No, parents do not need to attend the Sacramental preparation meetings. Students should be choosing these sacraments for themselves, and so it is their meeting time. Families do, however, need to be encouraging a sacramental life by living out the sacraments and attending Mass as a family. 

There are 6 Confirmation preparation sessions in the spring, separate from the regular catechesis meetings. There are 6 First Communion classes that will happen throughout the fall, separate from regular catechesis. OCIA-AT will be year-long from October through March and is also separate from regular catechesis meetings.

There is no cost for any of the sacramental preparation classes for parishioners. For non-parishioners, we do charge a small fee. However, there is a cost for regular catechesis classes which all students are required to sign up for and attend prior to sacramental prep classes.

We understand that life is busy and unexpected events may occur.  We ask the teens and families to make every effort to prioritize and attend all sacramental preparation sessions as it will greatly contribute to your teen's readiness to receive the sacraments. Due to offering 6 robust classes for both Confirmation and First Communion/Reconciliation, if a teen misses more than 1 class, they can restart the process the following year. There are always exceptions such as death, health matters, etc. OCIA-AT absences are seen on a case-by-case basis. If a pattern of absence is established, your teen may be asked to wait until the following year when the Sacraments can be prioritized. We ask that these classes be prioritized to the same extent as social/sporting events. "Our hearts are restless, Oh God, until they rest in you." -St. Augustine.

For teens doing OCIA-AT, they will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil Mass. For teens doing Eucharist and Reconciliation preparation, Reconciliation will take place at an established date and time (prior to First Communion); teens will receive First Communion in December at the 4:30 teen Mass (date to be published as we get closer). For teens doing Confirmation preparation, the Office of the Bishop will let us know the date of Confirmation. In the past it has been in April or May. Confirmation Mass will be in the middle of the week, not on a weekend.