Sacraments – Treasures of Our Catholic Faith

Printable brochure:  Sacraments – Treasures of Our Catholic Faith

What are Sacraments?  God longs to be a part of our lives.  Sacraments are special celebrations of grace or sacred ways of God‘s life uniting with our lives.   When we choose to celebrate the sacraments we open ourselves to God’s life-giving and protective love.

Watch this quick overview of the sacraments in words and pictures.

How many Sacraments are there?  The Catholic Church celebrates seven sacraments, gifts given to us by Jesus through the Church.  Listen to how the sacraments guide, nourish, strengthen, challenge and support the way we live our everyday lives.

Continue to explore some more on each of the sacraments.

• Baptism – “What’s the point of Baptism?” 

Through the sacrament of Baptism we are welcomed into a Church family.  We choose to begin our lifelong friendship with Jesus Christ.

Find out some other good points about the Sacrament of Baptism.

• Reconciliation – “Confession?  Do they still do that?” 

In the sacrament of Reconciliation we receive God’s forgiving and merciful love.

• Eucharist (The Mass) – What a free gift!

In the Eucharist we remember how Jesus gave his life for us and how he continues to give us himself at every Mass.

                                Delve into the mystery of the Sacrament of the Eucharist by watching and listening to a beautiful song.

• Confirmation – “I have been baptized.  Why do I need confirmation?”

In Confirmation we are bound for life with the gifts the Holy Spirit gave us at our Baptism.

Check out the meaning of “bound for life” by watching this video.

• The Anointing of the Sick – “Why is this gift a forgotten sacrament?”

In the Anointing of the sick we receive the healing and strengthening power of God.

Discover more about this forgotten sacrament.

• Matrimony – “Why make marriage Catholic?”

In Marriage the couple commits to live a covenant of love with each other and with God.

Read what Pope Francis said to 10,000 engaged couples on Valentine’s Day 2014.

Do you like “Sacraments 101”?  Here is the one on Marriage.

• Holy Orders – What are these “holy orders” all about?

In Holy Orders a man is anointed to minister to others as a priest.

C 4 yourselves how one man heard this sacred call.

When do children usually celebrate the Sacraments in the parishes in the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan?

Baptism is usually celebrated when the children are infants.  Parents may choose baptism for their children at an older age.

First Reconciliation is celebrated in Grade 2, usually during the season of Advent or Lent.

First Eucharist is celebrated in Grade 3.

Confirmation is usually celebrated with children in Grade 6 when they are 11—12 years of age.

Prior to the celebration of each sacrament there is a preparation time to help deepen the understanding of the sacrament the children are about to receive.  This preparation time involves the vital participation of all members of the faith community, priests, children, parents and /or other significant family members, teachers and catechists.

Compiled by: Diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis Archdiocese of Grouard -McLennan 10307 – 99St. Peace River, AB T8S 1K1 780-624-9211

Sacraments 201: Eucharist (what we believe) – YouTube

Confession 101 – part one | Busted Halo

Celebrate and Remember

Eucharist

Home Guide

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5

Chapter 1

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit . . . . . .  13

Chapter 2

The Lord Be with You  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17

Chapter 3

Lord, Have Mercy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21

Chapter 4

Glory to God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25

Chapter 5

The Word of the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29

Chapter 6

I Believe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33

Chapter 7

Do This in Memory of Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37

Chapter 8

Thy Kingdom Come  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41

Chapter 9

The Body of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45

Chapter 10

Go in Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53

Introduction 5

When your child was just a baby, you brought him or her to church and the priest

or deacon asked a very important question: “What do you ask of the Church for your

child?” Your reply was, “Baptism.” You expressed the desire for your child to belong

to Christ and the Christian community, to live in God’s grace, and to follow in the

footsteps of Jesus, Mary, the saints, and all the faithful.

This was the beginning of your child’s sacramental journey. Through the waters

of Baptism, your child was immersed in the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Your child was joined forever to all the baptized who make up the Body of Christ. You

promised to raise your child to know and follow Jesus in the Catholic Church.

But Baptism was just the beginning. As you prepare for First Eucharist together,

your child is taking another big step on his or her sacramental journey, and you are

there to teach, encourage, support, and rejoice with your child. This is a time for

spiritual growth and development for your whole family.

The Church recognizes you as the first and most influential teachers of your

child in the ways of faith. In fact, you are teachers precisely because you are parents.

It could be argued that you began teaching about faith as soon as your child was

born. How you care for your child teaches important, foundational lessons about

love and faith. In everyday ways, you teach your child to choose virtue and to live

in the way Jesus teaches us to live. You teach primarily by the witness of your own

actions and attitudes.

It is easy to imagine Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the Holy Family, but perhaps

a bit harder to picture one’s own family as a holy family. Yet that is exactly what

families are called to be. It is within the family that children first come to faith, and

it is within the family that they learn to live their faith. Every family is different and

none are perfect. But all families can grow in goodness and holiness if they accept

God’s grace and blessings and make the decisions and sacrifices that come with

being faithful followers of Jesus.

