St. Peter’s Young Parishioners Receive The Sacraments Of First Communion And Confirmation

The greatest gifts our Catholic Church has to offer come to us in the sacraments. With the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation — we are welcomed into the Church, receiving the abundant graces of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Just over a month ago, our parish was blessed by the celebrations of First Communion (April 24) and Confirmation (April 26). How wonderful it is to see so many of our youngest parishioners reaching these milestones in their Catholic faith!

Sister John Marion, C.K., prepared about 60 second-graders to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion this year.

“The thing about the Eucharist and First Holy Communion is that it is such an intimate moment between Jesus Christ and us when He enters into us fully,” she says. “The children understand that far better than we do. They are so open to Jesus — they have no defenses against His love, so it’s just me guiding them to Him. It’s been really beautiful to see their openness to Him. To put it in their words, they were so excited to receive Communion and become living tabernacles of Jesus.”

Close to 60 parish children received the Sacrament of First Communion on April 24.

First Communion preparation consists of classroom teaching on Church doctrine and the parts of the Mass, coupled with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, which focuses on the contemplation and enjoyment of God. Sr. John Marion also used many parables from the Gospels to help the students more fully understand their relationship with Christ.

In recognition of the many ways God works through the sacraments, Sr. John Marion invites all the parents of those who made their First Communion in April to remain open to the blessings that are sure to follow this special occasion.

First Communicants receive the Eucharist for the first time.

“This is a time of such grace for the First Communicants’ families,” she says. “It’s a time of intimacy where Jesus is quietly inviting and drawing them to Himself. I would invite them to open their hearts to His grace and come back to the sacraments if they have been away or renew their love of the sacraments if they have been faithful. Their relationship with God will be the most important teacher for their children.”

Just as Sr. John Marion felt blessed by her work with our second-graders, Sister Mary Clare, C.K., thoroughly enjoyed helping the 70-plus fifth-grade students in our school and CCD program prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this spring.

“Confirmation is a deepening of Baptism,” Sr. Mary Clare says. “And receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit helps give us back the perspective that Adam and Eve lost. It helps us know who we are before God and who God is for us. The kids have such a deep, true excitement in receiving the sacrament, and they are always very moved by it. They have a good sense of the power of the Holy Spirit being strengthened in them.”

Confirmation classes at St. Peter use a beautiful new textbook recently put together for this purpose by our diocese. The book takes the students through the basic tenets of the faith at an age-appropriate level. In addition to classroom learning, the students are asked to serve others in various ways, both inside and outside the Church. Choosing a patron saint for themselves, as well as a friend or family member to sponsor them on their Confirmation journey provides them with further support in the faith.

Bishop Conley confers the Sacrament of Confirmation on a St. Peter parishioner.

As Sr. Mary Clare points out, our entire parish family can be inspired by our newly confirmed students to open ourselves up to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

“It’s an honor and a resurgence of the Holy Spirit for me, too,” she says. “I tell the students that I get a lot of grace at their Confirmation, and their parents can expect to receive a lot of grace at their Confirmation, too. The amount of grace we receive depends on our desire and capacity, so it’s up to us to make sure we can receive the ocean instead of a trickle of grace!”

Both Sr. John Marion and Sr. Mary Clare are thankful for the hard work and support of the many people who come together to help with our students’ faith formation, including CCD Director Lynette McArdle, school Principal Sister Mary Michael, and all of the teachers and catechists. As a parish, we offer our sincere thanks to all those entrusted with our children’s formation and extend our best wishes to the young parishioners who have recently received the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation here at St. Peter — what incredible blessings you all bring to our faith community!

Bishop James Conley officiated at our Confirmation Mass on April 26.