Sacraments

First Reconciliation & First Communion

In second grade, your child will continue to grow in their Catholic faith. First, they will make the sacrament of Reconciliation, which is celebrated in the winter. Next, their Holy Communion, which is received by second graders in the spring.

A variety of materials are utilized to prepare your child for this experience. In addition, each child must submit their Baptismal certificate. If your child was baptized at Saint Zachary Parish, a copy of the certificate is not needed, however, the date of your child’s baptism is required. Parents are also expected to attend sacramental meetings to help prepare their child for these sacraments.

Confirmation

Preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation begins in the spring of the candidate’s seventh grade year. A meeting is held to explain service hour requirements and the family faith project. The candidates are required to perform 20 hours of service. They also need to complete the family faith project. The family faith project is comprised of 100+ questions to be answered by the candidates and their family and is due in the fall.

In eighth grade, the candidates continue working on their service hours. There is a meeting in early fall explaining the need to participate in a retreat arranged by the Director of Religious Education and the School Principal. A packet of forms to be completed is given at this time.

The candidates will receive a study guide and will take a confirmation test in the fall. They will also begin working on developing their answers for their interviews which will take place closer to the date of Confirmation. At their interviews, the candidates will be asked different questions about their faith. The candidates need to show confidence and demonstrate to the interviewer that they are prepared for Confirmation.

The candidates are also required to write a personal reflection expressing what they learned about themselves while completing their service hours.

Confirmation is the last of the initiation sacraments. Receiving Confirmation allows the candidate to become a full member of the Church.