There are a number of components to our three-year Confirmation program. If you are interested in having your child confirmed, it is assumed that your family participates at Mass every weekend and that your son/daughter is continuing to learn more about the Catholic faith in the EDGE, our faith formation program for middle school students, or at Life Teen (for high school students). The other basic requirements for the Preparation for Confirmation are: 
 
    •  Confirmation preparation is a THREE-YEAR program - 6th, 7th and 8th grades at the EDGE;
    •  Families must be registered members of Saint Joseph Marello Parish;
    •  Students attend the EDGE each week (only three excused absences);

    •  In the second year of preparation, students attend a one-day retreat in the Fall and a weekend retreat before Confirmation in early Spring (there are NO exceptions and students must attend the entire event);
     •  A sponsor must be chosen who has completed their 16th year, has been Confirmed and is a practicing Catholic (that is, attends Mass each week and receives the sacraments regularly).

 

Students freshmen through seniors who are not yet Confirmed attend weekly Life Teen sessions.

 

See information under Baptism/RCIA above.

      Children preparing for First Communion and First Reconciliation may register at the ROCK; middle school students register at the EDGE; high school students register at Life Teen (click on the Youth Ministries link in the left column for details).

      Adults: see Baptism/RCIA information above.

 

 

     Canon 914: It is the responsibility, in the first place, of parents and those who take the place of parents as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as early as possible, preceded by sacramental confession; it is also for the pastor to be vigilant lest any children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed.

     The following guidelines incorporate the pastoral norm of the universal Church and particular law of the Diocese of Sacramento:

      • Children are to be prepared for First Penance and receive the Sacrament of Penance prior to receiving First Communion. Both sacraments would generally be received in grade two. First Penance would normally be received a couple of months or more before First Communion.

     • In a given parish, First Communion could be postponed to third grade, if indicated by available resources, the number of children or the time needed for adequate preparation of both children and adults.

     • The readiness required for the Sacrament of Penance consists in the capacity to discern between right and wrong, together with an understanding appropriate to the child's age, of what sin is. The readiness required for First Communion is not dissimilar: the ability to recognize the difference between the Eucharist and ordinary bread (and wine).

     • Children who are well prepared for Penance generally welcome this opportunity to experience God's mercy. Parents/guardians of a child occasionally may indicate that their child is "too young" for Penance. In such a case, after due pastoral discernment, delay of both Penance and Communion is often the most suitable resolution.

     • The universal law, as reiterated by the particular law of our Diocese, does not permit the parish program to orient the class as a whole away from receiving First Penance prior to First Communion. The pastoral norm is: First Penance prior to First Communion.

     • Delaying the preparation and reception of First Penance until sometime after First Communion is not permitted by the universal Church or by the Diocese of Sacramento.

   

     Engaged couples must contact their parish at least six months prior to the anticipated wedding date. 

     Every couple is asked to participate in an assessment process designed to assist both the couple and priest/deacon in assessing readiness for marriage. The process begins with an interview with the priest/deacon. 

     • Baptism certificate: the baptism certificate of the Catholic(s) should be issued within the last six months and include any notations regarding other sacraments received. A certificate of baptism is also required of non-Catholic Christians.

     • A Pre-Nuptial Inquiry (Form A) is to be completed by each of the engaged. This inquiry includes questions regarding one's freedom to marry and one's views on Christian marriage.

     • State of California Marriage License: a wedding will not take place without the License.

     • Sacrament of Confirmation: If this Sacrament has not been received but can be received without serious inconvenience, the Sacrament should be celebrated before the marriage.

     The couple is to attend an approved marriage preparation program. Participation is to be completed no later than two months before the wedding date. A certificate of completion is presented to the parish.

 

 

    There are a number of components to our three-year Confirmation program. If you are interested in having your child confirmed, it is assumed that your family participates at Mass every weekend and that your son/daughter is continuing to learn more about the Catholic faith in the EDGE, our faith formation program for middle school students, or at Life Teen (for high school students). The other basic requirements for the Preparation for Confirmation are: 
 
    •  Confirmation preparation is a THREE-YEAR program - 6th, 7th and 8th grades at the EDGE;
    •  Families must be registered members of Saint Joseph Marello Parish;
    •  Students attend the EDGE each week (only three excused absences);

    •  In the second year of preparation, students attend a one-day retreat in the Fall and a weekend retreat before Confirmation in early Spring (there are NO exceptions and students must attend the entire event);
     •  A sponsor must be chosen who has completed their 16th year, has been Confirmed and is a practicing Catholic (that is, attends Mass each week and receives the sacraments regularly).

 

Students freshmen through seniors who are not yet Confirmed attend weekly Life Teen sessions.

 

See information under Baptism/RCIA above.

      Children preparing for First Communion and First Reconciliation may register at the ROCK; middle school students register at the EDGE; high school students register at Life Teen (click on the Youth Ministries link in the left column for details).

      Adults: see Baptism/RCIA information above.

 

 

     Canon 914: It is the responsibility, in the first place, of parents and those who take the place of parents as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as early as possible, preceded by sacramental confession; it is also for the pastor to be vigilant lest any children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed.

     The following guidelines incorporate the pastoral norm of the universal Church and particular law of the Diocese of Sacramento:

      • Children are to be prepared for First Penance and receive the Sacrament of Penance prior to receiving First Communion. Both sacraments would generally be received in grade two. First Penance would normally be received a couple of months or more before First Communion.

     • In a given parish, First Communion could be postponed to third grade, if indicated by available resources, the number of children or the time needed for adequate preparation of both children and adults.

     • The readiness required for the Sacrament of Penance consists in the capacity to discern between right and wrong, together with an understanding appropriate to the child's age, of what sin is. The readiness required for First Communion is not dissimilar: the ability to recognize the difference between the Eucharist and ordinary bread (and wine).

     • Children who are well prepared for Penance generally welcome this opportunity to experience God's mercy. Parents/guardians of a child occasionally may indicate that their child is "too young" for Penance. In such a case, after due pastoral discernment, delay of both Penance and Communion is often the most suitable resolution.

     • The universal law, as reiterated by the particular law of our Diocese, does not permit the parish program to orient the class as a whole away from receiving First Penance prior to First Communion. The pastoral norm is: First Penance prior to First Communion.

     • Delaying the preparation and reception of First Penance until sometime after First Communion is not permitted by the universal Church or by the Diocese of Sacramento.

   

     Engaged couples must contact their parish at least six months prior to the anticipated wedding date. 

     Every couple is asked to participate in an assessment process designed to assist both the couple and priest/deacon in assessing readiness for marriage. The process begins with an interview with the priest/deacon. 

     • Baptism certificate: the baptism certificate of the Catholic(s) should be issued within the last six months and include any notations regarding other sacraments received. A certificate of baptism is also required of non-Catholic Christians.

     • A Pre-Nuptial Inquiry (Form A) is to be completed by each of the engaged. This inquiry includes questions regarding one's freedom to marry and one's views on Christian marriage.

     • State of California Marriage License: a wedding will not take place without the License.

     • Sacrament of Confirmation: If this Sacrament has not been received but can be received without serious inconvenience, the Sacrament should be celebrated before the marriage.

     The couple is to attend an approved marriage preparation program. Participation is to be completed no later than two months before the wedding date. A certificate of completion is presented to the parish.