The welcome to the holy table of the Lord seals the initmate bond which baptism establishes between Jesus Christ and his disciples.  For those baptized as infants, the earliest years of life are nourished in the faith, hope, and love of the Christian family.  The family, in turn, is rooted in and sustained by the parish community, the local embodiment of the whole people of God. 

In time, and especially through participation with the family in the celebration of Mass, the young Christian becomes more and more aware of the wonderful encounter with Christ in the Eucharist, and their role as a member of the liturgical assembly, their larger family in the Lord.

Toward the end of early childhood, around the age of seven, the young disciple, whose baptismal faith has been enriched through catechesis, is presented to the Church for admission to the sacrificial meal of the Body of Christ.  Before they come to Eucharistic communion, candidates are to celebrate sacramental confession.

At Archangel Gabriel Parish, immediate formation for the reception of the Sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion takes place outside of, and in addition to, regular catechesis/religious instruction (parish faith formation,  Catholic school, or home school).  This "track" prepares candidates to receive God's forgiveness and Jesus' Body and Blood for the first time.  The track is "family-based," meaning a parent/guardian accompanies the child through preparation and participates in the sessions with them.

For a family to be eligible for the sacrament preparation track, the cadidate (child) must be baptized, have reached the age of reason (generally the age of seven), and be in at least his or her second year of formal catechesis/religious instruction, not counting Kindergarten.  This means second grade students are eligible if they attended formal catechesis/religious instruction in first grade and are now attending in second grade (See Sacrament of Initiation: Policies for the Diocese of Pittsburgh 119 and 128).

1. Register for First Penance & First Holy Communion track by November 30, 2023
Click here to register.

2. Submit Baptism Certificate by January 31, 2024  
If, and only if, your child was baptized at a church outside of the Diocese of Pittsburg, submit a paper copy of your child's baptism certificate (not birth certificate) to the Archangel Gabriel Parish Faith Formation Office.  Please DO NOT submit this document via email.  
Please mail baptism certificate copies to:
Faith Formation Office
Archangel Gabriel Parish
5718 Steubenville Pike
Robinson Township, PA 15136-1311

3. Select a date for your child's First Penance
When selection opens in early December, click on the "Select First Penance Date" tab on the left and follow the instructions.

4. Select a date for your child's First Holy Communion
When selection opens in early January, cick on the "Select First Holy Communion Date" tab on the left and follow the instructions.

PLEASE NOTE: all events listed below are for the child and a parent/guardian. 
 

• To be completed independently by child and parent/guardian during the week of February 18

• To be completed independently by child and parent/guardian during the week of February 25

• To be attended by child and parent/guardian on Tuesday, March 5 at 6:30 PM through Zoom

• Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 PM in Saint Malachy Church
• Saturday, March 16 at 10:00 AM in Holy Trinity Church

• To be completed independently by child and parent/guardian during the week of March 31

• To be completed independently by child and parent/guardian during the week of April 7

• To be attended by child and parent/guardian Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 PM in Saint Malachy Church

• Sunday, April 28 at the 11:00 AM Mass in Saint Mary Help of Christians Church
• Sunday, April 28 at the 12:30 PM Mass in Holy Trinity Church
• Sunday, May 5 at the 8:00 AM Mass in Saint Malachy Church
• Sunday, May 5 at the 12:30 PM Mass in Holy Trinity Church
• Saturday, May 18 at the 5:00 PM Mass in Holy Trinity Church
• Sunday, May 19 at the 12:30 PM Mass in Holy Trinity Church

• Selection is scheduled to open in early December.
• Please choose one of the dates below by clicking on the button which will take you to the selection form for that particular date.
• You will then complete the form and click "submit" to choose that date for your child.
• Each of the celebrations below has a limited number of spots.  Selection is accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

• Selection is scheduled to open in early January.
• Please choose ONE of the dates below by clicking on the button which will take you to the selection form for that particular date.
• You will then complete the form and click "submit" to choose that date for your child.
• Each of the celebrations below is limited to twenty (20) children.  Selection is accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
• DO NOT complete more than one form or complete the same form more than once.  If you make mulitple selections, all of your selections may be deleted.