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Faith Formation for Children

- Contact us
  
  Sister Cecilia Cyford, SSJ
  
  Coordinator of Religious Education
  
  410-833-8515
  sr.ceciliashgparish.org
  
  Heart Ment
  
  Administrative Assistant for Sacramental Records and Faith Formation
  
  410-833-8515
  hmentshgparish.org
- Family news
  
  Thank you and farewell to Sister Cecilia
  
  October 27
  
  Sister Cecilia Cyford, SSJ is retiring as Coordinator of Religious Education on October 31. She will remain at Sacred Heart teaching a class and volunteering. We thank Sister for her many years of wonderful service to our families!
  Read More
  
  Happy Halloween cards for nursing home residents
  
  October 22
  
  The Respect Life Committee invites you to share Christ's love with the residents at FutureCare Cherrywood Nursing Home by making "Happy Halloween" cards for them. Drop off your cards at the Parish Center by Wednesday, October 27.
  Read More
  
  Trunk or Treat
  
  October 21
  
  Please join us for our annual "Trunk or Treat" on Saturday, October 23 from 5:30 - 7:00 PM on the school-side parking lot. Tickets are $10 per family/vehicle, and the lot opens at 5:00 PM. All school and parish families are welcome to attend!
  Read More
  
  More News
Religious Education in 2021-2022
- Children's faith formation!
  
  After a year of pandemic, we are happy to announce that children's faith formation classes at Sacred Heart are in person in 2021-2022! We are eager to bring the love of our awesome God and a deeper knowledge of our Catholic faith to your children, and we look forward to seeing your children again — or for the very first time.
  
  (Please be assured that we will keep up with the latest guidance from the CDC and the State regarding the safety of our children. Should things need to change in the future, we will do so and will send lessons home to you online, not by Zoom.
  
  Mid-September — early May
  
  Pre-K through Grade 2:
  Sundays from 10:25 – 11:25 AM
  
  Grades 3–8:
  Mondays from 7:00 – 8:15 PM
  
  Español:
  Domingos mediodía
  
  Family Home-Study:
  Mondays from 7:00 – 8:15 PM
  
  Assumption of Risk Statement (required before attending class)
  
  Parent Acknowledgement (required before attending class)
- Special needs ministry
  
  Does your child need accommodations for a handicap, learning disability, or special need? We can help children of any age with religious education and preparation for the sacraments. For details and assistance, please contact Sister Cecilia Cyford, SSJ.
- Catholic resources
  
  We hope you and your children are safe and well! Please click to see these additional free Catholic resources for families, which include Mass preparation each week for use at home.
- Children's ministry
  
  Want to volunteer with us? Awesome!
  Remember to complete VIRTUS first.
- Registration is now closed
  
  Children's faith formation classes have begun for 2021-2022, and our registration is now closed.
  
  If your family has recently moved to our parish or if you have another special situation, please contact Sister Cecilia.
- The maximum number of form submissions has been reached. This form is currently not available.
  
  Number of children REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Child 1
  
  First Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Last Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  My child is a... REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Boy or girl REQUIRED Boy Girl Please fill out this field.
  
  Date of birth
  You can choose a date from the calendar below or type the birth date in "99/99/9999" format.
  Please enter a date.
  
  Grade in September 2021 REQUIRED
  Your child's school grade for 2021-2022
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Note: second graders with no previous faith formation classes will join our first grade religion class.
  
  Name of school Please enter valid data.
  
  Is your child baptized? REQUIRED
  Has your child received the sacrament of Baptism?
  Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  For grade 3 and above: has your child received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist? REQUIRED Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  Learning difficulties
  Does your child have any learning difficulties or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  Medical conditions
  Does your child have any medical conditions or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  My child will come to class on... REQUIRED
  We have classes on Sunday mornings for younger children, classes on Monday evenings for grades 3-8, a Family Home-Study program, and classes in Spanish on Sunday afternoons.
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Fee50.0
  
  Is this your child's "sacrament year"?
  If your child will be in a second grade religion class or if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, he or she will prepare for those sacraments this year.
  
  25.0 – Yes
  
  I select the following choice for my child's participation in the Benziger Family Life Program:
  
  Family Life Program REQUIRED
  This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Materials for the Benziger Family Life Program will be provided to you if you wish to instruct your child at home.
  I WILL instruct my child at home. I DO NOT wish to instruct my child at home, and he/she may be instructed in the classroom. Please fill out this field.
  
