The Diocese of Richmond and Saint Bede Catholic Church welcomes families seeking First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion for their baptized children. This will be a special year for you and your child as they learn about the Mass and prepare for the sacraments. Seeing the Mass and the sacraments anew through the eyes of a child can be a meaningful and spiritual experience for the whole family.
Per the Diocese of Richmond, parents/guardians and the parish collaborate in preparing children to receive the sacraments through a combination of parent-led home learning, and a limited number of parish-based, catechist-led sessions for children. Children should also participate regularly with their families in the Sunday Mass.
All Baptismal certificates and fees can be dropped off at the Reception Desk at Saint Bede Parish Office, once the ON-LINE enrollment has been completed. You may also bring them to either the September or October Sacramental Preparation sessions.
Parents/guardians attend an orientation meeting in September, with a member of our clergy, to receive information on the preparation program, session schedules, guidance as to how we as a church can assist you through this year and receive their child's book. This meeting will help parents deepen their understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and prepare them for their role in the home-based component of the Sacramental Preparation program.
Children preparing to receive the sacraments will attend a total of eight catechist-led sessions to prepare for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. There are four sessions for each sacrament, one evening session per month from September - April. The catechist-led sessions for the children are designed to reinforce and supplement what the children are learning at home with their first catechists, their parents. The children learn to encounter Jesus the Good Shepherd, in a very personal way, through learning the Word of God in a classroom setting and in the Atrium - a special environment used in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Two groups are offered on at least three different evenings of the week, to help accommodate busy family schedules and our current Covid restrictions. While the children are participating in their sessions, the parents/guardians meet together (with Covid restrictions in place) to learn and discuss topics relevant to the Sacramental Preparation process and form a supportive community.
If your child is at least seven years of age but has NOT received the Sacrament of Baptism, contact Michelle Tomshack at (757) 229-3631 ext. 2309 or mtomshack@bedeva.org for more information.