The celebration of a Sacrament is always communal. As you prepare your

child for First Eucharist and as you celebrate the Sacrament within your parish

community, you have the support of the entire faith community. The faith and

teachings you are sharing with your child are shared with the entire Church.

May the Lord be with you as you journey together toward the celebration of

First Eucharist.

Introduction

Welcome!

6 Celebrate and Remember: Eucharist Home Guide

Before You Begin:

Some Things to Consider

Preparing your child for First Eucharist is a wonderful opportunity. You already know that how

you present an activity to your child can make the difference in how they respond to it. You, and

your entire family, can help set the tone of your child’s response to Sacrament preparation. If

you create this as a fun, meaningful, quality time with your child, he or she will likely come to

look forward to this time together with you and will cherish the memory of it later in life.

Choose the place and time for your First Eucharist lessons carefully. Find a place that is

relatively quiet, and minimize distractions by turning off the radio, television, and phones.

Select a time when your child is not typically tired or hungry, or include a snack as part of the

experience. By being attentive to such scheduling issues, you will make this a time together that

everyone looks forward to.

Many families will complete each lesson in one sitting. However, if your child has a shorter

attention span, or if it is a better fit with your family time, divide the lesson into several shorter

meetings, or complete the lesson on Sunday and the family activities on other days of the week.

When you are working with your child, take the time to listen. Don’t give in to the

temptation to rush your child to respond or to supply the answers yourself. Your interest and

patience show your child that what he or she thinks is important to you.

In general, complete the activities alongside your child. For example, if your child is

drawing a picture of your family at Mass, draw your own picture to share with your child. Be

sure to keep extra paper handy for yourself.

As you become familiar with the home guide and the structure of the child’s book, you will

be more comfortable tailoring a lesson to be most effective for your individual child.

The Learning Process

The Celebrate and Remember: Eucharist Child’s Book is designed to lead young children to

an understanding of the Eucharist and an active participation in the Mass. The child’s book

consists of ten chapters that are ten pages each. Each chapter consists of an opening prayer and

the following four sections:

We Listen is a two-page section that features a Scripture story that is tied to the focus of

the lesson.

We Learn is a four-page section that presents the doctrinal and liturgical points of

the lesson.

We Live is a two-page section that applies the lesson to your child’s life.

We Pray is a one-page concluding prayer related to the content within the chapter. Your

family can pray together for growth in faith and for strength to live as disciples of Christ.

Introduction 7

The chart below illustrates how each chapter is constructed.

Page 1 Opening Prayer

Pages 2 and 3 We Listen (Scripture)

Pages 4 through 7 We Learn (Doctrine)

Pages 8 and 9 We Live (Application)

Page 10 We Pray (Closing Prayer)

Each lesson offers additional learning features in the child’s book, which may include the following:

With My Family This feature appears three times in each chapter and provides quick and

simple activities that you can do together as a family.

Faith Highlights This feature highlights points of Catholic doctrine your child should be

familiar with as part of their preparation for the Sacrament.

Saint Spotlight This feature offers short biographies of saints. It familiarizes your child with

other people of faith who can be examples for us.

Living Our Faith This feature provides specific teachings of the Church that have an impact

on our daily lives.

In addition to the core chapters, the child’s book also includes a resource section with the

following special features:

Inside My Catholic Church This section presents an illustrated interior of a Catholic Church

and identifies places and items that are important in the celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy.

The Order of the Mass This is an instructional outline of the Eucharistic celebration. It

describes the different parts of the Mass and explains the actions of the assembly.

How to Receive Communion This resource identifies the steps and guidelines involved in

receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.

Catholic Prayers This section contains some key prayers, including the Sign of the Cross, the

Lord’s Prayer, the Glory Be, the Hail Mary, the Apostles’ Creed, and grace before and after meals.

Glossary This is a compiled list of terms and definitions that are helpful for those who are

preparing for the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Certificate Each child’s book contains a frame-ready certificate that can be signed and used

to mark the date of First Communion.

8 Celebrate and Remember: Eucharist Home Guide

1. In the Name of the

Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit

Jesus says, “Follow me.”

(Matthew 4:18–22)

Baptism washes away sin and gives us new

life. The Eucharist is the Church’s most

important Sacrament.

2. The Lord Be with You Jesus feeds the hungry.

(Matthew 14:13–21)

In the Mass the gifts of bread and wine

become the Body and Blood of Christ.

3. Lord, Have Mercy Jesus welcomes everyone

to his table.

(Matthew 9:10–13)

Jesus came to save us all from sin.

In the Mass Jesus’ sacrifice is made present

again.

4. Glory to God All our gifts come from God.

(Genesis 1:1–31, 2:1–3)

Sunday is the Lord’s Day, a day to honor

and worship God for all of his blessings.

5. The Word of the Lord Jesus accomplishes the words of

the prophets.

(Luke 4:16–22)

God speaks to us in the Liturgy of the Word.

The Gospels are special because Christ is

their center.

6. I Believe Jesus heals a blind man.

(Mark 10:46–52)

We believe in the Blessed Trinity, one God

in three Divine Persons.