  Child 2
  
  First Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Last Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  My child is a... REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Boy or girl REQUIRED Boy Girl Please fill out this field.
  
  Date of birth
  You can choose a date from the calendar below or type the birth date in "99/99/9999" format.
  Please enter a date.
  
  Grade in September 2021 REQUIRED
  Your child's school grade for 2021-2022
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Note: second graders with no previous faith formation classes will join our first grade religion class.
  
  Name of school Please enter valid data.
  
  Is your child baptized? REQUIRED
  Has your child received the sacrament of Baptism?
  Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  For grade 3 and above: has your child received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist? REQUIRED Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  Learning difficulties
  Does your child have any learning difficulties or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  Medical conditions
  Does your child have any medical conditions or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  My child will come to class on... REQUIRED
  We have classes on Sunday mornings for younger children, classes on Monday evenings for grades 3-8, a Family Home-Study program, and classes in Spanish on Sunday afternoons.
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Fee50.0
  
  Is this your child's "sacrament year"?
  If your child will be in a second grade religion class or if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, he or she will prepare for those sacraments this year.
  
  25.0 – Yes
  
  I select the following choice for my child's participation in the Benziger Family Life Program:
  
  Family Life Program REQUIRED
  This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Materials for the Benziger Family Life Program will be provided to you if you wish to instruct your child at home.
  I WILL instruct my child at home. I DO NOT wish to instruct my child at home, and he/she may be instructed in the classroom. Please fill out this field.
  
  Child 3
  
  First Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Last Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  My child is a... REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Boy or girl REQUIRED Boy Girl Please fill out this field.
  
  Date of birth
  You can choose a date from the calendar below or type the birth date in "99/99/9999" format.
  Please enter a date.
  
  Grade in September 2021 REQUIRED
  Your child's school grade for 2021-2022
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Note: second graders with no previous faith formation classes will join our first grade religion class.
  
  Name of school Please enter valid data.
  
  Is your child baptized? REQUIRED
  Has your child received the sacrament of Baptism?
  Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  For grade 3 and above: has your child received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist? REQUIRED Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  Learning difficulties
  Does your child have any learning difficulties or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  Medical conditions
  Does your child have any medical conditions or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  My child will come to class on... REQUIRED
  We have classes on Sunday mornings for younger children, classes on Monday evenings for grades 3-8, a Family Home-Study program, and classes in Spanish on Sunday afternoons.
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Fee50.0
  
  Is this your child's "sacrament year"?
  If your child will be in a second grade religion class or if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, he or she will prepare for those sacraments this year.
  
  25.0 – Yes
  
  I select the following choice for my child's participation in the Benziger Family Life Program:
  
  Family Life Program REQUIRED
  This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Materials for the Benziger Family Life Program will be provided to you if you wish to instruct your child at home.
  I WILL instruct my child at home. I DO NOT wish to instruct my child at home, and he/she may be instructed in the classroom. Please fill out this field.
  
  Child 4
  
  First Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Last Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  My child is a... REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Boy or girl REQUIRED Boy Girl Please fill out this field.
  
  Date of birth
  You can choose a date from the calendar below or type the birth date in "99/99/9999" format.
  Please enter a date.
  
  Grade in September 2021 REQUIRED
  Your child's school grade for 2021-2022
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Note: second graders with no previous faith formation classes will join our first grade religion class.
  
  Name of school Please enter valid data.
  
  Is your child baptized? REQUIRED
  Has your child received the sacrament of Baptism?
  Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  For grade 3 and above: has your child received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist? REQUIRED Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  Learning difficulties
  Does your child have any learning difficulties or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  Medical conditions
  Does your child have any medical conditions or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  My child will come to class on... REQUIRED
  We have classes on Sunday mornings for younger children, classes on Monday evenings for grades 3-8, a Family Home-Study program, and classes in Spanish on Sunday afternoons.
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Fee50.0
  
  Is this your child's "sacrament year"?
  If your child will be in a second grade religion class or if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, he or she will prepare for those sacraments this year.
  
  25.0 – Yes
  
  I select the following choice for my child's participation in the Benziger Family Life Program:
  
  Family Life Program REQUIRED
  This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Materials for the Benziger Family Life Program will be provided to you if you wish to instruct your child at home.
  I WILL instruct my child at home. I DO NOT wish to instruct my child at home, and he/she may be instructed in the classroom. Please fill out this field.
  
