First Eucharist and First Reconciliation

First Eucharist
The requirements for participation in the First Eucharist Class are:

1. Regular attendance in a first and second grade faith formation program.
2. Baptism certificates required of students not baptized at St. Peter's.
3. Parents instruct and complete the course of study with their child prior to the celebration of First Eucharist.
4. Parents and children participate in group sessions prior to the celebration of First Eucharist.
5. Parents participation in the meetings scheduled for First Eucharist.

First Reconciliation
The requirements for participation in the First Reconciliation Class are:

1. Regular attendance in a first and third grade faith formation program.
2. Parents instruct and complete the course of study with their child prior to the celebration of First Reconciliation.
3. Parents and children participate in group sessions prior to the celebration of First Reconciliation.
4. Parents participation in the meetings scheduled for First Reconciliation.

Confirmation.

The Candidate-Mentor Program includes:

1. Candidate pre-meeting.
2. Mentor pre-meeting.
3. Mentor mid-year support meeting.
4. Opening, Commissioning, Advent, Lenten, and Confirmation Liturgies.
5. Three large group (candidate and mentor) sessions including; One, Three, Part A, and Eight.
6. Five candidate-only meetings, which take place the first Wednesday of the months of November, December, January, February, and March.
7. Candidate and mentor ministry project.
8. Candidate retreat.

The goal of the Candidate-Mentor Program is to invite and enable youth to develop, with the guidance of an adult mentor, a personal life-guiding vision. A vision which is grounded in the teachings and life of Christ Jesus and proclaimed by our Christian community. The Candidate-Mentor Program begins in September and concludes with the celebration of the Sacrament in April.

MARRIAGE
To aid in the development of your relationship and to prepare you for the sacrament of marriage, couples are asked to call the parish office at 252-2113 and make an appointment with the priest at least six months prior to a proposed wedding date. At the initial appointment with the priest, the marriage preparation process will be explained. This process includes:

FOCCUS
This instrument is to show the strengths and weaknesses in the relationship of the couple. FOCCUS includes 156 questions to which each person responds. The areas of the questions are: Lifestyle Expectations, Friends and Interests, Personality Match, Personal Issues, Religion and Values, Sexuality, Financial Readiness, etc. FOCCUS helps the couple to acknowledge the strengths of their relationship, as well as give them insight into those areas in their life together that need strengthening.

ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
The Diocese of St. Cloud requires that each couple planning to marry attend an Engagement Program. This provides an opportunity for the couple to realize the full beauty and dignity of Christian marriage and respond to the Lord's call to be a sacramental couple. Information on programs may be obtained from the priest.

WEDDING WORKSHOP
This workshop is held two times each year. At the workshop, the couples are able to discuss options for the wedding celebration, participate in presentations of musical selections for the celebration, and receive information regarding the church's seasonal decor and environment. Attendance at one of these workshops has become a parish requirement due to the fact that over 30 weddings are celebrated at St. Peter's each year. It is suggested that the couple attend the workshop at least three months prior to their wedding. The priest assisting you in your wedding plans will share with you the dates the
workshop is offered.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
Marriage Encounter is designed to give married couples the opportunity to examine their lives together. The emphasis of Marriage Encounter is on communication between wife and husband, who spend a weekend together free from distraction. The weekend allows the couple to rediscover each other and focus on their marriage relationship.

RETROUVAILLE
A lifeline for troubled marriages. The Retrouvaille Program consists of a weekend experience with six follow-up sessions. The program is designed to provide couples with the tools to put their marriage in order again. It will give couples the opportunity to examine their lives together in a new and positive way.