7. Do This in Memory of Me Jesus shares the Last Supper with

his Apostles.

(Matthew 26:18–20,26–28;

Luke 22:19)

Jesus gave us the Eucharist at the Last

Supper. Bread and wine are changed into

the Body and Blood of Jesus, who is truly

present in the Eucharist.

8. Thy Kingdom Come Jesus teaches his followers how to

pray.

(Matthew 5:1–2, 6:9–13)

The Kingdom of God is the power of God’s

love ruling over the world.

9. The Body of Christ The Risen Jesus comes to his

followers.

(Luke 24:13–32)

In Holy Communion we receive the Body

and Blood of Christ. We are united to Jesus

and the Church.

10. Go in Peace The early Church lives as the Body

of Christ.

(Acts 2:41–47)

The Eucharist nourishes and strengthens

us to live as God calls us to live.

Chapter Title Scripture Key Church Teaching

Child’s Book Contents

Introduction 9

Sacraments of Christian

Initiation: Baptism, the

Eucharist, Confirmation

• The Sign of the Cross
• A Thank-You Prayer

We are called to be followers of Jesus.

Introductory Rites: The priest

welcomes and greets the

assembly.

• A Prayer of Thanks and Praise
• Prayers of Faith, Hope,

and Love

Participating in Sunday Mass keeps us

close to Jesus.

Penitential Act: We pray for

God’s forgiveness.

• A Prayer for God’s Mercy
• A Forgiveness Prayer

We prepare to receive Jesus by saying we

are sorry for our sins.

The Gloria: We give God praise

and thanks.

• All Creation Praises God
• Glory to God

It is important to remember everything

God has done for us.

The Liturgy of the Word: We

listen to readings from the Old

Testament, the New Testament,

and the Gospels.

• A Prayer to Open Our Minds

and Hearts to God’s Word

• We Pray as Disciples of Jesus

Reading the Bible teaches us how to be

faithful to God.

The Creed: Our profession

of faith

• A Profession of Faith
• A Prayer of Faith

We show our faith by what we say and do.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist:

Jesus is truly present on

the altar.

• A Prayer to Jesus
• Our Eucharistic Prayer

Receiving the Eucharist gives us strength to

be who God wants us to be.

The Lord’s Prayer: A summary

of the whole Gospel message

• The Lord’s Prayer
• Our Father

We honor God and we ask for his Kingdom

of love and peace to come.

The Communion Rite: We

receive the Body and Blood of

Christ; we are united to Jesus

and one another.

• I Walk with Jesus
• We Pray to the Risen Jesus

When we participate in Mass and

receive Communion, we meet Jesus

in a special way.

The Concluding Rite: The priest

blesses us and sends us to be

Christ for the world.

• A Litany of the Holy Spirit
• We Pray after Mass

We can bring the love of Jesus to others by

what we say and what we do.

Liturgy Prayer Living the Eucharist

10 Celebrate and Remember: Eucharist Home Guide

Understanding the Celebrate and Remember:

Eucharist Home Guide

This home guide is designed to help you prepare your child for First Eucharist. Take time to get

comfortable with it before you begin the lessons. Browse through it and look through the first

lesson outline along with the child’s book. This guide was designed with an easy-to-use format that

will make the learning process simple yet effective.

Parent Background

The first page of every chapter begins with some basic background information for you. This

information offers you deeper insight into the content of the chapter and provides you with

reflection material that can help you prepare to teach your child.

GET READY!

The Get Ready! section points out any specific points of consideration or reflection that might

enrich your teaching experience of a particular chapter. In addition to the specific directions of the

Get Ready! section, it is helpful at this point to remember to read over the lesson and look at the

pictures and illustrations presented throughout the child’s book. Make notes about anything that

strikes you at this time.

You will also want to read through the family activities and the additional activities that are

suggested. Based on your time frame, decide which activities to incorporate into the immediate

lesson and which to use throughout the week.

A prereading of the Heart to Heart section will also be helpful at this preparation stage. If you

take this message and shape it into a real heart-to-heart talk with your child, it will become a rich,

meaningful part of the lesson. The heart-to-heart talk is the part of the lesson when you can close

the book and have a heartfelt talk with your child. Great learning can come from a real, honest

sharing between you and your child.

GET SET!

The Get Set! section alerts you to any specific materials that you will need for the lesson. In addition

to any items that might be mentioned, it is a good idea to create a container of materials that you

will use regularly—pencils, erasers, crayons or markers, paper, highlighters, sticky notes, index

cards, tape, scissors, a glue stick, stickers, a lighter or matches, and a family Bible or child’s Bible.

Keep these supplies, your child’s book, and your home guide in a place that is convenient to where

you will be teaching the lessons.

You will also want to set up a prayer space at this time. If you are working at your dining room

table, make a centerpiece with a cloth, a candle, a cross or crucifix, and a Bible. If you are gathering

in your family room, set up your prayer space on a coffee table or bookshelf. Keep this space simple

and uncluttered. It will be a special part of your prayer together.