  Child 5
  
  First Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Last Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  My child is a... REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Boy or girl REQUIRED Boy Girl Please fill out this field.
  
  Date of birth
  You can choose a date from the calendar below or type the birth date in "99/99/9999" format.
  Please enter a date.
  
  Grade in September 2021 REQUIRED
  Your child's school grade for 2021-2022
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Note: second graders with no previous faith formation classes will join our first grade religion class.
  
  Name of school Please enter valid data.
  
  Is your child baptized? REQUIRED
  Has your child received the sacrament of Baptism?
  Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  For grade 3 and above: has your child received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist? REQUIRED Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  Learning difficulties
  Does your child have any learning difficulties or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  Medical conditions
  Does your child have any medical conditions or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  My child will come to class on... REQUIRED
  We have classes on Sunday mornings for younger children, classes on Monday evenings for grades 3-8, a Family Home-Study program, and classes in Spanish on Sunday afternoons.
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Fee50.0
  
  Is this your child's "sacrament year"?
  If your child will be in a second grade religion class or if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, he or she will prepare for those sacraments this year.
  
  25.0 – Yes
  
  I select the following choice for my child's participation in the Benziger Family Life Program:
  
  Family Life Program REQUIRED
  This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Materials for the Benziger Family Life Program will be provided to you if you wish to instruct your child at home.
  I WILL instruct my child at home. I DO NOT wish to instruct my child at home, and he/she may be instructed in the classroom. Please fill out this field.
  
  Child 6
  
  First Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Last Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  My child is a... REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Boy or girl REQUIRED Boy Girl Please fill out this field.
  
  Date of birth
  You can choose a date from the calendar below or type the birth date in "99/99/9999" format.
  Please enter a date.
  
  Grade in September 2021 REQUIRED
  Your child's school grade for 2021-2022
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Note: second graders with no previous faith formation classes will join our first grade religion class.
  
  Name of school Please enter valid data.
  
  Is your child baptized? REQUIRED
  Has your child received the sacrament of Baptism?
  Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  For grade 3 and above: has your child received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist? REQUIRED Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  Learning difficulties
  Does your child have any learning difficulties or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  Medical conditions
  Does your child have any medical conditions or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  My child will come to class on... REQUIRED
  We have classes on Sunday mornings for younger children, classes on Monday evenings for grades 3-8, a Family Home-Study program, and classes in Spanish on Sunday afternoons.
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Fee50.0
  
  Is this your child's "sacrament year"?
  If your child will be in a second grade religion class or if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, he or she will prepare for those sacraments this year.
  
  25.0 – Yes
  
  I select the following choice for my child's participation in the Benziger Family Life Program:
  
  Family Life Program REQUIRED
  This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Materials for the Benziger Family Life Program will be provided to you if you wish to instruct your child at home.
  I WILL instruct my child at home. I DO NOT wish to instruct my child at home, and he/she may be instructed in the classroom. Please fill out this field.
  
  Child 7
  
  First Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Last Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  My child is a... REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Boy or girl REQUIRED Boy Girl Please fill out this field.
  
  Date of birth
  You can choose a date from the calendar below or type the birth date in "99/99/9999" format.
  Please enter a date.
  
  Grade in September 2021 REQUIRED
  Your child's school grade for 2021-2022
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Note: second graders with no previous faith formation classes will join our first grade religion class.
  
  Name of school Please enter valid data.
  
  Is your child baptized? REQUIRED
  Has your child received the sacrament of Baptism?
  Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  For grade 3 and above: has your child received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist? REQUIRED Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  Learning difficulties
  Does your child have any learning difficulties or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  Medical conditions
  Does your child have any medical conditions or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  My child will come to class on... REQUIRED
  We have classes on Sunday mornings for younger children, classes on Monday evenings for grades 3-8, a Family Home-Study program, and classes in Spanish on Sunday afternoons.
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Fee50.0
  
  Is this your child's "sacrament year"?
  If your child will be in a second grade religion class or if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, he or she will prepare for those sacraments this year.
  
  25.0 – Yes
  
  I select the following choice for my child's participation in the Benziger Family Life Program:
  
  Family Life Program REQUIRED
  This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Materials for the Benziger Family Life Program will be provided to you if you wish to instruct your child at home.
  I WILL instruct my child at home. I DO NOT wish to instruct my child at home, and he/she may be instructed in the classroom. Please fill out this field.
  
