Contact Information
Gen Wandro 641-257-8912. dbqwcff@dbqarch.org
Waterloo Catholic Faith Formation Office. 319-233-0498

Children need to celebrate their First Reconciliation prior to First Communion. Second graders prepare for First Reconciliation in the fall, and for First Communion in the second semester. 

Parent Meetings 
Letters to families of 2nd graders will be mailed in late-August or sent home from St. Edward School. Included will be dates for Parent Information meetings about preparation for First Sacraments - and First Reconciliation in particular - that will be held in early October. Families that do not receive an information letter in the mail by early September should contact Gen Wandro. 

Information about immediate preparation for First Communion will be sent to parents in January. Choose to attend one of these parent information meetings:

• Wed. Jan. 25th - 6:30pm Parent Info Meeting - St. Eds Parish Hall
• Sat. Jan. 28th - 9:30am Parent Info Meeting (Spanish) - Queen of Peace, Scallon Hall.
• Sun. Jan 29th - After 10:45am Mass, Parent Info Meeting (Burmese) - Sacred Heart O'Hagen Hall.
• Tue. Jan 31st - 6:30pm, Parent Info Meeting - Blessed Sacrament Parish Center

* If you cannot attend one of the parent meetings, contact Gen Wandro.


Celebrations of First Communion -- Spring 2023 
Children normally celebrate First Communion in the parish where the family belongs. First Communions will be scheduled for the three weeks following Easter. First Communion weekends are as follows. 

• April 15th/16th
  • Sat. 15th - 4:00pm First Communion Mass at Queen of Peace (English)
  • Sun. 16th - 10:30am First Communion Mass at Blessed Sacrament. 
  • Sun. 16th - 11:00AM First Communion Mass at Queen of Peace (Spanish)
• April 22nd/23rd
  • Sat. 22nd - 5:30pm First Communion Mass at Sacred Heart (English) 
  • Sun. 23rd - 10:45am First Communion Mass at Sacred Heart (Burmese) 
• April 29th/30th
  • Sat. 29th - 5:15pm First Communion Mass at St. Eds
  • Sun. 30th - 8:00am First Communion Mass at St. Eds
  • Sun. 30th - 10:30am First Communion Mass at St. Eds 

Preparation Program Format and Fees 
The school/religious education and the parents work together for their child's immediate preparation for First Communion.* There is a $25 fee for student and family materials, retreat supplies, and celebration costs for each of the First Sacraments.  More information about the schedule for lessons will be given at the parent meeting. 

* For children participating in the home-schooling option for religious education, the immediate preparation for First Communion will be entirely a home study. Parents of these children will receive the student books and the support materials at the parent meeting. 


Sacrament Retreats - Eucharist Retreat
A sacrament retreat will enhance learning through interactive experiences with the child and parent. All second grade students from the Waterloo Catholic parishes who are preparing for First Communion will attend a Eucharist Retreat. The year 2022-2023 is bringing a new format to the 1st Communion retreats. You are welcome to attend on retreat or the other. Our Saturday 2 hour retreat will include a church tour, blessing cups and activites for children and parents to do together. Our Sunday retreat will be for families that only want to make their Blessing Cups without the other activities. Sign up's for times will be sent out in December/January. Dates and times are below: 

• Sat. February 25th - Full Retreat. Time is TBA at Sacred Heart Church. 
• Sun. Feb. 26th - Blessing Cup Creation retreat at Sacred Heart Church. 
  • This retreat will be open all day. I will send out a sign up sheet for you to pick a time to come and make your child's blessing cup with them. 

Rehearsals and First Communion Photos
Rehearsal schedule: 
Queen of Peace : Friday April 14th, 5:30pm-6:30pm (English and Spanish) 
Blessed Sacrament: Sat. April 15th, 9AM - 11AM. 
Sacred Heart: Sat. April 22nd, 10:30-11:30AM (English). 11:30-12:30pm (Burmese) 
St. Edward: Thurs. April 27th 6:00-8:00pm. 

A professional photographer will be on hand to take large group and individual photos at the rehearsals for Blessed Sacrament, St. Edward, and Sacred Heart. For this reason the children wears their First Communion attire to the rehearsal. (At Queen of Peace, photos will be taken after each First Communion Mass.)

First Communion Dress Code 
Children should wear their "Sunday best". Slacks and dress shirt, tie or vest/sweater are appropriate for boys; some boys wear a suit. A modest dress is appropriate for girls. White dresses are common, but not required; a veil may be worn, but it is not required.

General Requirements for First Communion

• Children must be at least 7 years old, be baptized and have celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).  Children should be enrolled in a Catholic school or religious education program (or be participating in an approved religious education home-schooling program).
• At least one parent or guardian must be a practicing Catholic who is registered in one of the Waterloo parishes. Parents should be providing a nurturing environment for Catholic faith and should be actively participating in their child's faith formation.

• If your child is not baptized or has not celebrated Reconciliation, contact Julie Niemeyer
• If your child was not baptized in one of the Waterloo parishes, you will need to provide a copy of the child's Baptism Certificate.