to respond to Covid. 

The preparation of children for reception of the sacraments presents a great moment to accompany and engage children, youth, parents, godparents, and sponsors through ongoing invitations to:

• Encounter our loving Savior, Jesus Christ,
• Begin, renew, or further their relationship with God,
• Deepen the integration of faith into all areas of their life,
• Meaningful, full participation in the Sacramental Life of the Church,
• Continued development of a mature and informed conscience.

The Diocesan sacramental guidelines are aimed at helping pastors, and catechetical leaders who assist them, in the development of catechetical and sacramental preparation programs that are integral and doctrinal sound. The new guidelines have in mind several goals and key principles:

•       Promoting family-centered evangelization and catechesis aimed at growing disciples of Christ
•       Integrating family faith, religious education, and sacramental catechesis
•       Enhancing the celebration of the Liturgical and Sacramental Life of the Church
•       Emphasizing our Catholic faith as a life-long journey

The sacramental guidelines serve to establish diocesan norms to ensure that the faithful are well-prepared to participate in a fully active sacramental life. The norms promulgated by these guidelines include: 

• Alive in Christ/Vivos en Cristo, by Our Sunday Visitor, is the standard religious education         curriculum resource for all parishes and schools (grades1-8)
  • Faith and Life, by Ignatius Press, allowed for parishes who have invested in this resource, with attention to modify to fit the framework and time restraints of parish religious education; and works to include a component that encourages and supports family faith and prayer in the home.
• Baptism is received primarily as an infant, or prior to age 7.
• 1st Confession and 1st Communion received by the end of 2nd grade.
• Confirmation received by the end of 6th grade.
• A child's religious education and sacramental preparation is the primary responsibility of the  parents with the support and cooperation of the pastor, parish catechetical staff, and school personnel (where applicable).
  • Parishes should strive to provide ongoing faith formation opportunities outside the sacramental preparation processes, for children, youth, and parents.

The sacramental guidelines and norms operate congruently with the newly promulgated Diocese of Baker Pastoral Guidelines, Chapter Five, Office of Sanctification.

For exceptions to these norms refer to Pastoral Implementation of Sacraments of Initiation.

2014 Sacramental Workshops:

The 2014 sacramental workshops are no longer the required protocol for parishes to help families preparing a child to receive First Penance and Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Many parishes may still find the content helpful and useful. 

(English):
First Confession-Reconciliation Workshop I 
First Confession-Reconciliation Workshop II
First Holy Communion Workshop I
First Holy Communion Workshop II

Confirmation Workshop I
Confirmation Workshop II
Confirmation Workshop III
Confirmation Workshop IV

(Spanish):
First Confession-Reconciliation Workshop I
First Confession-Reconciliation Workshop II
First Holy Communion Workshop I
First Holy Communion Workshop II

Confirmación Workshop I
Confirmación Workshop II
Confirmación Workshop III
Confirmatción Workshop IV


The following resources remain available while they are being reviewed:

Baptism: 
Baptism Intake Form
Baptism Class Catechetical Guidelines 
Kerygma; Gospel Story for Adults

Confession & Reconciliation: 
Candidate Commitment 
Child-Parent Preparation Guide 
Candidate Assessment
Reconciliation Questions
Confession and Reconciliation Teaching for Adults
Adult Examination of Conscience

First Holy Communion: 
First Holy Communion Intake Form
Candidate Commitment
Child-Parent Preparation Guide
Holy Mass Teaching for Adults
Candidate Assessment
First Eucharist Questions

Confirmation: 
Confirmation Intake Form
Candidate Commitment
Candidate Assessment
Confirmation Questions