Baptism	Confirmation
First Eucharist	Annointing of the Sick
First Reconciliation	Christian Marriage

 

Seeking Sacraments for Your Children Baptism:  Parents attend the sacramental preparation program. Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation: Parents indicate their request for sacraments for their children on the Christian Formation Registration Form and submit it to the Parish Office. What Parents Do Next:  All parents asking to have their child receive Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, or Confirmation attend the Parents’ Sacramental Preparation which consists of “Sacramental Basics” and the “Follow-up Session” specifically on Baptism, Eucharist, or Reconciliation.   There is no “Follow-up Session” for Confirmation. Multiple Children in the Same Family:  If parents have another child preparing for the same sacrament within three years, they do not need to repeat these sessions.  Parents having a child preparing for a different sacrament need only attend the specific “Follow-up Session” as long as they have previously attended “Sacramental Basics” within the last three years.

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• Baptism

For an infant child (under the age of seven.)   After attending the Parents’ Sacramental Preparation, the parents will be able to confirm a date for their child’s baptism.  Baptisms take place during the weekend liturgies and are scheduled at least four times per year.

For a child older than seven or in 2nd grade or higher.  The child and the parents enter into a two-year formation process.  During the first year, the child attends Christian Formation classes for his/her grade.  In the second year, the child is enrolled in the Children’s Catechumenate and prepares for the Sacraments of Initiation.  The child also attends Christian Formation classes.
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• First Eucharist

Sacramental Preparation for First Eucharist may begin when a child is in the 2nd grade (or later) and has previously attended one year of Christian Formation.  Some children are not ready at this age and parents choose to wait until the child is in 3rd grade.   The preparation is carried out in a family-based program involving both the child and the parents.  The parents attend the Parents’ Sacramental Preparation and then they will receive books and materials for instructing their child at home.  The instruction is centered in the family’s participation in weekly Mass.  The child also attends Christian Formation classes.
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• First Reconciliation

Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation takes place in the seond grade and before preparation for First Eucharist.   The preparation is carried out in a family-based program involving both the child and the parents.  The parents attend the Parents’ Sacramental Preparation and then they will receive books and materials for instructing their child at home. The child also attends Christian Formation classes.
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• Confirmation of Teenagers Baptized as Infants

Each Diocesan Bishop in the United States may determine the age of Confirmation and other particulars of the preparation process for his Diocese.  Thus, at Church of the Holy Family, in the Diocese of Richmond, teenagers preparing for Confirmation spend two years participating in Christian Formation classes with their peers.  Teens may begin the preparation in September of the 10th (or 11th) grade and celebrate Confirmation at the end of the 11th (or 12th) grade.

The parish is the faith community into whose life of prayer, worship and service the teens will be more fully initiated.  The special formation is designed to help the teens establish a solid identity as young Catholics who are making a commitment to a lifetime of active involvement and service in the church.  The teens are given a parish-appointed Sponsor who meets with them regularly during the preparation process.  Complete details and requirements of the Sacramental Preparation program are given at the Parent-Teen meeting each September.
 

Confirmation of Adults Adult Catholics who have not received the sacrament of Confirmation may participate in the Christian Initiation process.  Preparation begins in September and leads to the reception of Confirmation at the Easter Vigil each year.  For information and registration, contact the Parish Office.

• Sacraments for Older Children

Sacramental Preparation for children who were baptized as infants but have not had previous Christian Formation usually take two years.  After one year of attendance in a Christian Formation class of the child’s grade level, the second year includes preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist while the child attends Christian Formation classes.
 
• Sacramental Preparation for Families with Children in Catholic Grade Schools and Catholic High Schools

Sacramental Preparation and celebrations take place in a student’s home parish, not in the school.  Parents should contact the Minister of Christian Formation to register children for Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation.  Parents also attend the Parents’ Sacramental Preparation sessions.  Further inquiries should be made directly to the Minister of Christian Formation.
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• Anointing of the Sick

The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is the proper sacrament for those Christians whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age.  It may be celebrated in the home, in a hospital or institution, or in church and can be made by appointment by calling the Church Office.  At Church of the Holy Family we celebrate Anointing of the Sick  at the weekend Masses three to four times a year.