Program Description

As parents, you are the first and most important formators of your child in the faith and the parish is here to support you! This year parents will prepare their children for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion using resources from FORMED.org, Please scroll down the page for a formation schedule and links to resources for both the adults and 2nd graders in your household.
 

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Celebrating First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion will take place on the dates listed below. All Masses are full and seating charts will be emailed to each family the week before. Please note the following guidelines and call the Faith Formation Office if you have other questions. We look forward to celebrating your child's First Communion with you!

• Photography is not permitted during Mass.
• We recommend that you arrive 20-30 minutes early.
• Masks are required at all Masses and we will be following the Diocesan COVID guidelines at this link.
• Additional seating will be available in the gathering space.
• First Communion Masses will be livestreamed. 

First Holy Communion Masses

Sunday, May 2 at 1pm 
Sunday, May 16 at 1pm 
Sunday, May 23 during the 10:30am Mass 
 

Parent/Child First Communion Preparation Session

God’s Love Poured Out on Us: Jesus is Our Sacrament. God loves us…unconditionally!  And God reveals this love in the person of Jesus, his Son and our Savior. Let’s explore this greatest of Good News for our lives. And let’s especially give focus to how Jesus desires to feed us for the grace-filled and challenging journey of life with his Body and Blood, the Eucharist. (Presented by Tom Quinlan, a husband and father of two boys, and director of the St. Joseph Educational Center in West Des Moines.)

Parent Session Video Link
To watch the parent session, click here. 

Parent and Child Session Handouts
To view and print handouts for the parent session, click here. 
To view and print handouts for the child session, click here.

 

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What else should we be doing? 

• Bring your child to Mass (or watch Mass online) 
• During Lent, bring your child to adoration on Wednesday evenings (there will be uplifting praise and worship music!) 
• Share with your child who Jesus is to you, and the importance of the Eucharist in your life 
• Attend our Kitchen Table Faith LIVE! sessions (open to parishioners of all ages) on the first Wednesday of each month.
• Watch and discuss the monthly parent and child videos according to the suggested schedule (scroll down this page to Formation Schedule). 

Additional Resources
5 ways to Prepare Your Child for First Holy Communion
First Communion: Is Your Child Ready?
 

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Celebrating First Reconciliation

After attending a parent/child preparation session, please bring your child to one of our parish reconciliation opportunities during Lent. Your personal witness of also celebrating the sacrament is the best example for your own children. 

Parent/Child Reconciliation Preparation Sessions

In addition to the Family Formation sessions schedule outlined at the bottom of this page, we offered parent/child reconciliation preparation sessions on Feb 21, Feb 22 (via Zoom) and Feb 23. Click here to watch a replay of the Zoom parent/child session.

Reconciliation Opportunities

Your child may celebrate his or her first Reconciliation during Lent, any Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri or Sat from 4-5pm in the chapel (please wait in the church).

Preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Before celebrating the Sacrament of Penance, we prepare ourself with an examination of conscience, which involves reflecting prayerfully on one's thoughts, words, and actions. Click here to view and print an examination of conscience based on the Ten Commandments, Catholic Social Teaching, or for your particular state in life. 

Articles
5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for First Reconciliation
First Reconciliation Preparation: A Guide for Parents 

Guide
Guide to Confession from Busted Halo, click here to view and print.

Videos

• Kids Explain Reconciliation. Click here for a 4-min video produced by kids about the sacrament of reconciliation.
• Sacrament of Reconciliation Explained. Click here for a 6-minute white board video about the why and how of reconciliation.
• Sacraments 101: Penance (Why We Confess). Click here to view a 5-minute video that answers common questions about the healing sacrament of Penance (also known as Reconciliation).

Family Formation Sessions
Please scroll to the bottom of this page for resources and our recommended schedule to help you prepare your child for the sacraments.

