St. Bartholomew Parish

Sacramental Preparation Programs

Baptism
If you are a Catholic parent and would like your infant baptized,
or
If you are a Catholic parent of an older child who is not baptized
and is going to prepare for the sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist,
or
If you are an adult who is not baptized and would like to be baptized into the
Catholic community of faith,
please call the parish office for information on the initiation process.

Confirmation and First Eucharist
            Since 1998, St. Bartholomew’s Church has been celebrating the Sacrament of
Confirmation with children as young as 6 or 7 years old in its traditional order after the
Sacrament of Baptism and before receiving the Eucharist for the first time.  The
preparation program for Confirmation and first Eucharist is not graded, but children in
the second grade or older who have been attending Mass regularly are usually ready to
prepare for these sacraments.  This preparation consists of the following:  regular Mass
attendance, consistent attendance in an age appropriate parish sponsored faith
formation program or Catholic school, two 2-hour retreats with parents/sponsors and
children, completion of supplemental materials at home, participation in the Holy
Thursday liturgy, a family interview with Kathy Williamson, and attendance at the
rehearsal for the ceremony. 

            On occasion, we have older children and youth who were baptized Catholic,
received first Eucharist, and are practicing Catholics, but did not receive the Sacrament
of Confirmation.  For these Catholics, our preparation program is similar to the
preparation for Confirmation and First Eucharist except that the materials and retreats
are tailored to the age of the recipient. 

Please check the bulletin for the date of the parent information meeting when you
can register your child for this program usually held in October.

            If you are a baptized Christian or unbaptized adult and wish to explore what it
means to become Catholic, which would include preparing for the sacraments of
Confirmation and Eucharist, please call the parish office for more information on the
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.) process.

Reconciliation
            Informal preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is on-going in the
regular faith formation programs for all children and youth, but we offer a formal
preparation program for the Sacrament of Reconciliation for all 4^th graders.  This
preparation consists of in-class special activities, completion of supplemental materials
at home, and a 1-hour mini-retreat for parents and children.  Children (and their
parents!) are then ready to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, many for the first
time, during the Advent Penance Service in December. 

Please check the bulletin for the date of the parent information meeting when
you can register your child for this program usually held in October.

            As always, the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation exists on
Saturday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. at St. Max, during the Parish Penance Services in
Advent and Lent, or by appointment with Msgr. Henchal.

Holy Matrimony
            For couples who are considering marriage, please call Msgr. Henchal at least six
months prior to the desired wedding date to schedule Marriage Preparation classes.

Holy Orders
            If you are a single man, 18 years of age or older, and wondering if God is calling
you to the priesthood, please call Msgr. Henchal for information on a priesthood
discernment group or more information about vocations.