Saint Margaret of Scotland c

Frequently Asked Questions for those receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Holy Communion

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday May 11th at 8.30am with Bishop Cordileone

The remaining classes are in the form of the First Friday Mass of the month at 7pm, with instruction and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

The candidate and (ideally) the sponsor (see question about who qualifies as a sponsor).

If it is impossible for the sponsor to attend the practice, please appoint a stand-in who knows the sponsor enough to tell them clearly what their duties will be.

Ideally your sponsor should be one of your Godparents, thus emphasizing the link between Baptism and Confirmation. Sadly, some Godparents may not be available nor presently qualified to still act as your sponsor for Confirmation.

Although it has been traditional to do so, it is not strictly required. However, if you wish to associate yourself with a particular saint who you have chosen as a role model, add the saint’s name after your given name when the bishop asks you your name during the ceremonies. For example, if your name is John and your patron saint for confirmation is St. Joseph, call yourself John Joseph during the rituals. Likewise, is your name is Jane and St. Margaret is your chosen patron saint, identify yourself to the priest as “Jane Margaret”. Do not worry if you have not chosen a special saint. Your own given name is to be a saint’s name now, or in the future.

It is important that you go to Confession in preparation to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Look upon it as tiding up your house before inviting an important guest inside. Confessions begin a half hour before all the Sunday and First Friday Masses. On the pamphlet rack are two helpful pamphlets about Confession and Forming a Conscience.

Men are expected to be dressed formally and respectfully with shirt, tie and dress pants and shoes. Jacket is optional. Don't overdo it with the hair gel!

Ladies are expected to be dressed formally and respectfully in dresses that are not designed to draw unnecessary attention or cause distraction. No spaghetti strings please.

a. A "Sacramental Request Form". A gold color leaflet found in the pamphlet rack. This must be filled out completely. We ask for the name and address of the church of your baptism as we send them notification of your Confirmation for their achieves.

b. Confirmation Review package (fill in the blanks!) . This should be completed and returned in the collection basket or in the offering box inside the doors immediately so that the pastor can determine if an interview is needed before proceeding.

To the Parents/Guardians of children who are preparing for First Holy Communion.

Thank you all for your continued participation in the preparation of your children for their upcoming First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Your children have now come to the end of the classroom portion of their preparation having completed four sessions of study. As we transition to the children’s need for First Reconciliation, I would ask that you engage your children to ensure that they are truly prepared for what they are about to embark upon.

In the classroom, we have discussed a number of complex ideas for which your children will need your help in thoroughly understanding. I would ask that you discuss the concepts covered in class. Ask your children to demonstrate for you what they’ve learned and ensure they completely understand the depth of the concepts of Grace, Reverence and the need to prepare one’s soul to receive the Sacred Body of Christ during Mass.

To assist you in this journey with your children, I encourage you to read the materials that have been given to your children during their classroom studies. For the Middle School and High School age children, they have been studying, “Little Catechism on the Eucharist.” For the younger children, they have been studying, “Jesus Our Life,” along with the accompanying workbook which they are responsible for completing prior to our next meeting on May 21^st. We have covered each of the concepts within these texts, so your children have had the opportunity to discuss and question each concept in detail. Do not hesitate to hold your children responsible for the information as it is vital to their understanding of the importance of the Eucharist during Mass.

As you are working with your children to improve their understanding of the concepts, please ensure that they know and have practiced the prayers that have been given to them in class, along with knowledge of the Ten Commandments of God. They are listed below for your reference.

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, 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 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.

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

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.

Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The concepts and procedures for confession have been explained to your children; however, it is important that you cover these ideas with them again prior to attending their first confession. The children have been given a pocket guide for confession to use as a reference. I encourage you to review the guide with them again and help them formulate their thoughts regarding what they might confess. First Reconciliation should be thoughtful and honest, but at the same time concise so that everyone has the opportunity to confess prior to First Holy Communion Mass on May 25^th.

Below are the designated days and times available for the children’s First Reconciliation. These times have been set aside for the children so that they have ample opportunity and so that they do not interfere with the need for others to attend confession prior to each Mass. Please do not wait until the last day and time as we will not have enough time to get to every child if everyone were to wait.

Date	Time(s)
Friday , May 2	5.30pm- 6.45pm before the First Friday Evening Mass
Sunday May 4	7:45am
Sunday May 11	7:45am
Sunday May 18	7:45am

On Wednesday, May 21^st at 7:00pm, we will have our First Holy Communion practice. It is important that the children are present and on time as the children will have only this one opportunity to practice the ceremony. Please ensure that you speak to your children about the seriousness of this event and the need to understand what they’re being taught so that they are equipped to appropriately handle the Eucharist. They will be shown how to properly and reverently approach the Eucharistic Minister, receive the body of Christ, bless themselves, and return for reverent prayer and reflection.

The traditional color for children attire is white. The boys should be dressed formally and with a white shirt and, if possible a tie. Girls should be dressed in a white dress. Please remember that what the children wear is to help draw attention to their Holy Communion, not to themselves. Every effort must be made to avoid overdoing the children’s attire to the point that families of lesser means would feel uncomfortable.

It is not appropriate by today’s standards when a sacred and holy event can easily turn into a stage production. Again, the focus is on Christ who deserves and needs from us our full attention. it is unfair to the children to have the distractions, let alone the priest. As has been our church’s tradition, photographs can be taken outside, during the procession in and out and afterwards for a group photo, but never during the Mass. Videoing Holy Communion is not appropriate.

What do I do if I don’t have the materials listed above (books, pocket guide to confession)?

Extra copies of the First Holy Communion work books that the children have been using and are expected to have completed will be available for purchase at their regular cost at the Sunday coffee cart.

What time do I need to have my children at the church on May 25^th for their First Holy Communion?

Where do my children go for First Confession (i.e., where’s the confessional)

The Confessional room is located inside the church to the left of the statue of Mary. There is a small glass window on its door. A candle in a green glass bowl is burning when the priest is inside.

Every catholic adult should know the Act of Contrition by heart because of our own commitment to regular confession. If the child has to use the pocket guide to confession and read the Act of Contrition, please help them understand the words “contrition” and “penance”. Contrition is a deep sorrow for sin. Penance is something that we do to show we are sorrow for sinning and grateful for forgiveness. I strongly recommend that everyone prays the Act of Contrition every night at bedtime.

You should not be telling your children what they should confess. It is expected that your children are of age to be able to distinguish by themselves, the difference between what is right and wrong. You can help them by explaining what the questions mean in the pocket guide for confession.