FORMATION AND SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
Sacraments
First Reconciliation:
Celebrated in Spring of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level 2, Year 2
All persons are created in the image of God, who is perfect goodness. Yet, people do bad things. We are made to love, but we are free to choose to love or not to love. In every choice, whether we are conscious of it or not, we decide who we are and whether or not we will love. Choosing to do something that is against God’s Law of Love is sin. Sin damages the good persons we were meant to be. Sin alienates us from God and others. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an opportunity for us to turn back to God who is always there to love us unconditionally. The word, reconcile means “to bring together”. In this Sacrament, we are enabled to heal the divisions that have separated us from others and to heal the divisions in our own hearts.
The CGS children will focus on the Reconciliation unit for five weeks prior to the Sacrament. The students will come to understand that God loves us, always; that we make choices in our lives and some are good and some are bad; that we need to say “I’m sorry” when we hurt one another; that we need to tell God we are sorry when we hurt one another because we are also hurting Him when we sin.
The process of reconciliation will also be part of the curriculum: examination of conscience (thinking about the things we do that hurt others), confession (talking with the priest about these acts), penance (accepting the direction of the priest to better one’s decisions), and absolution (receiving God’s pardon).
When we are reconciled with God we are reconciled with one another. We are showing our willingness to change, seek growth, and to go and try, once again, to live as Jesus taught us to live.
First Reconciliation is offered to the children in second year of Level 2. The ceremony is a family celebration and parents and siblings are invited to experience the Sacrament as well.
First Eucharist:
Celebrated in May of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level 2, Year 2
Eucharist at its roots is a sacrificial meal and all who share in it are challenged to offer themselves for the benefit of others, as Jesus offered Himself for our benefit.
We want our children to understand that Jesus loved his disciples so much that he wanted to stay with them, and so he left his sacred memory in the gift of bread broken and wine shared. By saying “do this in memory of me” he expressed his desire to have us remember his gift of love, the gift of himself. After his resurrection and ascension, this gift of gathering and remembering sustained many of the early disciples and gave them strength to continue preaching his message. The Sacrament, then, is more than receiving the bread and wine, it is gathering, listening to the word of Jesus, sharing in the meal and going out and living according to Jesus’ word. Hence, the Mass – the gathering, the hearing of the Word, the prayer of thanksgiving, the sharing in the Body and Blood, and the going forth are all part of the Eucharistic meal and each part is essential to the memory of Jesus. By participating in the Mass we are all making a commitment to Jesus and further, to each other. The sacrament of Eucharist challenges us to be in unity with each other. Even when there are differences, the breaking of the one loaf calls us to seek unity with all who gather around the table.
Preparation to receive First Communion begins during the Level I Atrium. Particular moments, gestures, and prayers are reflected upon as individual gifts that we receive when we celebrate the Eucharist. In the Level II Atrium these moments, prayers, and gestures are reflected upon once again, but in the order and context of participating in the Eucharist. The children will receive First Communion after completing Level I and during the second year of Level II, including participation in the First Communion Meditations and Retreat. Because this Sacrament should be supported and exemplified by the parents, there are parent participation requirements. Parents are required to:
- Regularly attend Sunday liturgy
- Attend five Parent Meditations
- Attend a Parent/Child activity day
- Insure regular attendance at classes for your child
Confirmation:
Celebrated in Spring of the Sophomore Year in high school
Confirmation, like Baptism and Eucharist, is a sacrament of initiation. It is a graced moment in which our young people, after study and preparation, say yes to Jesus, to God’s gift of the Spirit, and to the Catholic community in which they share their faith. It is seen as an opportunity for growth – morally and spiritually.
We endeavor to provide a comprehensive program of preparation that allows each student to be touched by the Lord. Through class instruction, communal prayer, group activities, and service projects, the students will be exposed to the life of Jesus, challenged to explore their own lives, and then asked to go out and serve others.
The program is four years in length. During Grades 7, 8 and 9 the students will meet once a month and explore their own knowledge and belief in God, what it means to be Catholic and how to incorporate that faith into their daily lives.
Grade 10 is more intense in the preparation for Confirmation. The students will have fourteen sessions – seven sessions in the fall and seven sessions in the winter/spring.
They may have “special events” classes as well as Retreats throughout the four-year process. There are several requirements for the program:
- Ten hours of community service
- No more than 2 absences during