Diocesan Department

Sacrament Preparation

Memo Re: Sacramental Preparation Program UPDATES (Date: November 28, 2018)
Memo Re: Celebrate and Remember Reconciliation & Eucharist - Implementation Notes (Date: June 16, 2018)

Contact Us

Dorothy Burns
Catechetics Program Leader
403-218-5503
Alida Allen
Administrative Assistant
403-218-5505

First Eucharist Retreat

Setting 1: At the Parish

First Eucharist Retreat Teaching Summary | Word | PDF
- Outlines the objectives, teaching steps, activities, and materials for each portion of the retreat.
- This is modeled after the teaching summaries found at the beginning of each chapter in the Catechist Guide (pages 1B, 11B, 21B, 31B, 41B, 51B, 61B,71B, 81B and 91B).
First Eucharist Retreat Format | Word | PDF
- Retreat outline/format including instructions for each portion of the retreat.
- This is a modified version of the "Activity Center Family Retreat" found on pages 97-102 of the Program Director Manual. The Art, Liturgy, and Prayer Centers on pages 100-101 of the Program Director Manual will be replaced by the Parts of the Mass, Church Tour on pages 3-7 of the 1st Eucharist Retreat Format.
- The "Parts of the Mass Center" on pages 3-4 of the 1st Eucharist Retreat Format has been modified from the activity on pages 120-121 of the Program Director Manual.
- The "Guided Meditation before the Blessed Sacrament" on pages 7-9 of the 1st Eucharist Retreat Format has been modified from "Resource 5-B" on pages 108-110 of the Program Director Manual.
- While there is some overlap with the content found in the Program Director Manual, we have made some modifications to some of the activities, included some material from Chapters 9 and 10 from the child's book, and have added some of our own material or resources we have used in the past.
Diocesan Youth Retreat Team Resources Booklet | Word | PDF
- Includes instructions for icebreakers & games, a copy of the Church Tour Guide, scripts for skits & melodramas, and some other additional resources.
Mass Match-Up Cards| PDF
- Match-Up Cards for the "Parts of the Mass" Center - Download

First Reconciliation Retreat

Setting 1: At the Parish
- First Reconciliation Retreat Teaching Summary | Word | PDF
  - Outlines the objectives, teaching steps, activities, and materials for each portion of the retreat.
  - This is modeled after the teaching summaries found at the beginning of each chapter in the Catechist Guide (pages 1B, 11B, 21B, 31B, 41B, 51B, 61B and 71B).
- Reconciliation Retreat Format | Word | PDF
  - Retreat outline/format including instructions for each portion of the retreat.
  - This is a modified version of "Retreat with Children (Model 3)" found on pages 124-128 of the Program Director Manual.
  - While the bulk of the modified version we have prepared is the same in content as what is found in the Program Director Manual, we have designed the retreat to include both children and parents, made some modifications to some of the activities, and have added some of our own material or resources we have used in the past.
- Diocesan Youth Retreat Team Resources Booklet | Word | PDF
  - Includes copies of any handouts needed during the retreat, instructions for icebreakers/games, lyrics to fun grace before meals, and some other additional resources.
  - The "Good Deeds Examples" on page 1 of the Reconciliation Resources Booklet is for an activity that will replace the "Procession with Gifts" on page 128 of the Program Director Manual.
  - The "Memories of Childhood" on page 5 of the Reconciliation Resources Booklet is based off of the "Memories of Childhood" activity on page 125 of the Program Director Manual.
Setting 2: At the School
- Grade 2 in School Reconciliation Retreat | PDF
Download: How to Celebrate Reconciliation Card | PDF
- Note: the text for the examination is taken from the following: pages 127-128 of the Program Director Manual; page 84 in both the Catechist Guide and children's book and the Act of Contrition can be found on page 92 in both the Catechist Guide and children's book.