Reconciliation & First Holy Communion

Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion — Peace and Joy of Christ Be with You.

Second grade, or seven years of age, is the expected age for celebrating these sacraments. A copy of the child's Baptism Certificate is mandatory.

The norm for the Diocese of Orlando states that the first reception of Penance and Reconciliation always precedes the first reception of Holy Communion for the Latin Rite/Roman Catholics.

For members of Blessed Trinity Parish, preparation for these sacraments is a yearlong process of formation involving Sunday Morning Faith Formation (elementary school), EDGE (middle school), or LifeTeen (high school) classes, along with required parent-and-child sacramental classes and rehearsal ceremonies — First Reconciliation in the fall and First Holy Communion in the spring.

Our parish catechetical formation program also offers a mandatory one-day mini-retreat for children, on a designated weekend, along with the rehearsal ceremonies. For parents or families unable to fulfill these sacramental guidelines, the parish offers parent packets for home study and a mandatory one week of early-summer classes to complete the catechetical requirements. Families who take this path forfeit participation in the May First Holy Communion ceremony; make-up classes are no longer scheduled for missed normal or required religious education sessions. Summer ceremonies and liturgies will be scheduled for the celebration and reception of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.