 

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Family Formation Sessions Schedule

Below are resources and our recommended schedule to help you prepare your child for the sacraments. Your family may take a shorter or longer period of time to complete formation. If you have questions, we want to help! Please contact Amy Slick at aslick@stbonifacechurch.org or 515-850-1883 or Faye Akers at fakers@stbonifacechurch.org or 515-987-4597 ext 210.

September

As you begin your journey to prepare your child for the sacraments this month, please watch and discuss these videos.

1. Parents, watch and discuss with your spouse or another adult, Presence: God with us (Episode 1, 35 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/presence/season:1/videos/god-is-with-us
2. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Loved: God with us (Session 1, 3 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:2/videos/you-are-loved-ep-1-1
3. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Forgiven: God wants you to be happy (Session 1, 4 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:1/videos/you-are-forgiven-ep-1

To create a free account on FORMED, go to https://stbonifacechurch.org/formed and enter our parish zip code: 50263
 

October

As you continue your sacramental preparation journey this month, please watch and discuss these videos.

1. Parents, watch and discuss with your spouse or another adult, Presence: Story of the Eucharist (Episode 2, 40 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/presence/season:1/videos/the-story-of-the-eucharist
2. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Loved: Be his friend (Session 2, 4 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:2/videos/you-are-loved-ep-2
3. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Forgiven: Rules aren’t bad (Session 2, 4 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:1/videos/you-are-forgiven-ep-2

To create a free account on FORMED, go to https://stbonifacechurch.org/formed and enter our parish zip code: 50263
 

November

Please watch and discuss these videos this month.

1. Parents, watch and discuss with your spouse or another adult, Presence: Bread for the Journey  (Episode 3, 34 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/presence/season:1/videos/bread-for-the-journey
2. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Loved: Jesus gives you everything (Session 3, 4 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:2/videos/you-are-loved-ep-3
3. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Forgiven: Jesus, the greatest superhero (Session 3, 4 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:1/videos/you-are-forgiven-ep-3

To create a free account on FORMED, go to https://stbonifacechurch.org/formed and enter our parish zip code: 50263
 

December

Please watch and discuss these videos this month.

1. Parents, watch and discuss with your spouse or another adult, Presence: Biblical Foundations  (Episode 4, 1 hour 6 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/presence/season:1/videos/biblical-foundations-with-dr-tim-gray
2. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Loved: The most special meal (Session 4, 4 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:2/videos/you-are-loved-ep-4
3. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Forgiven: God is here with us, the sacraments (Session 4, 3 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:1/videos/you-are-forgiven-ep-4

To create a free account on FORMED, go to https://stbonifacechurch.org/formed and enter our parish zip code: 50263

January

1. Parents, watch and discuss with your spouse or another adult, Forgiven for Parents: Preparing Your Child for First Confession (44 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/forgiven/season:1/videos/for-parents-preparing-your-child-for-first-confession
2. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Loved: Jesus is really present (Session 5, 4 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:2/videos/you-are-loved-ep-5
3. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Forgiven: Morality, choosing what is right (Session 5, 3 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:1/videos/you-are-forgiven-ep-5

February

1. Parents, watch and discuss with your spouse or another adult, Presence for Parents: Preparing Your Child for First Holy Communion (37 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/presence/season:1/videos/for-parents-preparing-your-child-for-first-holy-communion
2. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Loved: The Mass is awesome (Session 6, 4 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:2/videos/you-are-loved-ep-6
3. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Forgiven: Reconciliation, God’s amazing gift (Session 6, 4 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:1/videos/you-are-forgiven-ep-6

March

1. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Signs of Grace, You are Loved: Stories are amazing (Session 7, 3 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/signs-of-grace/season:2/videos/you-are-loved-ep-7
2. Parents, watch and discuss with your child, Presence for Children: The Miracle at Every Mass (11 minutes) at https://watch.formed.org/presence/season:1/videos/para-ninos-the-miracle-at-every-mass