Prayers and Teachings to Learn

before First Holy Communion and First Penance

These should be memorized.

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Grace Before Meals
Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts,
which we are about to receive,
from thy bounty,
through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend thee, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen

Prayer to St. Margaret
St. Margaret, pray for us

Prayer to One’s Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

The Ten Commandments of God

1. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day.

4. Honor your father and your mother.

5. You shall not kill.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

The Apostles’ Creed
(numbered by its twelve basic articles)

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3. Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
4. suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead.
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
7. From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and life everlasting.
Amen.

Parent and Child Sessions

Parent and Child Sessions for First Holy Communion

The Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children. In the words of the Second Vatican Council: “Since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators. This role in education is so important that only with difficulty can it be supplied where it is lacking.”

The following Parent and Child sessions are intended to actualize the teaching of the Church in a practical way at St. Margaret Parent. The ultimate purpose of all of this, after all, is the salvation of each child’s eternal soul. Each of the four sessions has a different aim, which will help in accomplishing this purpose. We would ask that at least one parent attend each session with their child. You will find that appropriate preparation for First Holy Communion can only happen when we all work together to dispose ourselves to the grace of God.

The Parent and Child Sessions are shorter. They end at 7:00 p.m. so that families can attend the Wednesday Evening Mass at our parish. We strongly recommend it. If the eventual desire is for the children to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we know that only Jesus Christ can fully prepare them. So, by the greatest prayer that exists, the Holy Mass, we sanctify our preparation for receiving the Sacraments. On days where only children are required to attend, the Wednesday Evening Mass still takes place. You may attend while your child is in class and pray for them there to understand the gift that Jesus gives to them.

Session I: Opening Informational Session
At this session, the parents and children will receive an introduction into the Sacraments
of Penance and the Eucharist and an overview of what is going to happen this year.

Session II: Family Preparation for First Penance
There is an intrinsic connection between the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. At this session, parents and children will prepare for the child’s first confession, which will take place during the parish’s Advent Penance Service (date to be announced).

Session III: Regular Penance and the Holy Mass
Catholics are required by Church Law to confess mortal sins at least once every year, but holiness can only happen by regular confession, even weekly. At this session, parents and children will be prepared to make a second confession during the Lenten Season during the regular confession times before Mass. This will help children to understand the regular practice. There will also be teaching given on the beauty and truth of the Holy Mass.

Session IV: Final Preparation for First Holy Communion
The time for the child’s First Holy Communion will be fast approaching. We will gather for prayer, teaching, and spiritual preparation for reception of the Most Blessed Sacrament, God in our midst.

First Confession and First Communion

The Sacrament of Penance
First Confession is celebrated during the advent parish penance service. Children will make an additional confession in Lent during regular confession times before Mass. Children will have the priest who hears their confession(s) sign a card to demonstrate attendance. These two confessions introduce children and families into the regular practice of the Sacrament of Penance. Students will memorize the confession procedure.

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
This children will receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for the first time during a parish Sunday Mass on the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), which falls two Sundays after Pentecost. Leading up to the reception of the Holy Eucharist, children must attend Mass with their families on every Sunday and be properly instructed and disposed to receive the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Catechists, Resources, and Additional Materials

Catechists
Catechists are laypeople committed to Jesus and His Catholic Church who dedicate their time to assist parents in the parents’ primary role of educating their children in the Catholic Faith. They are carefully recruited for their fidelity to the Church and are ready to help parents and children.
Resources for FHC Children
Jesus Our Life. Faith and Life Revised Ed. Book 2. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2002. ISBN 0898707064
Jesus Our Life. Faith and Life Revised Ed. Book 2 Activity Book. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2002. ISBN 0898708958
Coggi, Fr. Roberto, Little Catechism on the Eucharist. New Hope, KY: New Hope Publications, 2005. ISBN 1892975306
Support and Materials for Parents
Three meetings with parents explained above.
Both formal and informal encouragement for parents to life their faith and practice Eucharistic devotion.
Parish priests, director of religious education, and catechists are available to support parents in their primary right and duty of teaching their children the Faith.