  Child 8
  
  First Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Last Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  My child is a... REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Boy or girl REQUIRED Boy Girl Please fill out this field.
  
  Date of birth
  You can choose a date from the calendar below or type the birth date in "99/99/9999" format.
  Please enter a date.
  
  Grade in September 2021 REQUIRED
  Your child's school grade for 2021-2022
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Note: second graders with no previous faith formation classes will join our first grade religion class.
  
  Name of school Please enter valid data.
  
  Is your child baptized? REQUIRED
  Has your child received the sacrament of Baptism?
  Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  For grade 3 and above: has your child received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist? REQUIRED Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  Learning difficulties
  Does your child have any learning difficulties or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  Medical conditions
  Does your child have any medical conditions or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  My child will come to class on... REQUIRED
  We have classes on Sunday mornings for younger children, classes on Monday evenings for grades 3-8, a Family Home-Study program, and classes in Spanish on Sunday afternoons.
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Fee50.0
  
  Is this your child's "sacrament year"?
  If your child will be in a second grade religion class or if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, he or she will prepare for those sacraments this year.
  
  25.0 – Yes
  
  I select the following choice for my child's participation in the Benziger Family Life Program:
  
  Family Life Program REQUIRED
  This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Materials for the Benziger Family Life Program will be provided to you if you wish to instruct your child at home.
  I WILL instruct my child at home. I DO NOT wish to instruct my child at home, and he/she may be instructed in the classroom. Please fill out this field.
  
  Child 9
  
  First Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Last Name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  My child is a... REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Boy or girl REQUIRED Boy Girl Please fill out this field.
  
  Date of birth
  You can choose a date from the calendar below or type the birth date in "99/99/9999" format.
  Please enter a date.
  
  Grade in September 2021 REQUIRED
  Your child's school grade for 2021-2022
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Note: second graders with no previous faith formation classes will join our first grade religion class.
  
  Name of school Please enter valid data.
  
  Is your child baptized? REQUIRED
  Has your child received the sacrament of Baptism?
  Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  For grade 3 and above: has your child received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist? REQUIRED Yes No Please fill out this field.
  
  Learning difficulties
  Does your child have any learning difficulties or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  Medical conditions
  Does your child have any medical conditions or handicaps that we should know about?
  
  My child will come to class on... REQUIRED
  We have classes on Sunday mornings for younger children, classes on Monday evenings for grades 3-8, a Family Home-Study program, and classes in Spanish on Sunday afternoons.
  Please fill out this field.
  
  Fee50.0
  
  Is this your child's "sacrament year"?
  If your child will be in a second grade religion class or if your child is in grade 3 or above and has not received the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, he or she will prepare for those sacraments this year.
  
  25.0 – Yes
  
  I select the following choice for my child's participation in the Benziger Family Life Program:
  
  Family Life Program REQUIRED
  This is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Materials for the Benziger Family Life Program will be provided to you if you wish to instruct your child at home.
  I WILL instruct my child at home. I DO NOT wish to instruct my child at home, and he/she may be instructed in the classroom. Please fill out this field.
  
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First Penance for children
- The sacrament of Reconciliation
  "I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
  — Luke 15:10
  
  Reconciliation (Penance), one of the sacraments of healing, is a great gift of love which God has given to his people through his son, Jesus Christ! In the celebration of this sacrament, we are healed in spirit, mind, and body as we answer Jesus' call to penance and to convert our hearts. Christian conversion calls us to live as Christ at all times, whether at home, at school, or in the workplace, and we live out our conversion in our daily lives through acts of kindness and love. When we sin, we are separated from God and from our community. The sacrament of Reconciliation allows us to become whole again in the Body of Christ.
  
  Let the Children Come!
  Jesus loved children. As a child himself, he was raised by Joseph and Mary in their home at Nazareth (Matthew 2:23). Growing up among townspeople and relatives, Jesus experienced the concerns and problems common to all children. Within this setting, Jesus "grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him" (Luke 2:40).
- Jesus and the children
  Jesus' affection for children is clearly affirmed in the Gospels. When his disciples attempted to halt people from bringing children to Jesus for his blessing, he insisted: "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs" (Matthew 19:14).
  
  Jesus also demonstrated his compassion for children by healing them and raising them from death. He restored life to Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:21-43) and the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17). He healed an epileptic boy and the demon-possessed daughter of a Greek woman (Luke 9:37-43).
  
