Lani Bogart
Director of Family Catechesis

Email (602) 954-9089 x5202

Children in our diocese receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (also called Penance or Confession)in second grade. We work with parents to prepare second grade students for the sacrament of Penance.

Requirements include:

Mass Attendance

RE families, along with all STA parishioners, are expected to attend Mass every Sunday. We use the envelope system to track Mass attendance. Some families have found this helps them take their Sunday obligation more seriously.

In addition, students in grades four through six preparing for Confirmation are required to complete a Mass Attendance Sheet each Sunday. Give completed Mass Attendance Sheets to any catechist or bring them to the parish office. Non-compliance with this requirement may delay reception of sacraments.

Systematic Catechesis

The best preparation for reception of the sacraments is a well planned and carefully followed catechesis. There are several ways to meet this requirement. All of them involve collaboration between the Pastor, the Parish Director of Children’s Catechesis, a Catechist, Parents, and the Child.

• The child may be enrolled in STA School where the classroom teacher is the catechist.
• The child may be enrolled in Wednesday Night RE and attend class regularly.
• The child may be enrolled in a non-diocesan school that includes Catholic doctrine as part of its curriculum. If so, parents may formally request the Pastor’s permission to honor the catechesis provided at the child’s school.
• The child may be home schooled and parents may formally request the Pastor’s permission to honor the catechesis provided at home.
• The child may be enrolled in a public school, but, for serious reasons, unable to come to class on Wednesday nights. If so, the parents may formally request the Pastor’s permission to catechize the child at home.

Oral Sacrament Exam

All students preparing for sacraments must pass an oral exam with a score of 100% in order to demonstrate their understanding of, reception of sacraments. Students may repeat the test as many times as necessary to earn 100%.

View Sacrament Exam Penance
View Sacrament Exam Confirmation 1st Eucharist

Parents are responsible to help children memorize, word for word, the answers for the oral exam. Less than 100% on the exam may delay reception of sacraments.

Act of Contrition

Students preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation must memorize an Act of Contrition.

Example...
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.

Family Night/Sacrament Retreats

Family Night
RE families attend three Family Nights each year. The purpose of these Social Evenings is to provide a venue for families to share prayer, food, conversation, and camaraderie.

Each evening begins with the 5:30 PM Mass, followed by potluck style dinner in the Parish Hall. The evening ends with Night Prayer, except in May, when it ends with a traditional May Crowning.

Sacrament Retreats
Students preparing for sacraments must attend a retreat. Parents and/or sponsors are welcome, but not required to attend. Reconciliation for 3rd through 6th grade students, see November Calendar; for 2nd grade students, see March Calendar; Confirmation/1st Communion Retreats, see April Calendar.