Helping Parents Prepare Children at Home for First Eucharist and Reconciliation

Joe Paprocki Leading a Parish Program

God's Gift sacramental preparation DVDs

One of the things that we learned from the experience of the pandemic over the last few years was how to assist parents at home with the faith formation of their children. This help often took the form of providing parents with digital resources they could use at home with their children, utilizing them when their schedules allow quality time for faith formation.

First Eucharist is one of the primary moments in the life of a family when we need to do all we can to assist parents in preparing their children to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. In addition to making children’s books available in digital format, Loyola Press also made available in digital format the video component of the God’s Gift: Eucharist and Reconciliation programs. There are five video segments per sacrament that are available in online streaming format:

  • Dramas—The essence of each sacrament is presented through a heartwarming story of family and friends. (Reconciliation Sample / Eucharist Sample)
  • Informational/How-To Videos—I lead viewers through an explanation of the rite, along with what to expect, and help families walk step by step through each sacrament. (Reconciliation Sample / Eucharist Sample)
  • Chapter-by-Chapter Tracks—Master catechists share key faith concepts through engaging mini-lessons that follow the Child’s Book chapter by chapter. (Reconciliation Sample / Eucharist Sample)
  • Personal Testimonials—Catholics of all ages share real-life stories of the grace they found in celebrating each sacrament. (Reconciliation Sample / Eucharist Sample)
  • Prayers and Practices—Tutorials help children take to heart prayers and practices of our faith, including the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the Act of Contrition. (Reconciliation Sample / Eucharist Sample)

Let’s continue to do all we can to equip and empower parents to walk with their children on their faith formation journey, especially as they prepare to receive Jesus in the Eucharist!

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly
About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

Related Articles

No Picture
Liturgy and Sacraments

A Magnificent Banquet

Lisa Brown Liturgy and Sacraments, Primary Grades

During the “Christmas honeymoon”—those few weeks of Ordinary Time between Christmas and Lent—I found that I had been lulled into a sense of complacency. My second-grade class had covered a lot of material during the fall, and I felt good about their grasp of the material. But then reality hit me—their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion were only weeks away! I started to panic, and I wondered if my students were really prepared for […]

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly
At-Home Edition - Family Catechesis
Family Catechesis

Family Catechesis: Telling Parents “You Can Do This!”

Joe Paprocki Family Catechesis

Last week, I wrote about the importance of the adult faith formation “piece” of family catechesis. This week, I’d like to take some time to talk about assisting parents in actually doing the work of catechizing their children. Most parents understandably react to being told that they are their child’s primary catechist by reminding us that they are not teachers. My friend David Heimann, Director of Religious Education at St. Andrew Parish in Chicago, explains […]

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly
Pop-Up Catechesis with Joe Paprocki
Liturgy and Sacraments

Pop-Up Catechesis: First Eucharist Retreat at Home

Joe Paprocki Liturgy and Sacraments

With the ongoing pandemic and shelter-in-place restrictions, almost every aspect of our lives has changed, including major events such as graduations, showers, birthday parties, Confirmations, weddings, and First Holy Communions. For many children, a First Eucharist retreat is part of their preparation at the parish. Since the present crisis precludes such gatherings, I offer some suggestions for doing a First Eucharist retreat at home, in today’s episode of Pop-Up Catechesis.  Here are some resources to […]

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*