At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, we are committed to giving parents, the first educators in the faith, the tools to help them raise their children in the faith.
We equip our families preparing for the sacraments through Faith Formation for the children and a course on the Eucharist for parents, called “The Bread of Life”. Parents receive two wonderful books, accessible theology, and practical suggestions for cultivating a love for Reconciliation & Eucharist at home.
NOTE: 2020-2021 The registration for the next available sessions (Fall 2021 and Spring 2022) is now open. Register at the bottom of this page.
Here at SEAS, we offer two sessions a school year of “The Bread of Life” First Communion preparation. This program is for 1st and 2nd graders.
You may register for the Fall (Oct-Nov) session if your child will be age 7 by January 31, 2022.
You may register for the Spring (Feb-March) session if your child will be age 7 by June 10, 2022.
In order to register for our First Communion Preparation, your child must be receiving formation in one of the following three ways:
This wonderful study of the Eucharist is aimed at increasing our own adult understanding of and love for Our Lord in the Eucharist, so that we may then bring that knowledge and fervor home to our children in order to teach them to treasure this Greatest Gift.
In addition, it provides fellowship with other parents in the parish who are also preparing their children. In addition to the Bread of Life course, we will provide you with books to use with your child at home to prepare him for each of the sacraments.
It consists of 3 classes (with one "rain date") offered every other week on a Saturday morning. The child does not attend any class outside of their regular RE or Catholic school classes; the parents prepare him/her for the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist at home, using books that we provide, the knowledge gained from the Bread of Life classes, and the formation their child is receiving in their own religion classes.
Mandatory Parent Meeting: (orientation, Q & A, and receiving the books):
Bread of Life Class Dates: October 16, October 30, and November 13. "Rain date" is December 4. Classes are 10:00 AM- Noon, in the PCC building.
Assessments: Saturday, January 29; 9am- noon by appointment in the PCC Building
First Communion dates:
First Communion for those registered for the Fall session will be on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 10:30 am Mass.
As the primary educator of your child, it will be up to you to determine when your child is ready to be brought in for an assessment of his or her readiness to receive First Communion. It is suggested that, when the Bread of Life course has concluded, and you and your child have read and studied the books you received at the parent meeting, you come on the scheduled group assessment day (see date above).
If you feel your child is not ready, you may call the office of Elementary Religious Education after that date to schedule an appointment. SEAS school 2nd grade students in the Fall session will be assessed by their own teacher in school.
The Bread of Life course provides a comprehensive preparation for this assessment, even giving you questions to bring home and discuss with your child, and helping you relate what you are learning to the books you are using with your child at home. You will be given a study guide at the last Bread of Life class.
In the Diocese of Fort Worth, children usually receive First Holy Communion in the second grade at age 7 or 8. Older children (grades 3-12) who have not yet received First Holy Communion are enrolled in a program designed especially for them called Young Disciples: The Foundation.
Catholic adults who have not yet received First Holy Communion receive special attention in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) which takes the time to fully immerse them in the rites and mysteries of the faith to prepare them for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Click link below to learn more about our RCIA program and to register:
Sometimes it’s just not possible for one of the parents to attend a class. In that case, you can download the Parent Handout for the lessons covered in that class, as well as listen to an audio recording of the class. This of course is not ideal- the audio is not of the highest quality (we’re working on getting good quality videos!), and you’re not there to ask questions in person. But it is better than missing the class altogether. Here are links to the audio class recordings, and to the Parent Handouts. Note: The audio recordings are in a different order than the Parent Handouts. Please use the Parent Handouts (below) as your guide, as those are in the correct order. Please ask the catechist which lessons were covered in the class you missed.
Lesson 1: Introduction
Lesson 2: How to Make a Good Confession
Lesson 3: Holy Sacrifice- Salvation History
Salvation History booklet
Lesson 4: John 6 (The Bread of Life Discourse)
Lesson 5: The Sacrifice of the Mass
Lesson 6: The Presence of Christ
Lesson 7: Transubstantiation
Lesson 8: Worthy Reception (and Review)
Children are ready to prepare for Reconciliation when:
Children are ready to prepare for Eucharist when:
Remember: every child is different. While the Church typically believes children are ready around the age of seven, we recognize that some children are ready before that and others afterwards. Please contact us if you have any questions about your child’s readiness to begin preparing.
The norms for a child to receive are:
BEFORE REGISTERING FOR FIRST COMMUNION:
Your child MUST be registered in regular Religious Education classes, Catholic school,
or full time home school with a Catholic curriculum approved by the Diocese of Fort Worth.
Online registration for First Communion 2021- 2022 will open May 15. Call our office for more information:
(817) 623-2409; Ext. 500
Older children and Adults are prepared through our parish RCIA program.
We recognize that not everyone's faith journey looks the same. So, whatever the situation, we are here to assist each family on their unique journey. If you have questions or concerns about the process, just let us know.
