Sacramental Preparation
For Sacramental Preparation, starting in first grade, all children are required to complete a two-year formation program. The only exception to this requirement is if your child is currently attending Catholic school, in which case he/she may only attend the Immediate Preparation year for First Communion.
To register for Sacramental Preparation you will need to fill out a registration form, pay the enrollment fee, and submit a copy of your child's baptism certificate at the time of enrollment. The Baptism Certificate should be an original copy or have us personally make a copy of the certificate so we can verify the seal.
We will have several parent meetings and family retreats during the year to give you the necessary tools to aid your children to be better prepared for this important sacrament, so please make sure to mark your calendars to be present at these meetings as there are no make ups.
Order of Christian Initiation for Children
Children between the ages of seven and 17, who have not been baptized, or were baptized Protestant, and would like to become Catholic, are invited to enter the Order of Christian Initiation for children process. OCIA stands for the "Order of Christian Initiation of Adults" and is a process of conversion for unbaptized adults wishing to enter the church. OCIA adapted for children prepares the child to celebrate all three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) during the Easter season. This is also two-year process and is a combination of age-appropriate religious education, sacramental preparation and rites of the catechumen.
