Pastoral outreach for receiving the Sacraments

This year in the Diocese of Calgary the preparation of children who are eligible to be fully initiated into the life and practice of faith has taken on a heighten pastoral priority. This activity of pastoral outreach, catechesis and celebration of the Sacraments is essential to the evangelizing mission of our Church. For many years there has been the ongoing concern voiced by our parishes and Catholic school faith communities that the average number of children receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation has remained at the same level or even decreased when the general Catholic population within the Diocese of Calgary has increased. There are many factors which have contributed to this trend and the impact of the Covid-pandemic since 2020 has further deepened this negative correlation which affected thousands of families and children in their preparation and participation in the sacramental life of the school, parish and home.  

The statistics are in fact alarming. Based on the pre-Covid average number of sacramental receptions, since 2020, an estimated 2800 children missed the immediate preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, and another 1900 for the Sacrament of Confirmation. In the years 2019-2021 the parishes offered the Diocesan sacramental preparation programs in a modified form, either on-line for children and their parents or in person if possible. Despite these heroic efforts in the past few years to adapt and prepare children who belong to the parish and those attending the Catholic schools for the Sacraments, we must double our efforts of pastoral outreach to those children and their parents who were not able to receive the Sacraments.   

In response to these unprecedented factors, the following opportunities will be provided for children and their parents for sacramental preparation in 2022-2023:

1. Parishes will continue to offer the parish-based sacramental preparation program for those children who would normally be celebrating First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation.
   
   
2. Families and children who were prepared at the parish in 2019-2020 but did not receive the Sacraments will not need to undergo the immediate preparation again, but should be invited to celebrate the Sacraments upon determination by the pastor of their readiness.   
   
   
3. A special outreach is provided to offer the Extraordinary Sacramental Preparation Program (ESPP) 2022-2023 to support families with children enrolled in Calgary Catholic School District who missed the regular parish-based program in previous years and who fall under the following criteria:
   - All students starting grades 3, 4, and 5 Fall 2022 for First Reconciliation and Eucharist
   - All students starting grades 7, 8 and 9 in Fall 2022 for Confirmation.
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4. Families and children listed above in grades 3, 4, 5, 7,8 and 9 can always choose to participate in the parish-based sacramental preparation program being offered and enroll through the parish.

In collaboration with the Diocese we are grateful that the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) has designated a full-time Sacramental Preparation Coordinating Teacher to oversee the planning, teacher training, coordination with parishes, and implementation of the ESPP in 2022-2023. Each K-9 CCSD school will have a dedicated teacher/faith leader who is responsible for providing the sacramental instruction of students enrolled in the ESPP, and to liaise with the respective pastor and parish sacramental coordinator for support and coordination of the ESPP. This includes registration, scheduling of catechetical preparation sessions, parish visit, retreat, rehearsal, and celebration. Parents in the ESPP will participate in online parents coaching sessions facilitated by CCSD staff and the Diocese. Registration and orientation for the ESPP will begin in October 2022.

The Catechism states that “Sacraments are “powers that come forth” from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are “the masterworks of God” in the new and everlasting covenant”. [CCC 1116]. The Sacraments are always celebrated at the parish in the midst of the faith community where the parish priest is entrusted with the care of souls. Yet, as true and proper shepherd, he does not live out this responsibility and mission alone. The ESPP is not intended as a permanent structure of ministry separated or parallel to that of the parish community, but a witness of co-responsibility with our Catholic schools in the evangelizing mission of the Church. In fact, it is my desire and hope that through the participation of teachers, parents, pastors and the parish community needed for the implementation of this pastoral initiative, we will give greater witness to the importance of the Sacraments through the bond of communion where schools and parishes truly exist as the one Body of Christ.    

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Photo credit: Annie Chirka, St. Peter's Catholic Church, Calgary

Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
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​Oct. 3, 2022