ST. JOHN NEUMANN

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

560 WALTON AVE.

856-235-6555

E-MAIL: stjohnneumannmtlRE@comcast.net

www.SJNcatholicchurch.org

Dear Parents of the First Communion Class of 2012,

The Religious Education staff at St. John Neumann, look forward to helping you prepare your child for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

When you have had an opportunity to look at the attached papers you will see that there is much subject matter that your child needs to grasp as well as dates and activities that you need to be aware of. We, for our part plan to review this information in class. I say review because you the parent are your child’s first and most important teacher.

We can go over the information with your child but it is your privilege to share and live your religion daily with your child. Keeping this in mind don’t forget to take your child to Mass on Sunday. This way your child can be more fully prepared to receive Jesus in First Holy Communion. In addition, we will be holding a Parents Meeting on Thursday, October 27^th, from 7:30PM to 8:30 PM in the church hall to review the sacraments of Penance and Communion, give you details for practice and First Communion days and to answer any questions you may have.

Please take some time to go over the information on these pages. They will give you the information you need to prepare for the reception of the sacraments. I ask that you return, properly labeled, the required items by the dates indicated.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Helen Graziano

Director of Religious Education

PENANCE

We ask you to take your child into one of the confessionals prior to the day of their First Reconciliation. This can be done before or after attending Mass or on Saturday when you go to have your own Confession heard. We will not be having a practice before your child’s First Reconciliation.

Dates and time for Penance

Mrs. Lydia Torres’ class and Mrs. MaryAnn McDonough’s class

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

4:25 PM in the Church

Mrs. Sue Moynihan’s class and Mrs. Pam Raymond’s class

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

4:25PM in the Church

Application

The last page of this booklet is an application. This application must be filled out and handed in by December 14, 2011. This application gives St. John Neumann Church the permission to give your children the sacraments of Penance and Communion, without this paper your child will not be permitted to receive the sacraments.

Donation for First Penance and First Holy Eucharist

A small donation of twenty dollars ($20.00) is required. This donation covers the cost of the Holy Eucharist booklets, flowers for the Church, Holy Eucharist Certificates and Communion banners. The donation is due by

December 14, 2011.

Pictures

NO PICTURE TAKING OR VIDEOS WILL BE ALLOWED IN CHURCH

Attire

No special clothes are needed. The children should look nice.

The children are to arrive at Church at 4:25 PM. The Penance Service will start promptly at 4:30 PM. The Children can be picked up at 5:50 PM. You are welcome to stay for the Penance Service if you wish.

MATTER TO BE LEARNED BEFORE THE RECEPTION OF THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

The following material is to be learned by heart by all children who will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Hail Mary, The Our Father, The Glory Be and the Act of Contrition

A Sacrament is a special gift from Jesus that gives us grace.

The Seven Sacraments:

1. BAPTISM: When original sin is washed away and we become children of God.

2. RECONCILIATION: When our sins are forgiven by Jesus through the priest.

3. HOLY EUCHARIST: When we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus under

the appearance of bread and wine.

4. CONFIRMATIION: When the Holy Spirit comes to each of us with His Gifts.

5. MARRIAGE: When a man and a woman marry each other and promise to live together for life.

6. HOLY ORDERS: When a man becomes a priest.

7. ANOINTING OF When someone is very sick or in danger of dying,

THE SICK: they can receive a blessing with holy oil.

When we confess our sins it is Jesus who hears us and who forgive us.

Examination of Conscience is when you think of what you did wrong and how many times you did it.

Sin is different from a mistake it is disobeying God on purpose.

Penance is what the priest gives you to make up for your sins.

Absolution is when the priest forgives us our sins in Jesus’ name.

Jesus always forgives us our sins if we are sorry for them.

Grace makes us closer to God and helps us to try not to sin again.

God love us.

Jesus said “Love others as I have loved you.”

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are the sheep He loves and protects.

The Holy Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Prayer is listening and talking to God.

The Two great commandments

Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.

The Ten Commandments do not have to be memorized but your child should be familiar with them.

The Ten Commandments:

1. I am the Lord your God. You should honor no God but Me.

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

4. Honor your father and mother.

5. You shall not kill.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not tell lies about your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

HOW TO EXAMINE YOUR CONSCIENCE

These are some questions that you might ask yourself when you think about the times that you may have done the wrong thing. Remember there is a difference between a mistake and doing something wrong on purpose.

Questions

When I make choices, do I sometimes forget to think first about what God wants me to do?

Have I used God’s name in a bad way?

When I went to Church, did I pay attention to the Mass.

Did I stay home from Church when I could have gone with my family?

Have I disobeyed the grown-ups who take care of me?

Have I forgotten to give my body the good food and sleep it needs?

Have I hurt someone by what I have said or done?

Have I taken anything that is not mine?

Have I always told the truth?

Have I been unfair to others?

If someone needs help, did I help them?

HOW TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Form used for the Sacrament of Reconciliation: face to face or behind a screen.

First you must examine your conscience. This helps you to see if you are following God’s rules of love and to see if you have made the right choices. Use the Ten Commandments as a guide.

Father greets you.

You make the sign of the cross (which is a sign of your faith and trust in God).

You then say, “Bless me Father for I have sinned. This is my first confession.” Or later, “ It has been _______ since my last confession.”

