First Holy Communion is celebrated during the Easter season for children in the second grade. All children begin formal preparation to share in the Eucharist in their first grade year. In second grade, this formation is intensified. Children are required to attend two-years of religious education/faith formation prior to reception of First Communion. Parents attend a formation session prior to their child's celebration of First Communion.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) is a process for children above the age of seven (7), who have not received First Penance or Communion. During this formation process, children will come to know Jesus through the scriptures and will be prepared to receive the sacraments. Full inititation occurs each year at the Easter Vigil Mass.
Confirmation is celebrated every year during the fall semester for our ninth graders. Young people receive formation within their religious education classes or parochial school religion classes during the seventh and eighth grade years. It is the policy of the Diocese of Pittsburgh that young people receive two full years of formation prior to the celebration of Confirmation. Other aspects of formation for Confirmation include service work, a retreat in the summer prior to Confirmation and research on his or her chosen Confirmation name.