Faith & Sacraments

A two-year journey of preparation, culminating in First Reconciliation and First Communion.

Under the leadership and guidance of the pastor and the Director of Religious Education, Second Grade students at School of St. Mary prepare to celebrate the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion, a two-year journey that begins in First Grade and reaches its close in Second Grade. Parents are the “first teachers” in this formation, and every step of preparation, from parent meetings to Child-Parent retreats, centers on that partnership.

How Students Prepare for the Sacraments

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First Grade: Preparation Begins

Students begin an in-depth, two-year preparation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion, laying the foundation for what these Sacraments mean before the immediate year of preparation begins.
Second Grade: Celebrating the Sacraments

Students enter the immediate year of preparation, beginning with a Candlelight Prayer Service that recalls the light received at Baptism. They celebrate Reconciliation in the winter and First Communion in the spring, and a dedicated Child-Parent retreat prepares families for each.

The pastor and Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Clare Giannelli, guide religious education for Second Grade.

A Sacrament of Mercy

Preparing children for the Sacrament of Reconciliation shows them that God is love, always ready to forgive, and that naming aloud what is in our hearts prepares us to receive that forgiveness. School of St. Mary’s in-depth, two-year preparation begins in First Grade, and we celebrate the Sacrament each winter of Second Grade. Along the way, families take part in a Candlelight Prayer Service, a mandatory parent meeting (one of two offered), and a mandatory Child-Parent retreat.

Parents can find the dates for all events in MySOSM.

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Coming to the Table

School of St. Mary’s in-depth, two-year preparation for First Communion begins alongside Reconciliation preparation in First Grade, and we celebrate the Sacrament each spring of Second Grade. As with Reconciliation, families attend a mandatory parent meeting and a mandatory Child-Parent retreat in the weeks leading up to the celebration, reflecting how central parents remain to this stage of formation.

You can find all dates and details on MySOSM.

Faith Woven Through Every Day

Each school day begins with prayer, and Second Graders attend Mass together as a school community, building the habits of worship and reflection that carry them toward their Sacraments in the spring.