Catechists’ Course, Day 3: First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and The Liturgy of the Word with Children

Catechists’ Course, Day 3: First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and The Liturgy of the Word with Children

Description:

• All sessions are open to all catechists within the diocese, but please note some will be running at the same time.
• Please book in advance by contacting Warren (details below), specifying which sessions you will attend.
• Certificates for completing the Catechists’ course will be handed out at the end of the afternoon around 4:30pm and so we encourage everyone to stay for the whole day.
• Please bring a packed lunch with you.
• We will run four sessions on the day – two at the same time in the morning and two at the same time in the afternoon. The sessions will be:

Morning: Preparing Children for their First Reconciliation and The Liturgy of the Word with Children.

Preparing Children for First Reconciliation is primarily for those involved in preparing children to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time, but will also help other catechists discuss Reconciliation with teenagers and adults. The session will help them understand the Sacrament better, its development, purpose and how to encourage others to engage with Reconciliation meaningfully.

The Liturgy of the Word with Children is for those who lead Children’s Liturgy in parishes.  This session will help them understand the principles of liturgy, particularly the Liturgy of the Word in Mass, and consider ways to share Scripture with children, using ideas and resources in keeping with the Directory for Masses with Children and the Guidelines from CBCEW.

Afternoon: Preparing Children for their First Holy Communion and Preparing Teenagers for their Confirmation.

Preparing Children for First Holy Communion is primarily for those involved in preparing children in the parish for their First Holy Communion. It will help catechists to understand the Mass, consider themes, methods and resources for FHC catechesis, and how to share our understanding with children and others.

Preparing Teenagers for their Confirmation is for those involved in Confirmation catechesis. It will discuss how catechists can work best with teenagers preparing to be Confirmed, and how we can understand the development of Confirmation; what should be included in Confirmation catechesis; and methods and resources used for Confirmation catechesis.

• We invite First Holy Communion catechists to attend Preparing Children for their First Reconciliation (morning) and Preparing Children for their First Holy Communion (afternoon).
• We invite Children’s Liturgy leaders to attend The Liturgy of the Word with Children (morning) and Preparing Children for their First Holy Communion (afternoon).
• We invite Confirmation catechists to attend Preparing Teenagers for their Confirmation (afternoon), and Preparing Children for their First Reconciliation (morning).

Date: Saturday 17 October 2026

Time: 10am-4:30pm (please see description for the different sessions happening that day)

Venue: Ground Floor Meeting Room and Conference Room, Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, London, SW1P 1QN

Email the Team Administrator for bookings catadmin@rcdow.org.uk or phone: 0207 798 9152