  His fundamental concern was always for the spiritual development of children. The greatest gift which God the Father can give to anyone, including children, is faith in his only begotten Son. Jesus declared that the Father reveals his Son to children more readily than to the learned and clever (Luke 10:21)!
  
  Recalling these examples of Jesus' attention to children sets the proper context for helping children to examine their consciences and preparing them for the sacrament of Reconciliation. This sacrament allows Jesus to express his love for children today. Through it, he continues to influence their lives; he demonstrates his power to heal them, to free them from the bondage of sin, and raise them to new life. In turn, this sacrament allows children to come to know and love Jesus. For these reasons, Jesus still exhorts us: "Let the children come!"
- First Penance preparation for children at Sacred Heart
  Parish children are prepared for their First Reconciliation and Eucharist during 1st and 2nd grade religion classes in the school and the Religious Education program. Children are required to attend both years in order to be fully ready to receive the Sacraments. This is a special time for children and their families, bringing much excitement as they learn their prayers and become spiritually aware. A separate program, called "RCIC", is available for children in grade 3 or higher who have not yet celebrated these sacraments.
  
  According to Sharing the Light of Faith, a catechesis on the sacrament of Reconciliation should come before the preparation for First Communion, and it "must be kept distinct by a clear and unhurried separation" (NCD, #126). Our children are prepared from October through November for Reconciliation. During this time, parents and guardians must attend two parent-and-child meetings to discuss the Sacrament and to guide them as they assist their children with this exciting time in their faith. Families receive a special six-lesson book that will be completed at home before the celebration of Reconciliation. First Penance is usually celebrated in the beginning of December.
  
  First Penance Preparation videos from 2020
- A lifelong sacrament
  God calls all of the baptized to continually convert their hearts and form their consciences. The sacrament of Reconciliation is not meant to be celebrated once, but over and over again for a lifetime! Children in grades 3 through 8 have opportunities at least once a year to celebrate this sacrament during Reconciliation Services in the school and the Religious Education program. By emphasizing their connectedness to God and others, we can help them see the importance of offering one another mutual love and respect. Parents, too, often find that they are learning (or remembering) as much about this marvelous sacrament as their children are, and this helps them rediscover a love for its healing grace as they return to a habit of frequent confession.
- The influence of parents
  "Parents are the first and foremost teachers of their children. They teach informally but powerfully by example and instruction. They communicate values and attitudes by showing love for Christ and His church and for each other, by reverently receiving the Eucharist and living in its spirit, and by fostering justice and love in all their relationships. It is the parents' nurturing of faith in their children that shows them the richness and beauty of lived faith." (Sharing the Light of Faith #212)
  
  "Preparing children to share fully in an event of such importance calls for our best efforts, and parents have a right and duty to be intimately involved in preparing their children for First Communion." (Sharing the Light of Faith, #122). Our parish sacramental materials are family-based, and this allows parents and guardians to teach and share their own experiences of the sacraments with their children. At your child's baptism, you promised to accept the responsibility of training him or her in the practice of the faith and to teach your child to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us by loving God and our neighbors. This is why we pray that you will take an important, active role in preparing your children for First Eucharist. The time spent in teaching your children about our faith will touch their hearts forever.
  
  Our parish sacramental materials are family-based, and this allows parents and guardians to teach and share their own experiences of the sacraments with their children. The children begin to recognize the reality of sin, the expression of sorrow, and the gift of forgiveness in the daily relationships within the family system. It's important to help children view God as someone who knows and loves them unconditionally. God is not to be feared, but to be loved back. By helping your children show forgiveness to another, identifying acts as unacceptable, and especially by showing yourself to be a forgiving and reconciling person, you are building the foundation on which future Christian growth will take place. Guiding your children in faith, watching them grow and develop, and helping along the way are part of the great joys of Christian parenting!
- Busted Halo video: Penance
- Sophia Sketchpad video: Confession
- Resources for Reconciliation
  Let the Children Come: The Sacrament of Reconciliation and Children (with an Examination of Conscience for Children) [USCCB]
  
  Catechism of the Catholic Church (regarding the sacrament of Penance)
  
  Opportunities for Confession at Sacred Heart Church
  
  Sharing the Light of Faith: National Catechetical Directory for Catholics of the United States
First Eucharist for children
- The Sacrament: Holy Eucharist
  "[Jesus] took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.'" — Luke 22:19
  
  When your child receives Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time, it is an event of great joy for your family and for the whole Christian community. During each Mass, the bread and wine are truly transformed into Jesus' body and blood. This mystery was instituted by Jesus himself, when he was in the company of his apostles. Giving himself to us was God's way of showing his intimate love for us. God found a way of staying with us all the time, through Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. This is why receiving the Eucharist is a "Sacrament".
  
