Billerica Catholic Religious Education First Reconciliation & First Eucharist 2016-2017

Welcome!

We look forward to a wonderful year getting to know your families as your child prepares to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

We are so happy to welcome your child into the Billerica Catholic Religious Education’s Sacramental Preparation program. Please know you are giving your child a wonderful gift by teaching them about Jesus and our faith.

God loves us immensely and wants to share his life with us through Holy Eucharist. What a special time! In receiving the Eucharist, they will be making a commitment to a relationship with Jesus.

Your children will be led on an adventure throughout the year as they discover the significance of these sacraments in their lives using the GO, SEEK, FIND program. The children will use treasure maps, stickers, some activity sheets, and explore The Catholic Children’s Bible on their journey to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. The Bible is a great way for children to learn – stories are one of the best ways to learn things. The Bible is God’s Word and by using this book, we are building a platform on which your children can add more details later.

The following information will serve as a guide in the preparation process.

• Sacrament preparation will take place at home. The preparation process will include both a First Reconciliation packet and a First Eucharist packet. Each packet will have to be completed and returned at the corresponding workshop.

There will be a First Reconciliation Workshop and First Eucharist Workshop that all children must attend with a parent.

• Children should know their prayers – the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, and the Act of Contrition.

o All students and their families will receive a copy of “MY PRAYER BOOK FOR RECONCILIATION AND EUCHARIST”. BCRE is here to support you and also to assist in the preparation by praying in class and reviewing prayers at the parent/child workshops.

• If your child was baptized in the Catholic Community of Billerica (St. Andrew, St. Mary, or St. Theresa), we should have his/her baptismal certificate on file. If your child was baptized elsewhere, we ask that you please provide us with a copy of the baptismal certificate. All baptismal certificates are due by December 1, 2016.

• Attending Mass together offers families a peaceful time to pray in one place together, rather than running in different directions during the hectic week. It also gives us a chance to find our place of peace. Take your child to Mass to give them that chance to ask for God’s help and to receive nourishment and strength. Plus, it confirms the promises made at your child’s baptism – to raise them in the practice of the Catholic faith.

Dates for your calendar include a Parent Meeting in October, a Teaching Mass for

students in November, attendance at a First Reconciliation Workshop and the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in January.

After making the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the children will continue working with their

GO, SEEK, FIND materials and their Children’s Bible to prepare for First Eucharist. Dates for First Eucharist include attendance at a First Eucharist Workshop in March and the

Sacrament of First Eucharist (as well as the corresponding rehearsal) in April or May.

This year BCRE has implemented the use of Sign Up Genius for your convenience in choosing the event that best fits your schedule. To register for the Parent Meeting in October, please go http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090e4aaaaa2eaaf94-first . Please choose the meeting you will attend. I look forward to meeting you!

At the parent meeting, the materials for the journey on the road to First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will be distributed. I am enthused about the GO, SEEK, FIND program and the Catholic Children’s Bible that your child will receive. We will have lots of fun this year as we discover God’s treasure and mark them on the treasure maps using stickers.

I will explain the program in more detail as well as provide you with more information regarding this important year in your child’s faith formation when we meet.

Many blessings,

Chris

Chris Kilburn