At St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish, we want your children to be prepared as best as possible to encounter Jesus in the sacred Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion.
In order for this to be a deepening of their personal relationship with Jesus, as well as an opportunity for the whole family to grow closer to Him, the following are requirements for the preparation for, and celebration of, the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion:
- A child must be baptized as a Catholic
- at registration, please provide a recent official certificate of Record of Baptism, from the parish where your child was baptized (even if it was at St. Thomas Aquinas), to the Faith Formation office. Only the parents or legal guardians may request this certificate. DUE: before your child's first Sacramental Preparation class.
- if not baptized as a Catholic, please see information about RCIA for children.
- have reached the age of reason, generally considered 7, at the beginning of the faith formation year and be in the second grade.
- have taken Faith Formation classes one year prior to the Sacramental Preparation year with regular attendance. If your child attended Faith Formation at another parish the year prior to his/her Sacramental Preparation year, you must provide documentation verifying his/her attendance.
- is currently taking Faith Formation class and will be attending all Sacramental Preparation classes and retreats. ***Sacramental Preparation is a separate class which is taken in addition to a Faith Formation class***
- At least one parent must attend all Sacramental Preparation meetings and events with the child.