Family Faith Formation
First Holy Communion
Overview
Holy Trinity Catholic Church’s Family Faith Formation program provides a clear path for children preparing to receive their First Holy Communion.
Families work through year-by-year requirements with the support of sacramental review spreadsheets, quarterly prayer reviews, and essential form submissions. Along the way, students participate in retreats, quizzes, and guided preparation for both First Penance and First Communion, while parents are equipped with resources to help nurture their child’s faith at home. Whether through parish classes, Catholic school, or homeschooling, the program ensures that all children receive consistent, two-year faith formation leading up to the sacrament.
First Year Holy Communion
Requirements
Sacramental Review Spreadsheet
The 1st Year FHC Sacramental Review Spreadsheet is for you and your child to use to see what has been completed.
This spreadsheet will be updated on Sunday evenings for you to check each Monday. We try our best, but if you ever notice a discrepancy, please email Marielisa Puigbo at
[email protected]
Prayer Review
Prayer Review will take place quarterly with your Group Leaders. A list of all the prayers your child needs to recite each quarter is below.
Resources
Building Your Catholic Library
Having little ones is a great time to start building a library of wonderful Catholic books and resources. Below are some recommendations. They make great presents!
The library of teaching materials should include:
- Kids’ version of Catholic Bible
- Several children’s catechisms
- Kids’ missal and prayerbook
- Coloring and activity books
- Children’s books on lives of Saints
“A big part of our journey as religious educators is, of course, educating ourselves. If we don’t feel well-informed in our own faith, we won’t be able to instill it in others.”
Second Year Holy Communion
Requirements
Sacramental Review Spreadsheet
The 2nd Year FHC Sacramental Review Spreadsheet is for you and your child to use to see what has been completed.
This spreadsheet will be updated each month throughout the year, starting the 2nd week of November. We try our best, but if you ever notice a discrepancy, please email Margi Loesel at [email protected]
Prayer Review
For children who are participating in the on campus program, a Prayer Review will take place quarterly with your Group Leaders. A list of all the prayers your child needs to recite each quarter is below. For children who are participating in our Parent to Child program, the prayer review will happen TWICE during the year. Quarter 1 & 2 prayers will be recited in January and Quarter 3 & 4 prayers will be recited in April.
Forms
Please fill out and submit the FHC Data Form. A copy of the First Communicant’s Baptism Certificate AND Birth Certificate will be uploaded on the Data Form. This form and the certificates are DUE September 18th, 2026
**If your child was baptized at Holy Trinity, you DO NOT need to submit their baptismal form. We have that record already.**
Please turn these important forms into the faith formation office. If you are doing the Parent to Child Program, home educate your children, or send them to Catholic School, please be sure to drop off the required paperwork in the FAITH FORMATION Office. Please do not email us your paperwork!
Retreats
FIRST PENANCE RETREAT–Jan 9th, 2027, 8:45am-12:00pm.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION RETREAT- March 13th, 2027, 9:15am-12:30pm
Quizzes
FIRST PENANCE QUIZ- DUE Jan 15, 2027
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION QUIZ-DUE March 19th, 2027
First Penance
The following are REQUIRED to receive First Penance at Holy Trinity:
Participation in the First Penance Retreat
AND
Successful completion of First Penance Quiz submitted to the Faith Formation office by 5pm on Jan 15, 2027.
Sacrament of First Penance will be received Jan 16, 2027, 10:00am OR Jan 23, 2027, 10:00am.
Use What You Say In Confession to help your child prepare for their first Confession.
Resources
First Holy Communion Dress Code
This is the dress code for our parish. If you have any questions please contact the Faith Formation office at [email protected]
First Penance Dress Code
This is the dress code for our parish. If you have any questions please contact the Faith Formation office at [email protected]
Why do the children receive Our Blessed Lord on their tongue?
All children at Holy Trinity will receive our Lord for the first time on the tongue while kneeling. For more information, read here.
Other Resources
Many saints and ordinary people have been witnesses to miracles that are connected to the Eucharist. Read their amazing stories here!
Catholic School/Home educated children
Requirements
Since the diocese requires two consecutive years of documented faith formation prior to a sacrament, please send a brief email after registering stating that your child successfully completed his/her first year of sacramental prep and completed your program requirements in 2025-2026. It will be printed and filed with your child’s sacramental records. The email should be sent to [email protected].
1st Year First Holy Communion
There are no extra parish requirements. We will reach out to you at the end of the year to ask for a letter stating that your child successfully completed his/her first year of sacramental preparation.
2nd Year First Holy Communion
- Students who are educated in a parochial school, attend RMS, or are home educated must complete be registered with the Faith Formation office by July 31st, 2026.
- Data Form must be submitted to the Faith Formation office by September 18th, 2026. See the button above to access that form.
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate and baptismal certificate must be submitted to the Faith Formation office by September 18th, 2026. These can be uploaded when you submit the data form.
- The child must participate in the retreats and complete the associated quizzes (information posted above on this page)
FAQ
Do my Catholic School or home educated children need to attend the weekly parish Family Faith Formation classes?
Catholic school families are exempt from participating in the parish Family Faith Formation classes as your children are receiving faith formation classes 5 days a week in their parochial schools.
Children who are home educated are exempt from participating in the parish Family Faith Formation classes as you are already implementing faith formation every day and all day as a Catholic homeschooler.
Do my Catholic School or home educated children need to register with the parish Faith Formation office every year?
YES! Please register your children who are receiving a sacrament in 2027 and/or 2028 with the parish Faith Formation office even though you do not need to attend the classes.
Why? Because it helps us plan for future sacramental years when we can anticipate the arrival of these children. We have no idea that these children exist and what your sacramental needs are unless you register with the parish faith formation office during our open registration period.
How do I register my Catholic School and home educated children with the Faith Formation office?
All parish families (including Catholic School/HTH) MUST register any child who will be receiving a sacrament in 2027 and 2028 at Holy Trinity. Registration will run June 1-July 31.
The cost is $40 per child for children receiving a sacrament in 2027 (2nd year First Holy Communion and 2nd Year Confirmation) to cover retreat and other material expenses. There is no fee for the children who are receiving a sacrament in 2028 (1st Year First Holy Communion and 1st Year Confirmation).
Registration of your non-sacramental children who are in 1st-8th grade costs nothing, so please also include them on the registration form.
What do my Catholic School and home educated children in a sacramental year need to do?
For ALL children receiving First Holy Communion or Confirmation in 2027
Since the diocese requires two consecutive years of documented faith formation prior to a sacrament, please send a brief email after registering stating that your child successfully completed his/her first year of sacramental prep and completed your program requirements in 2025-2026. It will be printed and filed with your child’s sacramental records. The email should be sent to [email protected] NO LATER THAN September 18th, 2026.