St. Emily Parish policies and decisions regarding the
Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion
In the spring of 2008, St. Emily parish staff and faculty members began a series of meetings to review and discern the past, present, and future preparation and celebration for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion at St. Emily Parish. The focus was how best to educate and form children and families about the true meaning of the Sacraments; the changes in the Church’s teachings on how to present this information to make it as meaningful and relevant as possible in our lives today; and what we as Catholics are called, through the grace of our Baptism, to pass on to our children. Among the major issues were: parent meetings, retreats, the parent’s role in their child’s sacramental preparation, the number of First Communion masses, the number of children at each mass, how and why we split and/or combine school students and religious education students, processions, children’s song performance, disruptive flash photography, professional photography, individual pictures, videos, receptions, banners, and seating arrangements for children and families.
Sacramental preparation is not only a special time for those who wish to receive sacraments for the first time. It is meant to be a time for parents, families, and the entire parish community to share in; an opportunity for all of us to deepen our own spiritual lives. Sadly, we have seen a shifting away from passing on faith traditions and celebrating sacraments and gifts from God - to passing on family traditions and celebrating parties and gifts from relatives. While our memories of preparing for and receiving the sacrament of First Communion should be cherished, they should not be considered official doctrine or current Church teachings.
Our liturgical and catechetical documents stress the importance of the role of the parents and the whole Christian community in the preparation and celebration of the sacraments. Our mission, therefore, must be to make these sacraments as meaningful and relevant as possible in the lives of children and families today. What follows is the outcome of our meetings including policies and procedures for the the preparation and celebration of these sacraments at St. Emily Parish, effective as of June, 2008.
Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy
- “Liturgical services are not private functions, but are celebrations that belong to the Church, which is the sacrament of unity” (CSL, 26).
Rite of Baptism for Children
- “The people of God, that is the Church made present by the local community, has an important part to play in the baptism of both children and adults. Before and after the celebration of the sacrament, the child has a right to the love and help of the community” (RBC, 4).
National Directory for Catechesis
“General Principles for Sacramental Catechesis”
- Sacrament catechesis “is intended for all members of the Christian community, takes place within the community, and involves the whole community of faith” and that it “involves parents in the preparation of their children for the sacraments” (NDC, 114).
“Catechesis for Children’s First Reception of the Eucharist”
- “The family has the most important role in communicating the Christian and human values that form the foundation for a child’s understanding of the Eucharist. Children who participate with their family in the Mass experience the Eucharistic mystery in an initial way and gradually learn to join with the liturgical assembly in prayer” (NDC, 126).
General Directory for Catechesis
- “Initiatory catechesis for children and young people … (is) closely linked with the catechetical endeavor of the Christian community, so that the particular Church may grow harmoniously and that its evangelizing activity may spring from authentic sources” (GDC, 72).
FIRST RECONCILIATION
Many Catholics today are surprised to learn that the Rite of Penance was revised in 1973, over 35 years ago. The Church recognized that this sacrament had become a very private moment for most people to confess sins and do private penance. The elements of conversion and renewal had been lost. Our document, Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy,called for a revision so that the rites and formula’s (words and actions) for the sacrament would more clearly express the nature and effects (conversion and renewal) of this sacrament (CSL, 72).
Today, instead of beginning with “Bless me Father, for I have sinned,” the priest is to welcome you as you greet each other, then you both pray the Sign of the Cross together. You might begin by saying, “Father, I am here to ask for God’s forgiveness” and introduce yourself. You can tell him if this is your first reconciliation or any other special circumstance to help him understand your situation. As you confess your sins or express what is troubling you, the priest will listen, encourage, and offer appropriate advice to help you start over in a new life in Jesus Christ. He will instruct you in an act or prayer of penance which corresponds to the nature and seriousness of the sin you spoke of, and then you pray the Act of Contrition or any other prayer expressing your sorrow and your resolution not to sin again. The priest will extend his hand over your head and say the words of absolution.
There are several forms or ways to celebrate Reconciliation. Here at St. Emily, we will use The Rite for the Reconciliation of Several Penitents for our First Reconciliation. This rite involves everyone gathereing in church and praying together before the sacrament, followed by separate, individual confessions and absolution. This combines the values of being a community act and a personal act. It was designed to emphasize the relationship of the sacrament to the community. Through the sacrament of reconciliation we are pardoned for having offended God and other people and we are reconciled with God and the Church and with each other. This emphasizes a conversion and desire to lead a new life (renewal).
This all happens through four major actions: contrition, confession, penance, and absolution. The catechesis for First Reconciliation is designed around these four actions.
Traditionally, when children learn about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, they:
- learn about sin according to their age and ability,
- learn about the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes,
- are taught to memorize an Act of Contrition and learn what it means to be sorry,
- and are taught how to “go to confession”.
But that is not enough. We need to help them realize that:
- true sorrow (contrition) can only happen when we have truly experienced God’s love,
- confessing our sins is not just reciting a list; true confession is expressing anything that has removed us from God’s love,
- penance is more than saying a prayer; it is what we do to show our sorrow and our desire to change (conversion) and determination not to sin again (renewal), and
- absolution not only forgives our sins; absolution mends our broken relationships so that we become one with God, the Church and each other, again!
FIRST COMMUNION
Church leaders in the 1950’s expressed concern about Catholic’s understanding of this sacrament. Many began publishing articles stressing the initiation character of First Communion and its relationship to Baptism. One noted theologian suggested that teaching for First Communion should take a new direction. He wrote, “If children are to fit organically into Christian life, their preparation for Holy Communion ought to lead gradually to an understanding of the Mass and to proper preparation for it; for the life of the Eucharist will remain healthy only if it is rooted in a genuinely liturgical life.” That is still true today. First Communion is about our full participation in the liturgical life of the Church.
Before we can begin to prepare for this sacrament or help our children prepare for it, we need to truly understand what it is all about. First Communion means many, different things to many, different people. Some families still hold on to images of First Communion from before Vatican II. In the 1950’s it was common to hear “First Communion is the happiest day in one’s life” or “Children will receive the baby Jesus” or “First Communion is the most important thing to happen in church until the day you get married.” For many parents First Communion is all about the white dresses and veils for girls and white tuxedos for boys. But the celebration of First Communion is an integral part of our full initiation into the Catholic Church that began with our Baptism. Preparation is much more than just showing children “how to” receive the Eucharist. It is about teaching them to fully, actively, and consciously participate in every aspect of the Mass. A person’s First Communion is a sacrament of initiation. It is also a commitment that is renewed week after week at our Sunday liturgy. Celebrating the Eucharist is how we live out our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the greatest expression of our baptismal promises. First Communion should not be the only communion or even the beginning of occasional communion.
Preparation for receiving the Sacrament of First Communion should be a time of transformation. What we do during this time should change the children’s lives – and our own! We need to help these boys and girls understand how receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for the first time changes their lives – forever and always. When someone receives their First Communion, it should mark a difference in how they live their faith every day. This is how we become a Eucharistic people. Children – as well as adults – need to hear this message.