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, 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 or Archangel Gabriel 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 sacrament preparation, children should be baptized, have reached the age of reason (generally at the age of seven), and in at least their second year of formal catechesis/religious instruction (not counting Kindergarten).    

1. Register for First Penance & First Holy Communion track by November 30, 2022

2. Baptism Certificate by January 31, 2022  
Submit your child's baptism certificate to the Archangel Gabriel Parish Administrative Office (address below) if your child was baptized at a church other than Holy Trinity, Saint Malachy, or Saint John of God (Mother of Sorrows or Saint Mary Help of Christians).  If you need to obtain your child's baptism certificate from the Diocese of Pittsbugh Archives Office, click here.

Please mail baptism certificates to:
Mrs. Carol Pfeuffer
Archangel Gabriel Parish
5718 Steubenville Pike
Robinson Township, PA 15136-1311

Please note: copies sent via email will not be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: the sessions are for child and parent. 
 

• Thursday, February 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at Weirauch Hall (below Saint Malachy Church)

• Thursday, March 9 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at Weirauch Hall (below Saint Malachy Church)

• Thursday, March 16 at 6:30 pm at Saint Malachy Church
• Saturday, March 18 at 10:00 am at Holy Trinity Church

• Thursday, March 30 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at Weirauch Hall (below Saint Malachy Church)

• Thursday, April 13 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at Weirauch Hall (below Saint Malachy Church)

• TBD

• Selection is now open.
• 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 thirty-five (35) children.  Selection is accepted on a first come, first serve basis.