First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion

General Information:

• All children preparing for their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion must be registered for     Faith Formation.
• Families do not need to be registered parishioners to prepare for Sacraments at St. Luke. 
• Preparation is a two-year process that begins in 1st grade with general catechesis and finishes in            2nd grade with sacramental-specific catechesis.

Please contact our Faith Formation office if you are:

• Desiring to homeschool preparation - Since parents are the primary catechists for their children, we are open to parents homeschooling sacramental preparation; parents must register and partner with our Faith Formation office and participate in all mandatory retreats.
• New to our parish - If you are a new to St. Luke and desire to register your child for Year 2, we need email  or written confirmation from your previous parish that your child participated in Year 1 (or general Faith Formation) the year prior.
• Seeking Sacraments for older children - Children older than 1st/2nd grade who are baptized Catholic may receive First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion after two years of sacramental preparation; please contact our Faith Formation office to discuss your child(ren)'s needs.

Confirmation

When registering your youth for:

• Year 1 - please email or bring in a copy of your youth's baptismal certificate to the Faith Formation office.
• Year 2 - please turn in the original, signed, and sealed sponsor form to the Faith Formation office.

General Information:

• All youth preparing for Confirmation must be registered for Faith Formation.
• Families do not need to be registered parishioners to prepare for Confirmation at St. Luke. 
• Preparation is a two-year process - Year 1 is for youth in 7th grade, and Year 2 is for youth in 8th grade.
• Confirmation classes are separate from Youth Ministry.
• Please click HERE for more information about our Parish Confirmation program.

• Desiring to homeschool preparation - Since parents are the primary catechists for their children, we are open to parents homeschooling sacramental preparation; parents must register and partner with our Faith Formation office and participate in all mandatory retreats and interviews.
• Enrolled in Catholic school - If youth are enrolled in Catholic school, this may count as Year 1 prepartion (please work with our Faith Formation office to verify and register).
• New to our parish - If you are a new to St. Luke and desire to register your child for Year 2, we need email or written confirmation from your previous parish that your child participated in Year 1 the year prior.
• Seeking Sacraments for older children - Children older than 7th/8th grade who are baptized Catholic may receive Confirmation after two years of sacramental preparation; please contact our Faith Formation office to discuss your youth's needs.

Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, & Confirmation

• Families do not need to be registered parishioners to prepare for Sacraments at St. Luke.
• Please read through the following options to find the one closest to yours.
• Please contact the parish Faith Formation office to discuss your child(ren)'s specific needs.

For unbaptized children ages 6 & younger:

• The Age of Reason is 7-years-old; therefore, children 6-years-old and younger may be baptized following Infant Baptism.
• Please contact the Parish Office regarding Infant Baptism.
• Children who are baptized younger than the Age of Reason may receive First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation with their peers (at St. Luke, 1st/2nd and 7th/8th grades, respectively).

For baptized Catholic children ages 7 & older:

• Sacrament preparation is a two-year program, regardless of when children receive Sacraments.
• Children may receive First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion anytime between 2nd and 12th grades and Confirmation between 8th and 12th grades.
• Youth in 8th-12th grade may receive their First Holy Communion and Confirmation at the same Mass.
• Once youth are 18 years and older or have graduated high school, they must participate in RCIA to receive these Sacraments.
• Please contact our Faith Formation office to discuss your child(ren)'s specific needs.

For baptized Christian children ages 7 & older:

• The Age of Reason is 7-years-old; therefore, children ages 7 and older must freely desire to receive Sacraments.
• The Catholic Church recognizes most Christian baptisms if they are Trinitarian (baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit).
• For children who are baptized Christian, they will spend two years of formation for RCIC - the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children - receiving First Reconciliation during Holy Week, then Confirmation and First Holy Communion during the Easter Vigil Mass.
• While each family's situation is unique, RCIC is typically two years attending parish Faith Formation classes with some additional content and meetings focused on the Sacraments they are preparing to receive.
• Please contact our Faith Formation office to discuss your child(ren)'s specific needs.

For unbaptized children ages 7 & older:

• The Age of Reason is 7-years-old; therefore, children ages 7 and older must freely desire to receive Sacraments.
• For children who are unbaptized, they will spend two years of formation for RCIC - the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children - receiving Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion during the Easter Vigil Mass, then First Reconciliation anytime after.
• While each family's situation is unique, RCIC is typically two years attending parish Faith Formation classes with some additional content and meetings focused on the Sacraments they are preparing to receive.
• Please contact our Faith Formation office to discuss your child(ren)'s specific needs.