Sacramental Preparation
O God, awho bring us to participate in the mystery of the Passion and Resurrection of your Son, grant, we pray, that, strengthened by the spirit of adoption as your children, we may always walk in newness of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Sacramental Preparation Information
On 11 July 2019 a postal mailing went out to active St. Mary School, St. Mary Parish School of Religion, and St. Mary Homeschool families with information on sacramental preparations for the coming year. If you’ve a child who could potentially begin preparing for Reconciliation and holy Communion or Confirmation this coming year, and didn’t receive a postal mailing, please contact Brian McCauley by mid August to make a sacramental plan.
Below are the sacramental preparation calendars for Penance & Holy Communion and Confirmation. If your child intends to present himself/herself for these sacraments, please place these important dates on your calendar now. It is expected that the child and their parents attend these sessions. If there is a serious conflict, it is your responsibility to contact Brian McCauley in advance of the session. Please seriously communicating this information to any extracurricular programs your child may be involved in – especially the weekend Confirmation Retreat to eliminate any difficulties immediately before important spiritual events.
Our opening parent sacramental preparation meeting for parents of all children preparing for sacraments will be on Sunday, 15 September 2019 from 10-11 am in the Spirit Center.
Brian McCauley
Director of Sacramental Preparations
740.653.5054 | Email
A Note to St. Mary School Families
Since the young people who make up the student body at St. Mary School come from many different parishes, there may exist some confusion on where the sacraments of first holy Communion and Confirmation are to be celebrated. These Sacraments of Initiation are to be celebrated in the parish church where the person receiving the sacrament is a parishioner. If there is some extenuating circumstance, it is then the responsibility of the child’s family to speak with their parish pastor so he can make a pastoral decision as to how best to proceed with the child’s reception of a sacrament. The parish we belong to is our spiritual home and the community where our faith is nurtured and supported. In a parochial school setting where the student body is made up of parishioners from different parishes it is important that the host parish does not assume a role that it doesn’t have. Here at St. Mary School, we will always respect the relationship that our students have as parishioners at their own parishes.
Preparation for Confession and Holy Communion in 2020-21
| Sept. 20 | Meeting for Parents of Children Preparing for Sacraments | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Oct. 18 | Penance & Communion Parent & Child "Church Search" | 10-11am | Church |
| Dec. 6 | Penance Preparation Session for Parents | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Feb. 7 | Holy Communion Preparation Session I: For Parents | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Feb. 7 | Sacramental Form for Holy Communion Due to Mr. McCauley at parish office | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Mar. 8 | Holy Communion Preparation Session II: For Parents | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Mar. 25 | Penance service with 1st Confession | 7.00 pm | Church |
| Apr. 24 | First Communion Retreat: All St. Mary Parish Children - cancelled | 9am-12pm | Spirit Center |
| Apr. 25 | Mass with First Holy Communion – Children will meet by 10.30 | 11.15 Mass | Church |
Preparation for Confirmation in 2020-21
| Sept. 20 | Meeting for Parents of Children Preparing for the Sacraments | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Oct. 4 | Confirmation Preparation Session I: Candidates & Parents | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Oct. 25 | Confirmation Preparation Session II: Candidates & Parents | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Nov. 8 | Confirmation Preparation Session III: Candidates & Parents | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Dec. 2 | Sacramental Form for Confirmation Due to Mr. McCauley at Rectory | Rectory | |
| Dec. 9 | Confirmation Letter to Fr. Eilerman Due to Mr. McCauley at Rectory | Rectory | |
| Jan. 17 | Confirmation Preparation Session IV: Candidates & Parents | 10-11am | Spirit Center |
| Confirmation Retreat Weekend at Camp Damascus | TBD | Camp Damascus | |
| Confirmation Rehearsal for Candidates & Sponsors | 12.30 pm | Church | |
| Holy Mass with Administration of Confirmation – Candidates will meet by 6:15pm | 7.00 pm | Church |
Register your child to attend the Confirmation Retreat at Camp Damascus – February 2020
1. Go to www.damascus.net/programs and click “register online”.
2. Create an account for you and your student (or log in if you have an existing account with Damascus or CYSC)
3. Go to “Make a Reservation”
4. Select “I belong to a group that has already reserved space”
5. Enter the code C8MARY
6. Select the session that appears, fill out the forms, and complete the reservation.