To prepare for and receive First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, a student's family must be registered parishioners of St. Gabriel Church.  The Diocese of Charlotte requires that children:

• Be baptized (every family must provide their child's baptism certificate - submit copy below)
• Have completed 1st grade religious education (in Faith Formation or attending Catholic school)
• Are currently enrolled in 2nd grade religious education (in Faith Formation or attending Catholic school)

For 2020-2021, families will complete a home-based program.  As the Catechism teaches, parents are the primary catechists.  We, as a parish, are here to support you. 

We will have workshops prior to receiving the sacraments in the spring.

You must provide your child's baptism certificate - even if he/she was baptized at St. Gabriel.   

To obtain a copy of baptism certificates for baptisms at St. Gabriel Church, please contact Carolyn Tillman here.

Submit baptism certificate here

Our Sacramental Preparation Fee is $50 per student, payable with online registration.  Please contact Kristen Rivera with financial concerns.

All meeting and workshop dates will be provided well in advance, and events will comply with CDC guidelines on Covid 19. 

PARENT MEETINGS  

• In late October, parents will attend a meeting to receive information about this year's program.   
• In the spring, parents will attend a meeting to receive materials and information about First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

PARENT-CHILD WORKSHOP

The child and one parent will attend a workshop and/or a rehearsal with their child as part of preparation for each of the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist Mass.

First Reconciliation: Will be scheduled in the Spring (March or April 2021) over several dates.
 
First Eucharist: will be scheduled over several weekends in May and June of 2021. 

• St. Gabriel School 2nd grade students will receive registration forms through their school teacher.  YOU DO NOT REGISTER ONLINE.   
• Parents of 2nd grade St. Gabriel School students who are not registered in the parish but who wish for their child to prepare for and receive sacraments with their class must provide an authorization letter from their home parish’s pastor, in addition to a completed registration form and confirmation of baptism.
• Parents who are registered parishioners of St. Gabriel Catholic Church and whose 2nd grade children attend another Catholic school but want their children to prepare for and receive sacraments at St. Gabriel must obtain, complete and return a registration form, as well. In addition, they should notify the coordinator of the Sacramental Preparation at their children’s school that their child will not participate in that program.

Learn more here about sacraments for older students - grades 3 and up.  

Interested in receiving sacraments as an adult?  Learn more here.