  The Eucharist is the sacrament that is at the heart of our faith and the center of Christian life. It gathers the community, gives us our Christian identity, and prepares us for mission. The Eucharist is, by its very nature, communal. It nourishes and strengthens the whole community and indeed makes us "Church and Body of Christ for the world". The Eucharist is a magnificent blessing, grace, gift, and mystery that even great saints have found quite difficult to comprehend. Parents and catechists should teach our children to never take it for granted — the reception of Holy Communion.
  
  Please contact Sister Cecilia at 410-833-8515 or sr.cecilia@shgparish.org if you need more information.
- First Eucharist preparation for children at Sacred Heart
  Parish children are prepared for their First Reconciliation and Eucharist during 1st and 2nd grade religion classes in the school and the Religious Education program. Children are required to attend both years in order to be fully ready to receive the Sacraments. This is a special time for children and their families, bringing much excitement as they learn their prayers and become spiritually aware. A separate program, called "RCIC", is available for children in grade 3 or higher who have not yet celebrated these sacraments.
  
  Our children are prepared during the first part of the school year (October to December) for the sacrament of Reconcilation. After First Reconciliation, the children are prepared from January through April for the sacrament of Eucharist. During this time, parents and guardians must attend two parent-and-child meetings to discuss the Sacrament and to guide them as they assist their children with this exciting time in their faith. Families receive a special six-lesson book that will be completed at home. First Eucharist is usually celebrated in late April or early May each year.
  
  First Eucharist Preparation guide
  for May 2021 (COVID)
- The influence of parents
  "Parents are the first and foremost teachers of their children. They teach informally but powerfully by example and instruction. They communicate values and attitudes by showing love for Christ and His church and for each other, by reverently receiving the Eucharist and living in its spirit, and by fostering justice and love in all their relationships. It is the parents' nurturing of faith in their children that shows them the richness and beauty of lived faith." (Sharing the Light of Faith #212)
  
  "Preparing children to share fully in an event of such importance calls for our best efforts, and parents have a right and duty to be intimately involved in preparing their children for First Communion." (Sharing the Light of Faith, #122). Our parish sacramental materials are family-based, and this allows parents and guardians to teach and share their own experiences of the sacraments with their children. At your child's baptism, you promised to accept the responsibility of training him or her in the practice of the faith and to teach your child to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us by loving God and our neighbors. This is why we pray that you will take an important, active role in preparing your children for First Eucharist. The time spent in teaching your children about our faith will touch their hearts forever.
  
  When you and your child are about to receive Holy Communion, your strong belief that you are receiving Jesus' body takes you to a state of grace. Words cannot explain the joy you feel. Imagine the King of kings, the one who loves you most, is visiting your home! How would you prepare for this visit? What excitement will you feel? How honored will you be to have this special guest? Do you feel the same way when you prepare to receive Jesus through Holy Communion? Your child will probably take the same attitude towards Holy Communion that you do. If you receive the sacrament in a "wishy-washy" way, your child will likely do the same and will not be in a state of grace. But if you receive Jesus fully conscious and with all of your love and faith, your child will follow your example, and both of you will experience the miracle within. Guiding your children in faith, watching them grow and develop, and helping along the way are part of the great joys of Christian parenting!
- A lifelong sacrament
  The sacrament of Eucharist is not meant to be celebrated once, but over and over again for a lifetime! The Eucharist is a sacrament that we can receive every day after our First Holy Communion. First Communion continues your child's initiation into God's family, but this is not the end of the road — it is only the beginning. To keep us fed, strengthened, and nourished for God's special mission, God invites all of us to Mass each Sunday — children and adults — to play a special part in the Eucharist. Parents often find that they are learning (or remembering) as much about this marvelous sacrament as their children are, and this helps them rediscover a love for its nourishing grace as they return to a habit of regular and frequent Mass attendance and reception of Holy Communion.
- Sophia Sketchpad video: The Eucharist
- Busted Halo video: Eucharist - what we believe
- Busted Halo video: Eucharist - how we receive
- Resources for the Eucharist
  Eucharist Resources (USCCB)
  
