This web page has been created to support the families of pupils who were preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, First Eucharist or Confirmation but are now unable to due to the current situation. It is hoped that the materials and resources on this web page will support you in continuing your child's preparation at home.
We will continue to update this web page over the coming weeks so please keep checking here and our Twitter and Facebook pages for updates. In the meantime we hope the activities uploaded are of some use.
We will continue to update this web page over the coming weeks so please keep checking here and our Twitter and Facebook pages for updates. In the meantime we hope the activities uploaded are of some use.
A Message from Archbishop Philip
Information for Parents
Below you will find information and resources to support your child's preparation at home. If you are looking for something more detailed to use as a family we recommend the following books:
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Prayer
This prayer book contains all of the prayers that your child will learn during their time in primary school. You will see from the grid at the front of the prayer book the suggested prayers for each stage. Prayer is a very important aspect of your child's sacramental preparation. Take some time each day to pray with your child using a prayer for this book.
Scripture and the Saints
Whether your child is preparing for Confirmation, First Eucharist or Reconciliation, an important aspect of their preparation is listening to and learning a number of Scripture stories and also the stories of the lives of the saints. If you do not have a Bible at home you can access Scripture passages through BibleGateway.com For primary aged children we recommend the Good News translation (which can be selected from the drop down list in the right hand corner).
There are a number of good website with children's stories of the lives of the saints:
http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/saints/saints-stories-for-all-ages?cId=115673
http://www.catholic.org/saints/fun_facts_arch.php
There are also a number of cartoon video clips on the lives of the Saints on EWTN for Kids: https://www.ewtn.co.uk/kids-age/5-8
First Reconciliation
The Examen for Children
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The Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and to discern his direction for us. The Pray as You Go Examen for Children is an audio file that will lead your child through a short daily examen. This short daily reflection will encourage your child to reflect on God's presence in their life as well as their actions throughout the day. It is a useful daily spiritual exercise in preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
You could perhaps encourage your child to find a quiet space and put on headphones as they are led through this short reflection. |
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Comic Strip Template
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Suggested Activities
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First Eucharist
In order to participate more fully in the Mass it is important that your child knows and can confidently join in the prayers and gestures. The order of the Mass can be accessed here. There are a number of ways to access Mass online while we are unable to gather for Mass in our parishes. You can access daily and Sunday Mass, via the live webcam, in St Andrews Cathedral by clicking here.
Suggested Activities
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Confirmation
An important aspect of preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation is learning about the lives of the saints and the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Below you will find several resources to assist you in supporting your child with this learning at home.
Over the next few weeks it may be helpful to identify the saint whose feast is celebrated on that day and to learn a little about them. There are many websites (mentioned above) that can help with this and there are also Saint of the Day Twitter and Facebook page that you can follow.
Over the next few weeks it may be helpful to identify the saint whose feast is celebrated on that day and to learn a little about them. There are many websites (mentioned above) that can help with this and there are also Saint of the Day Twitter and Facebook page that you can follow.
Home and school preparation materials for S1 students whose Confirmation was delayed due to lockdown can be found here.
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Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit Game Cards
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There a number of games and activities you can engage in using these cards. Scroll to the last page of the PDF for suggestions on how to use them.
If you do not have a printer why not have your child write the words out in fancy letters and cut them into cards. You could choose one each day to learn or focus on. |
Saints Fact File Cards
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Theses saints fact file cards connect the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the lives of some well known saints. Why not spend some time each day learning about one of the saints and how they demonstrated that gift in their lives. You can extend this to think of other saints/people your child knows who demonstrate the other gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in their every day lives.
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Saint Research Sheet
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Use this template, along with one of the above saints websites, to record the information you child has learned about a specific saint. If you do not have a printer your child could recreate this template or use it as a guide for the layout and information required.
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Prayers to the Holy Spirit
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These two prayers to the Holy Spirit are used in class throughout the preparation period for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Why not take some time to pray these with your child.
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