Children in the Waterloo Parishes customarily celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession) and Communion for the first time around the age of 7 or 8 - which is normally when the child is in second grade. As a general rule, however, children should celebrate these sacraments when they are best prepared to do so, regardless of their age or grade level. 

It is the policy of the Archdiocese of Dubuque that children celebrate Reconciliation before First Communion.  
  
• Click here to read more about our Sacrament Preparation Policy.

Expectations.   

To begin preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion, 

• The child must be baptized.
• The child must be in 2nd grade or older.
• He/she must also be enrolled in a Catholic school or a religious education program. 
• At least one parent must be a practicing Catholic who is registered in a local parish.

The most important criteria for a child's preparation is the religious environment in the child's home and the family's participation in the spiritual and sacramental life of the Catholic faith community. Parents should be providing a nurturing environment for Catholic faith and values and should be actively participating in their child's faith formation.

• Click here to download a checklist of expectations about the family's participation in the Catholic faith community.

   Parents must provide a copy of the Baptism Certificate if the child was not baptized in one of the Waterloo parishes. 
   If a child has not been baptized, parents should contact the director of Sacrament Preparation (Gen Wandro) to arrange for preparaton for and celebration of baptism.

First Reconciliation and First Commuion Preparation for children in 2nd grade:

Preparation for each of these sacraments will occur both in the school or religious education classroom and in the home. What happens in class only enhances what families are doing at home.  
To learn more about their role in a child's preparation for these Sacraments, parents attend a Parent Information Meeting for both Reconciliation and First Communion. 

At the Parent Meeting parents will see the student textbook that the child will use in the school or RE classroom. He/she will write in it and keep it. (Children who attended the summer religous education classes or have chosen the home-schooling option for religious education will do all the preparation at home with the assistance of Gen.) Parents receive a support materials which will help them prepare for the sacrament with their child. A prayer booklet will also be provided to be used at home. There is a $25 fee for First Reconciliation preparation and a $25 fee for First Communion preparation. Fees cover the textbook materials, parent support materials, retreats, and celebration expenses.


Sacrament Preparation for children and youth in grades 3-8 (P.R.E.P.):

Children who are in grades 3-8 may prepare for Reconciliation and Eucharist by enrolling in the Catholic school or religious education program and particpating in immediate preparation classes through P.R.E.P. (Penance/Reconciliation & Eucharist Preparation). A parent information meeting is held on Wed. October 19th at 6:30pm in the Sacred Heart gym.

Preparation classes for First Reconciliation are done on Jan. 21st & Feb 4th, 9-11AM at Sacred Heart. A parent information meeting about First Communion will be held in March. Click Here to see dates for 1st Communion Parent Info meetings. A letter will be sent out in Jan. to remind you of these meetings. Preparation classes for First Communion are done on Mar. 11th & 25th, 9-11AM at Sacred Heart

Contact Gen Wandro at dbqwcff@dbqarch.org or 641-257-8912 for more informaiton about P.R.E.P.  for grades 3-8. 

Sacrament Preparation for youth in grades 9-12 
An immediate preparation program can be designed to meet the needs ot the youth. Contact Annie Zeets at anniezeets@gmail.com or 319-233-0498.  

•   •   •

More Information About First Reconciliation - 2022-23  

For 2nd Graders: 
Info meetings for parents of 2nd graders for First Reconciliation (choose one to attend)

• Sunday, Oct. 2nd-- Sacred Heart O'Hagen Hall 1:00 pm in Burmese
• Sunday, Oct. 2nd - Queen of Peace Scallon Hall 4:00pm in Spanish
• Tuesday, Oct. 4th - 6:00 pm in English St. Edward Parish Hall 
• Wednesday, Oct. 5th - 6:00 pm in English Blessed Sacrament Putz Hall

Reconcliation Retreat will be in the form of a take home kit. This will be sent out in Dec/January. 

First Reconcliation Celebrations for 2nd graders (and one or both parents) will include a prayer service and individual Confessions. Parents sign up to attend one. 

• Saturday, Jan. 14th @ 9:30am - Blessed Sacrament Church 
• Saturday, Jan. 14th @ 1pm - Queen of Peace Church 
• Wednesday Jan. 18th @ 6:30pm - St. Edward Church 
• Sunday, Jan. 22nd @ 3pm - Sacred Heart Church

For students in grades 3-8 (P.R.E.P)

• Wednesday Oct. 19th @ 6:30pm in the Sacred Heart School Gym.

• Sat. Jan 21st & Sat. Feb 4th - First Reconciliation PREP Classes

More Information about First Communion - Winter/Spring 2023

For 2nd graders: 
Info meetings for parents of 2nd graders preparing for First Communion (choose one to attend)

• Wednesday, Jan. 25th @ 6:30pm, St. Eds Parish Hall (English) 
• Saturday, Jan. 28th @ 9:30AM, Queen of Peace Scallon Hall (Spanish)
• Sunday, Jan. 29th, after 10:45AM Mass, Sacred Heart O'hagen Hall (Burmese) 
• Tuesday, Jan. 31st @ 6:30pm, Blessed Sacrament Parish Center (English)

Eucharist Retreat for parent(s) and child (mandatory; parents sign up for a time)

• Saturday, Jan. 25th, Times TBA. Sacred Heart Church
  • FULL Eucharist Retreat. 
• Sunday, Jan 26th, 1-7pm. Sacred Heart Church. 
  • Sign up sheet will be sent out for you to sign up for a time slot. 
  • ONLY making Blessing Cups. 

For students in grades 3-8 (P.R.E.P) 

• Saturday March 11th @ 10:30AM in Sacred Heart Church Cafeteria​

• Saturday, March 11th & Saturday, March 25th - First Communion PREP classes

First Communion Celebration Dates (for 2nd grade and PREP)
First Communion will be celebrated in the child's home parish after Easter. 

• 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 

For more information, contact
Gen Wandro 
Waterloo Catholic Faith Formation - Director of School Age and Young Family Formation. 
dbqwcff@dbqarch.org
641-257-8912