  Catechism of the Catholic Church (regarding the sacrament of Eucharist)
  
  Mass schedule at Sacred Heart
  
  Sharing the Light of Faith: National Catechetical Directory for Catholics of the United States
  
  "Jesus said to the crowd: 'I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.'" — John 6:51
  
  "When Mass is being celebrated, the Sanctuary is filled with countless Angels, who adore the Divine Victim immolated on the altar." — St. John Chrysostom
  
  "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." — John 6:54
  
  "The Eucharist is 'the source and summit of the Christian life'." — Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1324
  
  "The Sacraments... celebrate the coming of the Spirit as special moments in the life of the community of faith and its members, and express the Church's faith and interaction with Christ." — Sharing the Light of Faith
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
About CGS
- We are a Montessori-based catechesis for children from ages 3-12. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was born from the joy of the children in their encounter with God. It is an experience of life, an education in faith, and a celebration of the encounter with the Father — in listening to Jesus, the one Teacher, and in obedience to the Holy Spirit.
  
  Children who come to the Good Shepherd find a prepared environment called the “Atrium” that responds to their vital religious needs and helps them listen and meditate upon our faith presentations that follow the Church year. The Atrium is not a place to entertain children. Here they are given the richness of faith!
  
  We don’t teach answers. We give children the facts about Jesus and let them discover on their own. For example, Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd." He never said who the sheep are, and neither do we. The children come to that revelation on their own!
Our age levels
- Join in the wonder of 3-6-year-olds
  These children are particularly capable of receiving and enjoying the most essential elements of our faith — the announcement of God’s love experienced through Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who died and is risen.
  
  Celebrate the growth of 6-9-year-olds
  They are captured by the image of the True Vine, which responds to the deep need of these children to better know their relationships with God, family, friends, and the larger community.
  
  Honor the independence of 9-12-year-olds
  Older children are delighted by the history of salvation and God’s plan of communion. At this age, we emphasize our response to God’s unfolding generosity and seeing ourselves as collaborators with Him.
Class times and contact info
- For more information
  
  Our Atrium is located in Room 103. We have six catechists and 30 children currently enrolled, and we are open to all children up to 8th grade. Classes are September — May on weekday afternoons (3:30 – 5:00 PM):
  
  Mondays for Level I (ages 3-6)
  
  Tuesdays for Level II (ages 6-9)
  
  Wednesdays for Level III (ages 9-12)
  
  For more information about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, please contact Alex Daley at 410-245-3482.
Catholic clubs for children
- Little Flowers and Blue Knights
- Faith in Action
Little Flowers and Blue Knights
- "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." — Mark 10:14
  
  Little Flowers Girls' Club and Blue Knights Boys' Club are Catholic clubs for children ages 5 and older that teach virtues through scripture, saints' biographies, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each month, we pray together at Eucharistic Adoration, learn and do lessons in the Faith, and participate in activities, talks, crafts, and games. We meet on the first Friday of each month at Sacred Heart Church from 6:30 – 8:00 PM There is a suggested donation of $20 to cover supplies.
  
  To participate with Little Flowers, contact Eileen Lee at eileenLLee3@gmail.com or Jennifer Yeung at jennifer.caye.yeung@gmail.com.
  
  To join the Blue Knights, contact Dante Scancella at thebutch123@hotmail.com.
  
  We need additional moms to help with Little Flowers and additional dads to help with Blue Knights. Please contact one of the leaders if you are able to help!
Faith in Action
- Faith in Action is a Catholic girls' club for students grades 6 through 12. We pray together at Eucharistic Adoration, learn about saints, participate in service projects, build friendships, and play Catholic-themed games together. Service projects include preparing baby bottles for the pro-life pregnancy fundraising efforts, painting mugs for people with cancer, making cards for senior citizens, etc. We meet on the first Friday of the month from 6:30 – 8:30 PM from October through May. There is a suggested fee of $20 to cover supplies.
  
  Please contact Denise Blair-Nellies at 410-795-6852 or bill.nellies@gmail.com to sign up or for more information.

Faith Formation for Children

Mid-September — early May

Let the Children Come!

First Penance Preparation videos from 2020

First Eucharist Preparation guide for May 2021 (COVID)

First Eucharist Preparation guide
for May 2021 (COVID)