SACRAMENTS: Preparation for and celebration of the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are experienced within the life of the child’s parish community and the life of the child’s family.  Whether a child attends a Catholic School, a charter school, a private school, a public school or home school; sacramental preparation and the sacrament celebrations happen in the parish community where the family is a member and attends Mass. Read the St. John Neumann Sacrament Policies.  

PREPARING YOUR CHILD: Growing up in a Catholic home where believing, knowing, and experiencing God as part of everyday life has helped prepare your child and your family for reception of the sacraments. The many ways you have loved, cared for, shared meals with, and demonstrated forgiveness communicate the unconditional love of God to your child. “Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another grow in faith by the witness of a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instructions. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2226).

Listed below are more ways to intentionally prepare your child for reception of the sacraments:

• Give Sunday Mass the greatest priority in your family faith life.

• Participate in Parish Life – Service Opportunities, Community Events, Liturgical Celebrations, etc.

• Pray together daily as a family.  Include prayers spoken aloud to aid your child’s heart to be open to receive the grace of the Sacraments.

• Have faith conversations about what your child is learning in his or her faith formation sessions in the parish or religion classes at Catholic School and make sure your child attends as many of these sessions as possible.

• Joyfully and wholeheartedly participate in the parish sacrament preparation program with your child; as together you learn and reflect about God’s grace and merciful love.

• Make time for you and your child to share God’s love with others through service experiences.

• Socialize with other Catholic Families to give your children the opportunity to make friends with Catholic children. These friendships with other Catholic families also gives you the opportunity to exchange Catholic parenting ideas, experiences, and approaches on integrating faith at home.

AGES: Children generally celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time in 2nd grade.  Austin Diocese Guidelines: Any baptized Catholic child who has reached the age of reason (7 years of age and attended religious education classes in the first grade and is now in the second grade) is eligible to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist, usually referred to as First Communion.

FORMAL PREPARATION: Children need to be enrolled and participating in comprehensive catechesis (parish faith formation sessions or Catholic School religion classes) for two years immediately prior to reception of the Sacrament.  First grade would be considered Year 1 and Second grade would be considered Year 2.  During the second year of preparation, families participate in their parish sacramental preparation program.  The St. John Neumann program includes a parent/child retreat for each sacrament as well as working together with the child at home to complete focused lessons for each sacrament. 

REGISTRATION: Families with eligible children enrolled in SJN Faith Formation or Catholic School will be contacted about registering for the 2022-23 Family Sacrament Preparation Program.  
Register for Faith Formation here.

PARENT/CHILD RETREATS: 
Families with children registered in the Sacrament Preparation Program will receive a link to sign up for the Parent/Child Retreats from 1:30 to 3:30 on Sunday afternoons.  There are two date options for the First Reconciliation Retreat - Oct 16 and Oct 23.  There are two date options for the First Eucharist Retreat - Jan 22 and Jan 29.   

OLDER CHILDREN: If your child is older than 2nd grade and has not yet received these Sacraments, know that your child is welcome at St. John Neumann and we look forward to working with your family to discern the best formation process for him/her.