Important notice for those enrolled in 2019-2020 First Communion

Due to COVID-19, mass gathering restrictions, and the current suspension of public liturgies in the Diocese of Calgary, it is unlikely that children will be able to receive their First Holy Communion in May 2020.

If you haven’t finished doing so, please continue doing the home-based preparation course using the materials Maureen have sent you via Flocknote during the months of March and April.

As you know, the situation is fluid and we rely on the day-to-day guidance from the Diocese of Calgary and the provincial government on when we can resume our common life of worship. As soon as we’ve determined a new date for First Holy Communion, information will be available on this page and will be sent out via Flocknote.

For the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Ryan at sacramentprep@saintmichael.ca.

Combined First Communion and Reconciliation Preparation

Our 2020-2021 First Reconciliation/Eucharist Program will begin on September 2020 and finish in April 2021. Parents of students in Grade 2 and up (who are of the age of reason, i.e. 7 years old) are welcome to register before Sept. 13, 2020.

The Parent-ONLY Information Session will be held on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

There are four (4) sessions and a retreat to prepare for First Reconciliation, as well as four (4) sessions and a retreat to prepare for First Eucharist. There will be sessions for children along with concurrent sessions for parents at the same time. Each session runs for 90 minutes.

Parents are asked to complete a Sacrament Registration form, along with $30 for each Sacrament, totalling $60. This will help offset the cost of the materials. Each child will receive two workbooks: one for First Reconciliation and one for First Eucharist. Once you register online, please bring a copy of your child’s baptism certificate to the parish office within seven days of registration to secure your spot. Books and resources will be handed out on September 28 during the first meeting.

If you cannot make Thursday night sessions, please register for your sessions at an alternate parish and we will make arrangements for you to celebrate the sacraments at that parish or back at St. Michael’s. We understand that our families have many activities in which to partake and other parishes will accommodate guest families on other weeknights or Saturdays.

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The program outline is as follows:

Parent Information Session: Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. here at St. Michael Catholic Community (800 85th St. SW)

Sacrament Preparation Program: First Reconciliation (Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

• Session 1: Oct. 1, 2020
• Session 2: Oct. 15, 2020
• Session 3: Nov. 5, 2020
• Session 4: Nov. 19, 2020
• Retreat: Saturday, November 28 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Celebration of First Reconciliation: Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at 6 p.m. (Parish Advent Reconciliation Night)

Sacrament Preparation Program: First Eucharist (Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

• Session 1: Jan. 7, 2021
• Session 2: Jan. 21, 2021
• Session 3: Feb. 4, 2021
• Session 4: Feb. 18, 2021
• Retreat: Saturday, March 6, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Celebration of First Eucharist: Weekends of April 17-18 and April 24-25

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What you need to do:

• Click here to register for the 2020-2021 program
• Click here to sign up on Flocknote in order to receive all the important  email updates for First Reconciliation/Holy Communion.
• Click here to register at St. Michael Catholic Community (if you are not registered in our parish).

If you have any questions or need clarification, please contact Ryan at sacramentprep@saintmichael.ca.

Sacrament Preparation Volunteers Needed

We are looking for Sacrament Preparation teachers for next school year (2020-2021). We meet one Saturday a month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. with a small group of school-aged children, from October to May (8 sessions) learning about Reconciliation and Eucharist. Training will be provided.

Interested? Use this form and select “Sacrament Preparation.”