Requirements to Receive
First Holy Communion
First
Eucharist for children 2nd- 5th grades
For a child to be eligible to receive First Eucharist, the family must be registered and active members of St. Mary Catholic Church.
In addition, these requirements must be met:
1. A child must be in 2nd grade, 7 year old, and have reached the age of reason.
2. Children must be in their second consecutive year of religious instruction.
3. A baptismal record is necessary if not baptized at our parish.
4. Attendance at weekly Mass is an integral part of the preparation process for this sacrament.
5. Completed all First Reconciliation classes.
6. Must attend First Eucharist preparation classes and the First Eucharist Retreat. Please call (847) 824-8144
Please contact the rectory office to enter a Confirmation at least two years in advance. Please call (847) 824-8144
What Confirmation means
Confirmation, a sacrament of initiation, establishes young adults as full-fledged members of the faith. This sacrament is called Confirmation because the faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong. During your Baptism, your parents and godparents make promises to renounce Satan and believe in God and the Church on your behalf. At Confirmation, you renew those same promises, this time speaking for yourself.
During Confirmation, the focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost and gave them courage to practice their faith. Catholics believe that the same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the same gifts.
Traditionally, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts are supernatural graces given to the soul.