Confirmation/First Holy Communion

St. Mary’s School and St. Mary’s PSR students receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion in third grade. The Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion are celebrated by the Bishop at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, IL.

Students are required to complete sacramental course work. Confirmation candidates select a sponsor who is a good role model, is faithful to his/her religious obligations, and is committed to the Church. Students beyond third grade can make special arrangements with the Director of Religious Education to receive the sacraments.

Confirming children in third grade and having First Holy Communion come after Confirmation
is what’s called the “restored order” of the sacraments, which was implemented several years
ago in our diocese. It’s important to note that we are not starting something new. Aside from
fairly recent history, it has always been the Church’s practice to first confirm new members and
then welcome them to receive Communion. This practice held for adults and children, alike, and
it has continued to the practice of RCIA. In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly
affirms the proper sequence in paragraph 1322: “The holy Eucharist completes Christian
initiation.”