Initiation
St. Mary/St. Frances Cabrini Parish
Conneaut, Ohio

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First Reconciliation Parent Meetings
Tuesday, October 21, 2008,  6:30 p.m.    Parish Offices
Tuesday, November 11, 2008,  6:30p.m.  Parish Offices

First Reconciliation Celebration
Saturday, January 24, 2009  10:00 a.m. SFC Church

First Eucharist Parent Meetings
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:30 p.m.  Parish Offices
Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 6:30 p.m.  Parish Offices

Jesus Day
Saturday, April 25, 2009  9:00-Noon  SFC Hall

Class (instead of retreat)
Sunday, April 26, 2009.9:15-10:45 a.m.   SFC Hall

Rehearsal for First Communion
Thursday, April 30, 2009 6:30-7:30 p.m.,   SFC Church

First Communion
Saturday, May 2, 2009 .  10:00 a.m. SFC Church

Dear Parent and Candidate:

This booklet is offered to parents as an aide to sharing and participating as a family, in your child’s preparation to receive two wonderful gifts of God’s love: your child’s reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist in a more meaningful and fruitful way.

Jesus Book Guide

As parents you are the most important and lasting influence in your child’s life.  To help you to take an active role in your child’s preparation to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, we have prepared this Jesus Book Guide.  Although the Religious Education Program and faith community are here to assist your child, you as parents have the greatest impact on your child’s development.  The Jesus Book is intended to enhance your child’s preparation for receiving the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.  You and the members of your extended families and friends are invited to participate in making the Jesus Book. 

You will find in this guide a simple outline for your child to follow in preparing his/her Jesus Book.  We encourage you to elaborate in any way upon the outline presented.  This project is not meant to be a chore, but a fun family project designed to enlighten each family member’s awareness of Jesus and the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. 

Purpose:  The Jesus Book is a special memory book through which you and your child trace together your faith journey.  It is an opportunity to share family love, understanding, and appreciation.  It is designed to

      1.   help you and your child get to know one another better through sharing your growth in faith.

      2.   help children and parents continue to learn how to integrate religion and life. 

Suggestions:  To make the Jesus Book, you should gather the following materials:  a scrapbook with filler pages, various art supplies of your choice, magazines, photos, etc.  As often as possible, try to work on the Jesus Book as a family.  Feel free to choose from the various suggestions and of course, add your own ideas. 

Themes

 1.   Family

      a.   Make a family tree
      b.   Place pictures of yourself and your family in your                           Jesus Book.
      c.   Tell about each family member, including yourself.
      d.   Tell what your family means to you.

Suggestion:  Write a thank you letter to each member of your family telling why you love him/her. 

2.   Baptism

      a.   Tell the date of your baptism.
      b.   Tell where you were baptized.
      c.   Tell who your godparents are.
      d.   Tell what baptism is.
      e.   Tell what it means to be in God’s family.
      f.    Place pictures of your baptism day in your Jesus Book.
      g.   Tell how and why your parents chose your name (patron saint)

     Suggestions:  Parents and godparents help your child/godchild relive his/her baptism day by writing a short paragraph about the events of the day and the happiness you experienced in bringing him/her into God’s family. 

Family and Baptism sections should be completed for turn in and review on Sunday, February 15, 2009. 

3.   Sacrament of Reconciliation

      Penance Theme:  The Good Shepherd
      a.   Describe what being sorry is.
      b.   Describe what forgiving others and being forgiven means.
      c.   Describe what it means to be forgiven by Jesus.
      d.   Tell a story through pictures about forgiving.
      e.   Write a love letter to Jesus telling him you are sorry for being unloving.
      f.    Parents write a letter to your child about how you feel when you are forgiven by another.
      Suggestions:  Read from a children’s Bible or tell in your own words the following Bible stories about forgiveness:

            The Prodigal Son  Luke 15:11-32
            The Parable of the Lost Sheep Matthew 18:10-14; Luke 15:1-7  
            The Good Shepherd John 10:1-4
            Psalm 23:  The Lord is my Shepherd 

      Have your child draw a picture or write the stories in his/her own words.  Write a letter to your child about the ways he/she is already acting like Christ, i.e., being obedient, loving, caring, kind, praying.  Feel free to incorporate your child’s class activities in the Jesus Book.

4.   First Communion

Theme:  New Life

      a.   Tell why food is necessary and an important gift for life with God.

      b.   Tell how food, when shared with others, is a sign of love.  Examples:  birthday parties, Thanksgiving dinner, weddings, holidays.  Feel free to include pictures of these special family and friend events.

      c.   Tell your child the story of the loaves and fishes, (Matthew 6:34-44).  Explain that Jesus gave food to the people who needed it.  Have your child draw a picture of this miracle.

      d.   Explain the Eucharist as Jesus truly giving himself in Communion.  Have your child describe what the bread and wine actually become at the Consecration.  Have your child draw a picture representing Communion.     

      e.   Tell why Jesus gives himself as food. 

Suggestions:  Write a thank you prayer to God for his gift, Jesus.  Parents, family and friends write a paragraph about your First Communion and what it meant to you.  This is also a very good time to ask family members and friends to write the child a love letter encouraging his/her efforts and telling what makes him/her so special. 

The First Communion Section is completed at home. 

5.   General Information 

a.   There will be no specific dress regulations for the celebration of First Communion.  It is suggested that: girls wear white dresses, with or without a veil;  boys wear dress slacks or a suit, white shirt and tie.

b.   Picture-taking by parents and relatives of the communicants is not permitted during the Mass.

The class picture will be taken immediately after the Mass.
Individual pictures will be taken immediately following the Mass.

The First Reconciliation/Eucharist Team

Mrs. Pat Guglielmo, Second Grade Catechist
Rev. Raymond J. Thomas, Pastor
Sr. Barbara Morscher, SND, Director of Religious Education    

FAMILY PRAYER

  God made us a family…

We need one another,

We love one another,

We forgive one another,

We work together,

We play together,

We worship together.

 Together we hear God’s Word…

Together we grow in Christ,

Together we love everyone,

Together we serve our God,

Together we hope for heaven.

These are our hopes and ideals.

Help us to attain them, O God,

through Jesus Christ.  Amen.