Families preparing a child or children for First Reconciliation will use the Mend resource. It contains eight at-home Family Meetings. First Reconciliation will be held on the morning of Saturday, December 7.

Parent Information Meeting: September 8, 2024, 6:45-8 PM, in the School Gym

First Reconciliation Date: Saturday, December 7, 10 AM-Noon, St Brendan Church

Preparation Resource: St Brendan uses the Mend box resource from Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries. This involves 7 at-home family meetings. These are to be completed at home between September and First Reconciliation. Parents must also submit a family-follow through after each at-home meeting.

Day-Of Details: We will begin with a communal Penance service in the church along with an introduction of the priests hearing Confessions. Your child is welcome to have any priest hear his or her Confession. We invite your child to complete his or her penance in the church after the Sacrament. Finally, there will be cookies, juice, certificates, a gift, and the First Communion preparation box available in the Davidson Meeting Rooms. You may leave at anytime; there is no closing service or prayer.

General Confessions: Any family member is welcome to celebrate Reconciliation during this service.

Dress Code: Wear something special for this wonderful occasion! Think about along the lines of what you would wear to a wedding, Sunday Mass, or to receive an award.

Families preparing a child or children for Eucharist will use the Nourish resource. First Eucharist will be celebrated at 2 PM on Sunday, May 4 and Sunday, May 11.

First Holy Communion Date: Sunday, May 4, 2 PM OR Sunday, May 11, 2 PM at St Brendan Church. Mass will likely be 90 minutes. This Mass does ‘count’ for your Sunday obligation. We are limited to 60 families at each Mass.

Preparation Resource: St Brendan uses the Nourish box resource from Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries. This involves 10 at-home family meetings. The first 9 meetings are to be completed at home between First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. The 10th meeting is meant to be completed as part of your First Holy Communion celebration! Parents must also submit a family-follow through after each at-home meeting.

Jesus Day Retreat: Friday, April 25 at 10 AM OR 4:30 PM. We will serve lunch/dinner between the retreat and practice for first Holy Communion.

Seating: First Communicants will seat with their family at the end of the pew. Pews will be reserved based on number of guests (numbers will be requested in early spring).

Reception: Based on a survey of families, there may be a reception offered after the Masses.

Eucharistic Distribution: Children will receive Holy Communion first under both species, the Body of Christ and the Precious Blood.

Photography: Personal photography is not allowed during Mass. We will have individual photo opportunities before and after Mass, as well as a group photo with the priest after Mass. There will be an in-house photographer taking an individual photo of each child receiving Holy Communion.

Dress Code:

• Girls traditionally wear a white dress to display the connection between their Baptism and reception of the Eucharist. Veils are allowed so long as they do not cover the face. Gloves are allowed, but they must be removed prior to Communion.
• Boys traditionally wear a suit and tie out of reverence for the Eucharist. The color should be appropriate for Mass, usually black, blue, tan, or white.

Materials Cost: St Brendan asks a $50 materials cost to cover the administrative time and gifts relating to preparation for first Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

Families with Confirmation candidates will use the Zeal resource. It contains seven at-home Family Meetings and one Sponsor meeting. Confirmation is at 4 PM and 7:30 PM on Friday, May 9.

Parent Information Meeting: September 8, 2024, 6:45-8 PM, in the School Gym

Confirmation Date: May 9, 4 PM and 7:30 PM

Confirmation Practice:  April 27, Noon, in the Church

Preparation Resource: St Brendan uses the Zeal box resource from Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries. This involves 8 at-home lessons: 7 family meetings at 1 sponsor meeting. These are to be completed at home once or twice each month from October through March. Parents must also submit a family-follow after each at-home meeting.

Confirmation Retreat: St Brendan has 60 spots reserved (30 boys, 30 girls) at Damascus for the weekend of November 22-24. reservations will begin in September after the parent information meeting.

Service Hours: Confirmation is the final Sacrament of Initiation into the Church and so we ask students preparing for this Sacrament to begin thinking about how they can best give of their time, talents, & treasure to support the Church and their community. We ask students to complete at least 6 hours prior to Confirmation. Students can begin counting hours after their Grade 7 year is over. We will send opportunities for service at St. Brendan as they arise.

Sponsor: Students will be asked to prayerfully select their sponsor early so they can accompany them throughout their entire year of preparation! This process is outlined in the Zeal box.

Letter of Good Standing: this is required for all Sponsors who aren’t parishioners at St. Brendan. These letters can be e-mailed to sacraments@104.247.72.45/~stbrendans, dropped off, or mailed to the parish office in an envelope marked Attn: Maggie Agra.

Letter of Support: we invite sponsors to write the teen they are sponsoring a letter of congrats, support and/or encouragement for taking this big step in their Catholic journey of faith. These letters can be e-mailed to sacraments@104.247.72.45/~stbrendans, dropped off, or mailed to the parish office in an envelope marked Attn: Maggie Agra.

Confirmation Name: Students will be asked to prayerfully choose the name of a Saint to honor for their Confirmation name. This name does not replace their name given at birth, but they are Confirmed in the Catholic Church with this name as a way to symbolize this important step in their journey of faith as a Catholic adult. Students may also choose to re-affirm their name given at Baptism.

Confession: The Church asks that all Candidates receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to their Confirmation. This sets them up to be in a state of grace when Confirmation is celebrated.

Dress Code: The most important thing to remember is that we ask everyone (including sponsors) to dress appropriately for this Sacred Liturgy! Also, please dispose of any gum prior to entering the Church.

• Ladies:  please wear modest dresses or dress pants/shirt (of any color) along with dress shoes.  Cap sleeves or tank top width straps are acceptable, but please NO spaghetti straps or strapless dresses unless a covering of some sort is used.
• Men:  please wear a suit jacket & pants along with a dress shirt, tie & dress shoes.  The suit jacket is optional, but please wear a tie.  The apparel can be any color (within reason).

Materials Cost: St Brendan asks a $50 materials cost to cover the administrative time and gifts relating to preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.