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 preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion takes place outside of and in addition to regular religious instruction (Family Catechesis, Archangel Gabriel 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 attends the sessions with them.
To be eligible for the sacrament preparation track, children should be baptized, have reached the age of reason (generally the age of seven), and in at least their second year of formal catechesis/religious instruction not counting Kindergarten (meaning second grade students are eligible if they attended Family Catechesis or Archangel Gabriel School in both first grade and second grade).
PLEASE NOTE: all four preparation sessions are for child and parent.
First Holy Communion Preparation Session One:
Step 1. Register for First Penance & First Holy Communion track by November 30, 2022
Click on the "Register" tab on the left.
Step 2. Submit Baptism Certificate by January 31, 2023
Submit a copy of your child's baptism certificate (not birth certificate) to the Archangel Gabriel Parish Administrative Office if your child was baptized at a church outside of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Please mail baptism certificate copies to:
Mrs. Carol Pfeuffer
Archangel Gabriel Parish
5718 Steubenville Pike
Robinson Township, PA 15136-1311
Step 3. Select a date for your child's First Penance
Click on the "Select First Penance Date" tab on the left and follow the instructions.
Step 4. Select a date for your child's First Holy Commuinon
Click on the "Select First Holy Communion Date" tab on the left and follow the instructions.