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.

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 Blest Are We: Faith in Action curriculum for 1st-5th graders includes online resources available to families. Whether your child is attending sessions in person or you have chosen our home study option, please 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

You and your family may celebrate your child's first Reconciliation on one of the February dates offered (see below). To ensure we have enough priests for all, we have limited each evening to 50 families. We will also offer additional parish communal penance services during Lent. If none of these options works for your family, you are also welcome to celebrate your child's First Reconciliation at one of our regularly scheduled weekly times for the sacrament. 

Sunday, February 20, at 12:30pm
Sign up at this link.

Tuesday, February 22, at 6:00pm
Sign up at this link.

Preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Please ead this section, then scroll to the bottom of this page for additional family formation resources and a suggested schedule for watching a series of parent and child videos on the sacrament. Remember that your example and conversations with your child are the best way to help them prepare:

• 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  
• Watch and discuss the parent and child videos according to the suggested schedule (scroll down this page). 

Examination of Conscience
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.
 

---

Celebrating First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion will take place during April and May (see dates below). To ensure space for all, we have limited each Mass to 35 families. Thank you for your understanding and patience!

Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 10:30am Mass 
Coming soon! Sign up at this link.

Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 10:30am Mass 
Coming soon! Sign up at this link.

Sunday, May 15, 2022, at 10:30am Mass 
Coming soon! Sign up at this link.

Baptism Records 
If we do not have a record of your child’s baptism, we will be contacting you to provide a copy of the certificate. This is required documentation prior to your child celebrating any other sacrament.

Preparing for the Sacrament of Eucharist 

Read this section, then scroll to the bottom of this page for additional family formation resources and a suggested schedule for watching a series of parent and child videos on the sacrament. Your example and conversations with your child are the best way to help them prepare:
 

• 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 parent and child videos according to the suggested schedule (scroll down this page). 

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

Older Children
If your child is older than 2nd grade and has not yet prepared for or celebrated First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, please contact the Faith Formation Office to discuss next steps. Most older children will complete the same preparation( with their parents) as our 2nd graders, with possible adaptations depending on age. 
 

---

Family Formation Resources

As you prepare your child for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, please watch and discuss together the videos listed below according to the recommended schedule. Questions? Please contact Faye Akers at fayeakers@stbonifacechurch.org or 515-987-4597.

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

January 24-30

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

January 31-February 6

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

February 7-13

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

February 14-20

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

February 21-27

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

March 7-13

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 21-27

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

More 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).