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! During our weekly faith formation sessions throughout 2021-22, we will use the Blest Are We: Faith in Action series to help you prepare your child for the sacraments.

For 2nd grade, Blest Are We focuses on the Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Community. Units include We Gather as Believers, We Ask God's Forgiveness (preparing for Penance & Reconciliation), We Celebrate the Word of God, We Celebrate the Gift of Eucharist (preparing for First Holy Communion), and We Go in Peace.

Online Access

This year our new 1st -5th grade Blest Are We: Faith in Action curriculum for 1st-5th graders includes online resources available to families to support the student workbook. Whether your child is attending sessions in person or you have chosen our home study option, we encourage you to explore the Flourish website. In addition to a digital copy of your child’s workbook, the site also has a wide variety of free Catholic faith resources, such as discovery and prayer activities for seasons like Advent and Lent, saints stories, virtual tours of cathedrals around the world and much more!

To access your child’s online account 

1. Go to  https://www.flourishkh.com/ 
2. Click on LOGIN in the upper right corner 
3. Enter in lower case the first letter of your child’s first name followed by your child’s last name (in some cases where we had duplicates, you may need to enter the first two letters of your your child’s first name) 
4. The password for everyone is faith 
5. The PIN for everyone is 50263

Celebrating First Reconciliation

Your child may celebrate his or her first Reconciliation during Lent any time that confession is offered. We will also offer additional parish communal penance services during Lent on the dates listed below. 

Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 7pm
Tuesday, April 5, 2002, at 7pm

Preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

In addition to the weekly sessions your child attends, parent/child preparation sessions will be offered about a month prior to your child's first reconciliation. Your personal witness of celebrating the sacrament is the best example for your own children. Even before your child celebrates reconciliation for the first time:

• Bring your child to church with you when you come for the sacrament 
• Talk with your child about how you prepare for confession
• Share what it feels like to be forgiven and receive spiritual healing from the sacrament  

Additional Resources
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).

Celebrating First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion will take place in April and May 2022. on the dates listed below. 

Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 1pm 
Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 1pm 
Sunday, May 15, 2022, during the 10:30am Mass 

Preparing for the Sacrament of Eucharist 

• Bring your child to Mass
• Share with your child who Jesus is to you, and the importance of the Eucharist in your life 
• 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?
 

Family Formation Resources

Below are addtional family resources and a recommended schedule to help you prepare your child for the sacraments. 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.

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