The Diocese of Buffalo offers the following guidelines for developing and strengthening the parish-based sacramental preparation process:

The Diocese of Buffalo recommends the Home-Based model for sacramental preparation. A well-organized program can serve to support parents in their role as first teachers and Christian role models. Home-based catechesis provides families with the tools to help develop good religious habits in the home and to give the proper emphasis on the priorities and benefits of the Christian life.

Parents have a right and duty to be intimately involved in preparing their children for First Eucharist. Catechesis aims to help parents grow in understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist and participate readily in catechizing their children. (National Directory for Catechesis, 127).

Parents control the development of faith practices of their household, including regular reception of the sacraments. The household of faith (domestic church) is the primary building block upon which our Church is built. Consideration should be given to the following elements when developing a home-based sacramental preparation process:

• One or more gatherings with parents to provide formation/instruction about the sacrament and catechetical materials to be used. (Our Parent Meetings)
• One or more gatherings with parents and children to support/enhance the work being done at home - eg. Advent or Lenten program for families to come together. (Our Family Catechesis Advent & Holy Week Sessions).
• One or more gatherings designed to deepen the faith and relationships of parents with one another in the parish (Our monthly Family Catechesis Sessions).
• Opportunities for families to become active in the liturgical life of the parish and engaged in service to the parish and/or community (Children @ Mass - 2x per year).
• A system of communication and a clear timeline for families and the coordinator to cultivate conversation and accountability (Google calendar, Flocknote, www.sjnchurch.org).
• Use of written materials should be balanced with experiences of prayer, service, and community building. Only textbooks found on the USCCB’s listing of approved textbooks may be used, however, a parish is not required to use a textbook.

At St. John Neuman:
 

• First Eucharist and First Reconciliation classes will be held in 2nd and 3rd grade, respectively. Prep consists of a parent meeting, home-based video lessons, and a retreat. Both 1st Eucharist and 1st Reconciliation use BLESSED from Dynamic Catholic. Parents can sign up for weekly inspiration and video links HERE.
  • 1st Reconciliation dates:
    • 9/24 Parent Information Session - 7 pm at the St. Mary Social Hall. 
    • 9/24 - 11/9 Children watch videos and complete their workbooks at home.
    • 11/10 First Reconciliation Retreat & Celebration of the Sacrament at St. Mary's site from 9:00 am till noon.
  • 1st Eucharist dates:
    • 3/10 Parent Information Session at 1:30 pm at Weber Hall (Following Family Catechesis).
    • 3/11 - 4/26 Children watch videos and complete their workbooks at home.
    • 4/27 First Eucharist Retreat 9:30 am to Noon at St. Mary's Social Hall.
    • 4/29 First Eucharist Rehearsal 7 pm at TBD.
    • 5/4 - 5/5 First Eucharist (8 am at St. Mary's OR 10:30 am at St. Cecelia's).

 

• Confirmation - The Sacrament of Confirmation completes one's initiation into the Catholic faith.  It is the policy in the Diocese of Buffalo that young people seeking Confirmation be prepared to do so after at least two years of adolescent faith formation in either a Catholic high school or parish religious education program.  Therefore, the sacrament will be celebrated when in eleventh grade, but no sooner than the spring of 10th grade in the context of the parish faith community. St. John Neumann will make every effort to Confirm students in the late spring of their 10th-grade year. Confirmation requirements include:
  • Must be ready and willing to be Confirmed.
  • Confirmation candidates must participate in religious education classes in a parish setting or a Catholic high school that is comprehensive and systematic, ideally for at least 2 years. At SJN this is our YDisciple program.
  • Attend the five-week YDisciple Confirmation Study in the spring of 10th-grade.
  • Attend the 10th-grade HS/Confirmation Retreat October 19-21.
  • Candidates should be actively serving and supporting the SJN community (altar server, lector, fund-raising, etc.).
  • Confirmation candidates choose a Confirmation name as a sign of their new life in Christ. They may choose their baptismal name to learn about the saint they are named after or they may choose the name of a saint or blessed whose life they admire and wish to model. At times, the bishop will inquire during the ceremony why they selected their name. Candidates should be able to articulate their reason.
  • Confirmation candidates choose a sponsor. The sponsor teaches faith by personal example; leads by being a model; lends support in difficulties; is prepared to vouch for the sincerity of the candidate, and is actively affiliated with the parish sacramental process. In order to appropriately fulfill this role the sponsor must:
    • understand and take seriously his/her own baptismal promises
    • show his/her continued acceptance of the Gospel challenge
    • live a life of faith in and through a parish affiliation
    • have completed the initiation process (received Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation)
    • be at least sixteen (16) years of age
    • receive a letter of recommendation from his/her pastor
    • not be the parent of the candidate, but may be the baptismal sponsor of the candidate.