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General RCIA Infant Baptism
Confirmation/1st Communion Adult Confirmation
Marriage
Fall 2021 Leader Meetings
CHILDREN: Recording of Oct 27 meeting for leaders of Children's Confirmation/Ist Communion prep
- Initial Pastoral and Administrative Steps for Preparing Children for Confirmation and First Communion (December 2021)
- CHART: Child's Sacrament Formation Paths by Baptismal Status (Dec 2021)
- INTAKE: RCIA Intake Questionnaire/Inquirer Information Sheet-Child/Teen (rev December 2021)
- NEEDED ACTION for Children being Confirmed and receiving First Communion in Spring 2022: Verify baptismal status from a physical record no later than Christmas 2021. Going forward this should be done at the outset of year one formation, with the child being unable to start year 2 preparation until baptismal status is confirmed.
ADULTS/OLDER TEENS: Recording of Nov 4 meeting for leaders of Adult/Teen Initiation and Confirmation prep
- CHART: Adult's Sacrament Formation Paths by Baptismal Status (Dec 2021)
- INTAKE: RCIA Intake Questionnaire/Inquirer Information Sheet-Adults(rev December 2021)
- NEEDED ACTION for Older Teens/Adults: Verify sacramental status no later than January 15, 2022 for any teen or adult the parish anticipates presenting at the next Rite of Election or for Confirmation of a Baptized Catholic. OLFF will be asking for anticipated numbers at that point to determine if, or where, a diocesan celebration of these rites will take place in 2022.
Determining Appropriate Path for Sacramental Preparation Click image to download larger version of decision tree
General Information
Guidelines for Celebrating Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop (USCCB, 2017)
Online Resources on the Seven Sacraments from the USCCB
Liturgy is essential
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) - includes children 7 or older
What is RCIA? (USCCB)
Diocesan Forms/Guides
- RCIA Intake Questionnaire/Inquirer Information Sheet-Adults(rev Dec 2021)
- Adult's Sacrament Formation Paths by Baptismal Status (December 2021)
- RCIA Intake Questionnaire/Inquirer Information Sheet-Child/Teen (rev Dec 2021)
- Child's Sacrament Formation Paths by Baptismal Status (December 2021)
- Godparent/Sponsor Verification Form PDF (April 2021) Customizable Word Doc
Resources for Use in the RCIA process:
- Sponsors and Godparents in initiation process (TeamRCIA)
- Five inquiry discernment questions (TeamRCIA)
- How to discern if children/youth are ready for catechumenate (Sept 2020)
- The Process of Discernment (Archdiocese of Atlanta)
- List of Baptisms recognized as Valid or Invalid (Diocese of St Petersburg, FL)
- Discerning readiness for Rite of Acceptance or Rite of Election (TeamRCIA)
- Discernment Interview Prior to Rite of Election or Call to Continuing Conversion (Diocese of Lacrosse)
- Doing discernments in the RCIA (Assoc of Catechumenal Ministry)
- What are we doing at the Rite of Election? (TeamRCIA)
Infant Baptism
Diocesan Guidelines Infant Baptism (1995) - also addresses child younger than age of reason
Click to view recording of Msgr Marc Caron and Shannon Fosset addressing Infant Baptism at Nov 12, 2020 LFFA meeting
Initial Parent Interview for Infant Baptism (May 2022)
Resouces for Use in Sacrament Formation for Infant Baptism: Simple List with Links (May 2022)
Godparent/Sacramental Sponsor Verification Form (April 2021)
Marriage Preparation
Marriage Preparation Guidelines "Telling Anew the Story of Marriage" (2009)
Info on diocesan policy, permissions, dispensations, etc.
Preparing Children for Confirmation & First Communion
2022 Schedule of Parish celebrations of Confirmation and first holy Communion (updated March 7, 2022)
2022 Memo to PCLs about Spring Celebrations (updated April 14, 2022)
The Diocese of Portland Guidelines to Prepare Children for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist was approved and published in June 2015. The guidelines establish a two year preparation process for all children preparing to receive Penance, Confirmation and First Eucharist which includes the involvement of their parents/guardians. Below you will find a link to these guidelines. A variety of resources to support parish leaders in the implementation of this policy have been prepared by the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation and the Sacrament Guideline Committee. Follow the links below.
Bishop's Letter
Guidelines
• Conformity Listing of Catechetical Texts and Series
• Sacraments of Christian Initiation of Children (Chart)
• Guidelines for Low-Gluten Hosts
• Godparent/Sacramental Sponsor Verification Form (March 2020)
Communicating with parents / guardians
• Sample Bulletin Announcement
• Sample Letter to Parents & Guardians
• Family Consultation with Parish Leaders
Sacrament Preparation - Year 1
• Printable Mass Book for Children
Handout for Who do you say that I am?
• Bible in a Nutshell: Scripture
• Do this in Memory of Me: Encounter Jesus in the Eucharist
• Hello! Can you Hear Me Now? Prayer
• I am The Way, Come Follow Me: Following Jesus as a Family
Sacrament Preparation - Year 2
• Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation
Resources and Articles
Resources for Sacrament Preparation, including: Sacrament Preparation Program for Parishes • Confirmation Preparation for Teens • Resources for Parent Formation • Resources for Children with Disabilities • Video Resources for Children • Supplemental Resources for Families • Suggested Books
Videos
- Sacraments of Initiation in their Original Order (from Diocese of Honolulu)
• Coaching Parents to Form Their Own Children by Bill Huebsch
• Catechizing Parents through their Children’s Sacraments by Janet Schaeffler, OP
• Confirmation at the Time of First Communion
• What do parents want to hear from the Church?