In 2018-2019, we will offer Sac Prep classes in two Sessions: the Fall Session and the Spring Session. The schedule for the 2018-2019 school year follows. Please click on the name of the Session to access the schedule; it is a clickable link and will open in a new page.
Only children who completed CCE Summer Study in June, 2018 are eligible for the Fall Session of Sac Prep.

Fall Session**Revised due to school holiday**
Fall Lesson Plan **Parents, please access by clicking this link.**

Sacrament Orientation meeting for parents only:  Fall Session: Monday, August 27, 2018
All meetings are from 6 to 7:30 PM.

Children who are enrolled in school-year or home-based CCE or who attend Catholic school are eligible for the Spring Session of Sac Prep.

Spring Session**Revised due to school holiday**
Spring Lesson Plan**Parents, please access by clicking this link.**

Sacrament Orientation meeting for parents only:  Spring Session: Monday, Dec. 17, 2018
All meetings are from 6 to 7:30 PM.

Any student in our sacramental preparation program MUST attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.  You must actively practice the faith you wish to embrace more fully.

Per archdiocesan guidelines, anyone preparing for a sacrament must have at least one year of formation (CCE or Catholic school) immediately prior to the sac prep year and must be in formation the year of sac prep- two years of formation all together.  All baptized students must prepare for and receive their First Reconciliation prior to reception of First Eucharist.  
Baptized Catholic children who are at least age seven AND in the Second Grade are eligible to receive these sacraments.  The best time to begin preparing your child for First Communion is when they are in the First Grade; this would be their first year of formation (CCE or attendance in a Catholic school).

For information on registering your child(ren) for CCE and the Sac Prep program, click HERE or see the CCE Registration Events tab in the menu to the left.

If your child attends Catholic school, you must register for the Sacramental Preparation program.  Please come to one of our CCE Registration Events; click  HERE  for information on dates and times of registration.  Catholic school students do not need to attend CCE classes, but must be registered for the Sac Prep program.   This applies also to students attending St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School.

All classes for students are held in the St. Paul Center, a one-story building at the corner of Isaacks and Ferguson; it has a covered drive-through.  All meetings in English for parents are held in McGivney Hall; todas las reuniones en español para los padres se llevan a cabo en St. Mary's Hall (all meetings in Spanish for parents are held in St. Mary's Hall).  All meetings are from 6 to 7:30 PM.

Students and at least one parent MUST attend all class sessions; only one absence is allowed over the six classes.  Students with more than one absence will be offered a placement in the subsequent preparation program (Fall students to the Spring Session, or Spring students to the Fall Session).  If either the student or the parent is absent, this is counted as an absence for the student. Parents who volunteer as a catechist in the Sac Prep sessions are excused from the parent meetings with Mike since they cannot be teaching a class in one building and learning about the history and theology of the sacrament at the same time in another building.

Our catechists teach one chapter at each of these classes; parents teach the other chapters at home.  Please access the "Lesson Plan" links at the top of this page for information on the chapters you'll be teaching and the meeting dates so you can plan your time accordingly.

For Reconciliation, catechists teach Chapters 1; parents teach chapters 2 and 3 at home.  At the second meeting, catechists teach Chapter 4; parents teach chapters 5 and 6 at home.  Interviews to assess readiness to receive the sacrament are conducted at the third meeting.  

Don't worry if your child does not pass this interview; your child may be interviewed as often as necessary until they pass.  Formation staff are available  to re-interview your child in the church office during regular business hours; simply call ahead to ensure that Mike, Ginger, or Nery are in.  Para obtener ayuda en español, por favor póngase en contacto con Josefina en jmartinez@st-mm.com o llame al 281-446-8211 y pregunte por Josefina.

For Eucharist, catechists teach Chapter 7; parents teach chapters 8, 9, and 10 at home.  At the second meeting, catechists teach Chapter 11; parents teach chapters 12, 13, and 14 at home.  Interviews to assess readiness to receive the sacrament are conducted at the third meeting.  Again, your child may be interviewed as often as necessary until they pass.   

Only children who have passed the interview will receive the sacrament; they  must comprehend at an age-appropriate level the beauty, the dignity, and the sanctity of the Blessed Sacrament.  We want them to receive Jesus with love, gratitude, and respect; to praise the Giver of this greatest of gifts.

These are the four prayers the students must know to pass their First Reconciliation interview.  They can be found on page 145 of your "Reconciliation and Eucharist" book, or you can click on the links below.  The Powerpoint presentations, videos, and the handouts are optional tools to help your student to understand what the prayers mean.

Four Prayers to Learn by Heart in English and Spanish

Cuatro oraciones para aprender de memoria en inglés y español

Act of Contrition

Hail Mary   
Hail Mary Powerpoint - when the Powerpoint downloads, open it and click on "Slide Show" and then click on "From Beginning".  The slides will advance automatically.
Hail Mary Handout - you can download and print this handout for easy reference

Our Father
Our Father Powerpoint - when the Powerpoint downloads, open it and click on "Slide Show" and then click on "From Beginning".  The slides will advance automatically.
Our Father Handout - you can download and print this handout for easy reference


Sign of the Cross

The Order of Mass

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Mike Smith, Pastoral Associate for Formation: msmith@st-mm.com
Ginger Herrington, Coordinator of Elementary Formation: gingerh@st-mm.com

WE MAKE IT EASY TO REMEMBER WHEN TO COME TO SAC PREP MEETINGS:

Please text @prepfall to 81010 if you are participating in the Fall Sac Prep Session for text reminders sent directly to your cell phone.

Please text @prepspring to 81010 if you are participating in the Spring Sac Prep session for text reminders sent directly to your cell phone.

Para obtener ayuda en español, por favor póngase en contacto con Josefina en jmartinez@st-mm.com o llame al 281-446-8211 y pregunte por Josefina.