Sacrament Prep Sessions

Sacramental Preparation Sessions

Growing Up Catholic offers a carefully tested and well-crafted sacramental formation process.
It provides the immediate preparation for
Confirmation in restored order,
First Reconciliation, and First Communion.

View a sample session & leader documents

What's new

Scope & sequence

Supplemental Sessions

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Four Key Advantages

Designed to Coach Parents

The role of parents is not an afterthought in this program, but exactly what it was designed to support. And parents love this! We give them the confidence and support they need to pass faith on to their children in a way that lasts a lifetime! Learn more...

Handouts over Textbooks

Our research shows that when you hand a parent a textbook, their eyes glaze over. When you give them a handout, they dig right in! Handouts empower parents, help children learn, keep costs down, and extend faith into the household with long-lasting effects. Learn more...

Bringing Faith Home

At-home activities are essential to sacramental formation that will last a lifetime, which is why we put so much emphasis on it. We send families home with a household plan, supported with specific activities and resources such as online videos. Read more to learn how powerful this approach is. Learn more...

It's About Loving Jesus!

We want to help the children (and the parents!) fall deeper in love with Jesus, not just absorb theological knowledge. That's why we include prayer experiences and activities to talk to him and learn more about him. Learn more...

Features

Faithful to Church Teachings
Our materials faithfully reflect Catholic teachings, traditions, and liturgical practices and is completely faithful to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Welcoming to All
We keep in mind those who may not feel welcome, such as returning Catholics or non-Catholic spouses. This is what the New Evangelization is all about!

Very Affordable
We keep our prices low and when you print our eResources yourself you can save over $10 per child compared with other publishers (see below).

Age-Appropriate and Fun
It's not helpful to talk over kids' heads, but we've found that fun learning activities and speaking their language can work wonders!

Wisdom from Pope Francis
The parent pages for each session include a box sharing a related quotation from Pope Francis, whose down-to-earth approach make people pay attention.

Easy for the Catechist
We make your life easier: you spend less time trying to keep control of the room or helping kids keep their place and more really making a difference while parents learn to teach their kids!

Multiple Formats

Two Age Groups

We have separate handouts for grade school (ages 7-9) and middle school (ages 10-14). Minister to those families who might be a bit out of sync.

Spanish & English

The handouts are available in both English and Spanish. You can even give parents handouts in Spanish, while their children use English.

Commonwealth Countries

We have versions of the handouts for use in the U.K., Canada, or other countries using British English.

Flexible Format

This program works well in a variety of environments and schedules, whether in a parish religious ed. program, school, individual homes, or neighborhood clusters. It works well in rural and clustered parishes. Learn more in Chapter 2 of the Leader Guide.

Session Handouts

Our program is divided into separate sessions, which are each typically completed in 60 to 90 minutes. First Eucharist and First Reconciliation each have six sessions, while Confirmation in restored order has four sessions.

Each session has three inter-related handouts. We recommend only giving out the handouts for one session. Otherwise, both children and parents can become overwhelmed. We don't want it to look like a textbook!

Child Handouts

The core of each session is the child handout. Each child should have one to read, write in, and color.

Parent Handouts

Parents have their own handouts, to follow during the sessions. They show the child pages with extra notes to coach parents in helping their child learn. They also include answers to all exercises and additional learning to pass on.

Catechist Handouts

These are similar to the parent handouts, but for the catechists. They also show the child pages with instructions. These also include an overview, timeline, and preaching notes.

View the structure of a session >>

View a sample of a full session >>

What Is Included?

All of the following documents are included in the per-child price for the program. Many of the supporting documents are made publicly available for your full review and use.

Leader Support

Comprehensive Leader guide
Guide for pastors and liturgical/music leaders
Rite of enrollment guidelines and liturgical script

Main Sessions & At Home

Child, parent, and catechist handout for each session.
Online At Home web pages .

Family & Parent Retreats

Half-day retreat on the the Mass for parents & guardians
Planning kits for First Eucharist and Reconciliation final retreats & rehearsals

Testimonials

From Parents

I love the website! It's given me access to everything I need for my child.

You're kidding! I hope you have more of this for my child as she grows up. This is wonderful!

I wish I had had this for my older children.

Do you have a program like this on the Bible?

No one told us forming our own kids was this important.

Thank you for helping
me with my child.

I really prefer this over having someone else teach my child about faith.

From Parish Leaders

We are so pleased with this program. It is so amazing to watch the development of the parent/child relationship in discussing faith with each other. We have had several parents come forward and tell us how good this is for their family. And we have also had parents come forward (and we think this learning about Reconciliation has been the catalyst) who are in irregular marriage situations who are now seeking our help in making things right.
So we are grateful for all the work your team has put into this resource.

Pastoral Assistant

I have been taking a look at all the amazing materials with Growing Up Catholic. I really love it! Thank you!
-- Director of Family Faith Formation, California

Director of Family Faith Formation

I can honestly say that having tried many different programmes over the years, none has brought me as much joy as this programme has. It has been wonderful to witness the relationship between parent and child grow. So much love!!!

Parish Leader

We love Growing Up Catholic. The coaching of parents to form their children is critical to forming the domestic church. And this process allows the parents to become more and more comfortable in sharing faith with their children. It also gives them precious one on one time with their child that is so difficult to come by in our society. There are so many things in our world that erode the framework of our families. I'm sure this time together in the context of love and faith surrounded by the breath of the Spirit can do much to at least plant seeds in the hearts of the parents and the children and give them strength in Christ.