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. 
 

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

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

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

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

• Thursday, April 13 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in Saint Malachy Church

• Sunday, April 23 at the 12:30 Mass in Holy Trinity Church*
• Sunday, April 30 at the 11:00 Mass in Saint Mary Help of Christians Church*
• Sunday, May 7 at the 8:00 Mass in Saint Malachy Church
• Saturday, May 20 at the 5:00 Mass in Holy Trinity Church*
• Sunday, May 21 at the 12:30 Mass in Holy Trinity Church*
• Sunday, May 28 at the 12:30 Mass in Holy Trinity Church*

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.

• 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 has a limited number of spots.  Selection is accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

• 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 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.