1st Reconciliation & 1st Communion

If you just registered your student for First Reconciliation & First Communion, thank you for doing so. This page can be used for a reference througout the year for all information pertaining to these Sacraments. You will find dates, times and any other important informaiton.

If you have a student that would like to make the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion during the 2026/27 faith formation year, and you have not registered them yet, please fill out the registration form found here.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

God Bless,

Sonya Morris

218-623-5016

sonya.morris@duluthcatholic.org

• Actively uphold the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of obligation.
• Provide your childs Baptismal certificate by November 11, 2026. We will not track them down for you. If SMA has a copy you can ask them to send it to me.
• Attend First Reconciliation parent formation session on November 4th in the Cathedral.
• Attendance at class every week (minimal absences, attendance will be taken)
• Students will need to show readiness and understanding of each Sacrament
• Attendance at First Communion Retreat on April 24, 2027 for both parents and students
• Attendance at First Communion Rehearsal on May 1, 2027 for both parents and students

There are two opportunities to attend our brief parent meeting to go over details for the year and to answer any questions you may have.

Wednesday, September 30th at 9 AM in the Cathedral social hall and 7:15 PM in the Cathedral Multipurpose room .

We will be having our opening Mass that evening at 6PM followed by dinner in the social hall. You are all more than welcome to join us for that before the 7:15PM meeting.

All families will need to provide official proof of valid Baptism to ensure the church has an accurate record of the student's canonical status. Please have the church of your students Baptism send us a Baptismal certificate. Certificates can be mailed to the Cathedral, 2801 E 4th St. Duluth, MN 55812

If your student was Baptized at one of our Catholic Parishes of East Duluth Mission Field we will get those for you. If SMA has a copy you can ask them to send one to us.

Parents stay with their child for First Reconciliation. We will start with a prayer followed by Reconciliation. We strongly encourage parents to receive the sarcament of Reconciliation after all the students have gone. Once you and your child are done you are free to go.

Our First Communion Retreat for student's and parent's is a requirement. The retreat will be held on Saturday, April 24th, from 8- 10:30 AM. We will start with Mass at 8AM at the Cathedral.

The First Communion Mini Retreat is required for both parents and their First Communicant. We ask that other siblings are not brought to the retreat. We want this time to be about you and your First Communicant so that together you are able to slow down, learn together and prepare your hearts for the sacrament.

There will be shared time together and time where we will break off. Parents will get time to refelct on their role as the primary teacher of their child's faith and students will get to prepare for the special day.

Please come in with your child, find your pew and wait for rehearsal to begin.

Cathedral & Saint Mary Star of the Sea

First Communion Rehearsal Saturday, May 1st, 9 AM @ Cathedral

First Communion Sunday, May 2nd, 10:00 AM Mass @ Cathedral

St. Michael

First Communion Rehearsal Saturday, May 1st, 10:30 AM @ St. Michael

First Communion Sunday, May 2nd, 11:00 AM Mass @ St. Michael

Saint Benedict

First Reconciliation - Elisabeth Cyr will be in contact

First Communion Rehearsal- Elisabeth Cyr will be in contact

First Communion Sunday, May 2nd, 8:30 AM Mass

Saint John

First Communion Rehearsal Saturday, May 1st, 11:30 AM@ St. John

First Communion Sunday, May 2nd, 10:30 AM Mass @ St. John

2nd grade sacramental classes will be integrated into our regular Wednesday night faith formation class and into the second grade classrooms at SMA.

All First Communicants who come to class on Wednesday night for our faith formation classes will meet at the Holy Rosary Campus from 5:45 PM - 6:45 PM. That schedule can be found here on our faith formation page.

Student's from Stella Maris Academy Holy Rosary Campus will have their sacrament classes integrated into their regular school day throughout the year. Therefore they will not need to attend Wednesday night classes.

September - 30th, 6PM Opening Mass & Dinner @ Cathedral

October - 7th, 14th (No Class), 21st, 28th

November - 4h, 11th, 18th, 25th(No Class)

December - 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th (No Class)

January - 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

February - 3rd, 10th(Ash Wednesday Mass), 17th(No Class), 24th

March - 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th(No Class), 31st

April - 7th (No Class), 14th, 21st, 28th (Closing Mass 6PM & Dinner)

Ms. Maria Landgren will be teaching our 2nd grade sacramental preparation classes on Wednesday night faith formation nights this year along with Mrs. Morris.

Mrs. Morris & Ms. Maria are both alums of Holy Rosary School. They have lived here their whole lives and are very involved in the school and parish.

They will be using the Augustine Institutes Signs of Grace sacramental curriculum.

Families are the domestic church. Your family should be upholding your Sunday Mass obligation. Our priests must recognize your family and student from attending Mass regularly in order for them to receive their Sacraments. We encourage you to stop by and greet the Priest after Mass.

CCC, 2226 Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child's earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another to grow in faith by the witness of a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God.35 The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents.

All First Communicants will have one pew reserved. Any additional family members can sit in the unreserved pews which will be behind all the First Communicants.

Cathedral

Arrive in the Cathedral social hall by 9:45 AM all ready to go. Students will process in and sit at the end of their pews.

St. John

Arrive by 10:15 AM all ready to go. We will gather students a few minutes before Mass and line up in the back of church. Children will process in and sit at the end of their pew closest to the main aisle with their family.

St. Michael

Arrive by 10:45 AM all ready to go. We will gather students a few minutes before Mass and line up in the back of church. Children will process in and sit at the end of their pew closest to the main aisle with their family.

St. Benedict

Elisabeth Cyr will have details for you.

Cathedral

Pictures can be taken before Mass or after Mass after the professional photographer is done.

After Mass a group photo will be taken and Fr. will be available immediately following the group photo for individual photos. Once the professional photographer is done families can take their own pictures.

Please be respecful of the Sanctuary when taking pictures. Students and families should not be up on the altar.

St. John & St. Michael

Pictures can be taken before Mass or after Mass. There will be no professional photographer.

After Mass a group photo will be coordinated and families can take their own pictures.

Fr. will be available immediately following the group photo for individual photos.

Please be respecful of the Sanctuary when taking pictures. Students and families should not be up on the altar.

St. Benedict

Elisabeth Cyr will have details for you.

• There are no specific requirements or items that can’t be worn.

• Most girls will wear a white dress

• Veils and gloves are optional for girls

• Most boys wear a suit or nice pants, sport coat or jacket

• Ties for boys are optional

Practice receiving the Body and Blood at home.

• Practice walking reverently with their hands folded
• Bowing slightly before they get to the Priest
• and
• Making a throne for Jesus with your hands or sticking out their tongue and opening their mouth wide enough for the Priest.
• Sayind "Amen" after the Priest says "The Body of Christ"

• Consuming Jesus before they walk away
• Bowing slightly before they get to the Priest for the Blood of Christ
• Sayind "Amen" after the Priest says "The Blood of Christ"
• Taking a tiny sip of the Blood and handing the chalice back
• Making the sign of the cross as they walk away
• Walking reverently back to their pew

All First Communicants will receive the Blood of Christ at First Communion.

Students will get the chance to taste the bread and wine before it is conscecrated at school.

At home you can practice with a cracker and water.

We will also be practicing at school and in church.

Remember to work on your prayers. Say the Act of Contrition every night before bed to help you memorize it.

WORK ON LEARNING THE ACT OF CONTRITION