Sacrament of First Communion & Reconciliation

First Holy Communion and Reconciliation Preparation 2025-2026

First Holy Communion and Reconciliation are a continued part of your child’s journey of faith. As you look back on your child’s baptism and forward to their confirmation and active participation in the life of the church, we hope to accompany you. We desire to prepare your child to understand and appreciate the depth of love Christ shows them (and us) in the healing sacrament of Reconciliation and in the gift of His very self in the most Holy Eucharist.  

We encourage you, as the parents and primary educators of the faith, to be involved in Sunday Mass, Parish life, and in each of the activities and family assignments, and to foster family conversations at home based on your faith. We also hope that you will reflect on your journey as parents and renew your commitment to continue growing in your faith, loving your children well, and guiding them as they grow in their own faith. This renewed commitment involves developing a genuine desire to participate in the Eucharist and the sacramental life of the Church. 

Parents with children in Grade 2 or higher who wish them to receive the sacrament of First Communion at St. Christopher's in June 2026 are asked to review and complete all required forms and submit all necessary documents.

This Information is intended to be informative and to assist Candidates and their parents in preparing for these Sacraments.

First Reconciliation: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
First Holy Communion: Saturday, June 6, 2026 (5 p.m.) and Sunday, June 7, 2026 (10 a.m., 12 p.m.) 

***Registration will be available online through the Parish website from Friday, September 26, 2025, to Tuesday, October 21, 2025. The paperwork required will not be accepted through the office. All registrations will be completed through a scheduled Meet and Greet. Please book your family’s Meet and Greet through the Parish website. We encourage the entire family to attend the Meet and Greet; however, the First Reconciliation/Holy Communion Candidate and both parents are required to be present. ***

FIRST RECONCILIATION: Through weekly faith formation gatherings in the parish, children will learn about God's compassionate love, Jesus' warm forgiveness, and His gift of peace to His friends. Reinforcing each week’s lesson at home will allow you to anticipate some questions your child might ask and to share some of your insights about reconciliation and forgiveness. These weeks of preparation can lead to many years of comfortable discussions as your child continues to grow and learn from God, from YOU, and from the Parish faith community. During Mass, parents should help their child recognize the parts of the Mass in which we regularly ask forgiveness and make peace as a regular part of worship.

FIRST COMMUNION: Celebrating this sacrament for the first time, children must have “sufficient knowledge and careful preparation to understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity” (Code of Canon Law 913). Through weekly faith formation gatherings in the parish, children will be encouraged to explore some of the many "gifts" that God has given them, for example, peace, forgiveness, and friendship. The children will be asked to think about what Jesus (through scripture) is teaching us about each gift, and what they can do in their lives to share and use each gift well. We reflect on God's greatest gift - that of JESUS. The children will be encouraged to reflect on what receiving Jesus in Holy Communion means to them and what changes it should bring about in their own lives.

THE ROLE OF PARENTS: Parents are the PRIMARY educators of their children. You teach them not only by what you SAY, but also by what you DO. And not only on special occasions, but also in everyday life. Being actively involved in your child’s preparation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion tells him/her that you are taking seriously the special event that will be taking place in their lives. By your commitment to that preparation, you are communicating your own faith to your child.

What’s involved??

1. Children will receive a workbook to be completed at home with parents.
2. There will be WEEKLY classes for the children held on Tuesdays or Wednesdays,
   from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in the main church.

THE ROLE OF THE PARISH: The parish provides the necessary education, formation and support for families to understand and embrace the meaning and significance of the Sacraments and helps to foster a deeper connection to Christ and the faith. This involves weekly classes and practical learning to ensure the Sacraments are a joyful and meaningful experience.

THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL: For Candidates who attend a Catholic School, the role is unique in that, in addition to teaching academic subjects (reading, writing, arithmetic, etc.), it also offers a religious education curriculum. The role of the school is to help your child gain a basic knowledge and understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Celebration of the Eucharist. Naturally, this cannot be done in one year. As children grow up, they continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of the sacraments. The school’s primary role is in the initial instruction and preparation of your child’s journey toward receiving the sacraments.

Registration Process

• Registration is open FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, through the Parish website. Don’t forget to book your Meet & Greet spot. 
• We require a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate, the Parental Consent Form and the $100 program fee. Please ensure you bring this to your family’s Meet and Greet. If your child was baptized at St. Christopher, we will still need a copy of their baptismal certificate.
• Meet & Greet - A meeting to discuss program expectations of the family and candidate, discuss any concerns and collect required documents. After this meeting, registration will be considered complete.

Checklist for Online Registration.
Registration will open on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025, through the Parish website. Please note that the last day for registration is Tuesday, October 21, 2025.

Before filling out the registration form, please ensure you have:

1. Your child’s Baptismal Certificate.
2. Read each question thoroughly.

Checklist for Meet and Greet.

Before meeting with Levy Anne, please ensure you have:

1. Book your family’s Meet and Greet spot.
2. A copy of your child’s Baptism certificate.
3. A printed and signed Parental Consent Form.
4. $100 program fee, cash or cheque accepted. Please make the cheque
   Out to St. Christopher Parish.

First Communion Prayers
Note: Please practice these prayers with your child every day. Those prayers marked with an asterisk (*) are expected to be memorized. 

The Sign of the Cross*
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 The Lord’s Prayer* Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us, this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary* Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
 
Glory Be* Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

 Prayer before Meals (daily) Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Confiteor/I Confess… (Pray often)
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore, I ask blessed Mary ever -Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

The Apostle’s Creed (pray often)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell, and on the third day, He arose from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

 Act of Contrition (We will use with our candidates) Dear God, I am sorry for all my sins. I am sorry for the wrong things I have done. I am sorry for all the good things I have failed to do. I will do better with your help. Amen.

>>>CLICK HERE TO REGISTER<<<

First Reconciliation & Holy Communion Preparation Timeline