Program Details

Program, Structure, and Schedule
Our First Holy Communion Program is supplemental to 2nd Grade CCD Sunday School (Generally all FHC still attend Sunday School). Children will attend 75 minute evening sessions two times per month, generally on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. These sessions begin in October and end with First Communion.

Classes

Classes for Children at Normal First Communion Age
2nd Grade (approximately 7 years old) and all those up to the age of 10 who have not yet received First Holy Communion but are not suited to the RCIA for children.

Classes for Older Children
Those who are age 11 or older and are not suited to the RCIA for children.

At least four of the sessions are parent and child sessions:
One before the beginning of the year
One before First Penance
One before Lent
One before First Holy Communion

Schedule for First Holy Communion Class 2008-2009
Sessions are on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month, except April 22nd.

For each class you will see below:

Class #
What Day?
For Whom?
What time?
Theme?

1
October 1, 2008
Parents w/ Children*
6:15-7:00 pm
Family Orientation / 7:00 p.m. Mass

2
October 15, 2008
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 1-3

3
November 5, 2008
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 4-6

4
November 19, 2008
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 7-9

5
December 3, 2008
Parents w/ Children*
6:15-7:00 pm
Family Preparation for First Penance (Ch. 17 and 18) / 7:00 p.m. Mass

7
December 17, 2008
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 10 and 11: Christmas and the Eucharist

8
January 7, 2009
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 12 and 13: The Holy Family and the Good News

9
January 21, 2009
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 19 and 20: Penance and “penance”

10
February 4, 2009
Parents w/
Children*
6:15-7:00 pm
Family Session (Ch. 22) /
7:00 p.m. Mass

11
February 18, 2009
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 23 and 24: Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

12
March 4, 2009
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 25 and 26: The Mass

13
March 18, 2009
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 27 and 28: The Presence of Jesus

14
April 1, 2009
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 29-31 Ascension, Pentecost, and the Church

15
April 22, 2009**
Parents w/ Children*
5:30-7:00 pm
Family Preparation for FHC (Ch. 21) / Interviews / 7:00 p.m. Mass

16
May 6, 2009
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 32-33 (Mary and the Eucharist)

17
May 20, 2009
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Ch. 34

18
June 3, 2009
Children
6:15-7:30 pm
Final Class Session: Being ready to receive our Lord.

19
June 8, 2009
Parents w/ Children*
6:00-8:00 pm
First Holy Communion Practice and Final Preparation

20
June 14, 2009
ALL
8:30 am Mass
First Holy Communion - please arrive at parish hall by 7:45 am

• On parent and child sessions, at least one parent must attend.
• Chapter numbers are from the student book and workbook. Parents can review these chapters with their children as the weeks go by.

First Holy Communion Basic Information

First Holy Communion News and Notes

First Holy Communion 2009
Sunday, June 14th, during the 8:30 a.m. Mass. Please arrive at the parish hall by 7:45 a.m..

Practice for First Holy Communion
Monday, June 8, 2009 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. (At least one parent must attend with child)

Contact Person
Max Pawlowski
(760) 941-5560

Dress Code
Boys – dress shoes, dark socks, dark pants,

white button-down shirt, and a tie (no jacket, for uniformity)
Girls – modest white dress, dress shoes

(veil is optional, but appropriate)
Note: First Holy Communion attire is formal,

but should not be overdone.

Picture-Taking
None during Mass please. Our parish photographer will take them and make them available on the parish

website. After Mass, you may use your camera in the piazza for group and individual pictures with the pastor. No video cameras please.

Reception
Light refreshments immediately following Mass in the Piazza.

Seating Assignments
Children will sit together as a group with their catechists and receive First Holy Communion as a group after all other parishioners have received.

Further Preparation
Attend Mass every Sunday. Make sure that all family members who will be receiving Holy Communion during the Mass are Catholics in good standing and have made a good confession so that they are not conscious of grave sins that have not been confessed. This is a great day for all to receive Him worthily.

Family Readiness
Within your family, make it a point to stress the spiritual significance of your child’s First Holy Communion to your child’s other siblings and to other members of the family. This can be a moment of spiritual renewal for many within your family!