You now confess your sins to the priest. (confess means to tell something honestly) You tell him what you did wrong, how many times you did it, and why you did it. When you are finished, you should say, “That is all Father.”

The priest will talk to you now. He will give you some ideas that will help you act better in the future.

Then, the priest tells you to do something to help show that you are sorry for your sins. This penance can be prayers to pray or a deed that will help make right what you did wrong. This penance will help you become a better person.

The priest invites you to tell God how sorry you are and asks you to promise that you will try to be better in the future. You do this by praying a prayer called an “Act of Contrition.”

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they have offended You, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

Father now absolves you from your sins.

You make the sign of the cross as Father says, “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

You then say “Amen.”

Your sins have now been forgiven.

Before leaving you say “Thank You Father.”

After leaving the confessional you should do the penance that you received as soon as possible.

HOLY EUCHARIST

Holy Eucharist Rehearsal

Your child must attend both practices scheduled for their class.

Mrs. Sue Moynihan’s class and Mrs. Pam Raymond’s class

Monday, April 30, 2012

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

4:00 to 5:30 PM in the Church

Mrs. Lydia Torres’ class and Mrs. MaryAnn McDonough’s class

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Thursday, May 3, 2012

4:00 to 5:30 PM in the Church

Penance Before Receiving The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist

The children are required to receive the Sacrament of Penance before receiving the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. The opportunity to receive Penance will be possible during one of the rehearsal days.

Pictures

We would like a school picture of your child. This picture will be used to decorate the bulletin board on the day of your child’s First Communion. Please write your child’s name on the back of the picture and also the teacher’s name. We will display their name under the picture. If you would prefer not to do this, do not send in a picture. This picture can be put in the envelope with the donation and is due December 14, 2011

*NO PICTURES OR VIDEOS ARE PERMITTED IN CHURCH DURING THE CELEBRATION OF MASS

Communion Banners

Each child will be given the material to make a personal banner for first Communion. This packet will be given to your child on the day of their Reconciliation. This banner should be handed in by April 4, 2012. Please put your child’s first and last name on the back along with the teacher’s name.

The banner is to be done with the short edge on the top and bottom and the long edge on the sides. The material will need to be cut to the proper dimensions.

Reserved Pews

Each family will be assigned a pew. The banner that your child handed in will designate which pew is for your family. Your child will be given your pew assignment at the first practice. Each family will be assigned a pew on the same side of the church where your child is sitting.

Guests

We do not limit the number of guests that you may invite. One pew will be reserved for each family. Pews not assigned to a family are considered open seating.

Attire

The girls should wear short dresses. The girls may wear a veil, a flower, a hat or nothing on their heads. The boys should wear a suit or a sport coat and nice pants. The boys should wear a tie. The children are not permitted to carry anything down the aisle that day.

The day’s celebrations should take about an hour and a half.

Mrs. Lydia Torres’ class and Mrs. MaryAnn McDonough class

Saturday, May 5, 2012

10:00 AM

Mrs. Sue Moynihan’s class and Mrs.Pam Raymond’s class

Saturday, May 5, 2012

1:00 PM

The children should arrive a half-hour before the scheduled time on their day. The children are to meet in the hall behind the church and will be sitting with their class.

HOW TO RECEIVE JESUS IN COMMUNION

Before Communion

Make sure your soul is healthy.

Don't eat for one hour before Communion.

Pay attention during Mass.

As you walk up tell Jesus that you want Him to come to you and

that you believe that Jesus is in the Host.

How to receive the Host

Walk up to the altar with hands joined in prayer.

Think about Jesus whom you are about to receive.

To receive on your hand.

· As your turn comes, cup your left hand on top of your right hand (or the opposite if you are left-handed)

· Lift your hands, which are flat, up towards the Priest.

· When you hear the words, "The Body of Christ." answer "Amen."

· Take the Host with your right hand and place in your mouth (or the opposite if you are left-handed).

· Close your mouth, swallow the host and return to your seat.

(To receive on your tongue)

· As your turn comes, continue to keep your hands in

prayer.

· When you hear the words, "The Body of Christ."

answer "Amen."

· Open your mouth and extend your tongue.

· Close your mouth, swallow the host and return to your seat.

After Receiving Communion

Thank Jesus for Coming to you.

Tell Jesus that you love Him.

Sample prayer:

Jesus, You come to me

As Bread to feed me,

Friend to heal me.

Light to lead me.

Welcome, Jesus, welcome.

MATTER TO BE LEARNED BEFORE THE RECEPTION OF THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY EUCHARIST

The word Eucharist means “giving thanks”.

Mass is the greatest prayer to God.

At Mass we remember that Jesus loved and died for us.

The altar is the table Mass is offered on.

At Mass we hear the Word of God read to us from the Bible.

At the Offertory we bring the bread and wine to the altar and the priest offers the bread and wine to God.

At the consecration the Priest changes the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.

At Communion we receive the Body of Christ.

At the Blessing, at the end of Mass, the priest blesses us and tells us to “Go in peace and love to serve the Lord.”.

The Chalice is the cup that holds the wine that becomes the Blood of Christ at

Mass.

The Ciborium is the cup that holds the bread, called Hosts, which becomes the

Body of Christ at Mass.