A Parent's Guide to Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, and Reconciliation
In recent years there has been a renewed emphasis on understanding sacramental celebrations as parish events. Parents are engaged more significantly in the process of preparing their children to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and Eucharist. This collaboration has come about as result of a rediscovery of how the sacraments were celebrated in the early Church. As a result, the Church once again speaks of the 'process of initiation' and sees Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist as steps along the path to becoming fully initiated members of a parish community and the Catholic Church. In some dioceses, this has meant that Confirmation is now celebrated at the time of First Eucharist rather than at the end of primary school.
Becoming Catholic sets out to explain to parents the changes that have taken place in the celebration of the sacraments:
- Why is everything different now?
- What does it mean to be part of a Christian community?
- Why do we call Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, 'the sacraments of Initiation'?
- What are the different ways of celebrating Reconciliation today?
- How can parents help in the preparation of their children?
- What are the parts of the Mass and how do we participate?
