First Communion is traditionally celebrated in the spring of a student's 2 ^nd grade year. Preparation for the Sacrament is a two-year program here at St. Michael's. We believe that it takes two years of well rounded catechesis for a student to truly understand the Sacrament, which is why 1 ^st and 2 ^nd grade attendance is important before the Sacrament of First Communion is given. Traditional students, children who will be six years of age before September 1 ^st, are enrolled in grade one classes. There is also a Kindergarten class for children who are 5 years old.

Also, because it is the responsibility of both the parents and the church to ensure that our children are properly prepared for this step in their personal initiation into the Church, parents of children working toward their first communion are required to attend one parent meeting prior to thier child's First Communion.
 
Older students who wish to receive First Communion and are new to the church or returning to the program will be enrolled in the classes appropriate to their age or school grade as well a second, supplementary course which begins in December. Every effort will be made to ensure older children feel comfortable and welcome in preparing for and receiving this most important sacrament.
 

First Penance is celebrated in November of each year for grade two students.

Students of any grade level receive First Penance during the scheduled penance service during Lent after being properly prepared by a catechist and parent/guardian.

Parents of children preparing for Reconciliation for the first time are required to attend one parent meeting prior to First Penance.
 

Our Confirmation program welcomes all students in grades 9 - 12. Individuals who are 18 years olds and older who wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation are welcome to join our program for adults. To enroll in this class please contact Brian Sousa.

Confirmation is celebrated by our high school students in the fall of each year. Because we see this sacrament as a candidate's personal commitment to Christ and His church, our high school program is not based strictly on age or grade in school. Candidates work with their Confirmation catechists, sponsors and parents in determining their readiness for this sacrament. Because preparation for Confirmation is an individual process, the program can take anywhere from two to four years, depending on the individual candidate's personal journey.

Teens in grades 9, 10 or 11 who have not previously attended a formal religious education program for one or more years will be required to complete additional classes prior to beginning their Confirmation classes.  Teens in this situation who are in their senior year of high school should meet with the program director to determine what course of action would be best for him/her.

Since their school curriculum includes preparation for both sacraments, Catholic school students are not required to attend all of the grade two Religious Education classes. However, they are strongly encouraged to partake in as many classes as possible to allow them to feel more at home in their own parish communities.
 
For Catholic school families, our parish offers parent meetings for each sacrament and a special one-day retreat for all First Communicants.  Catholic school students should be enrolled in the parish program in the fall of grade two.
 

According to the guidelines of the Boston Archdiocese, students who attend Catholic high school are expected to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation within their parish community*.

Therefore, the religious studies curriculum in our Catholic high schools does not include preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Instead, preparation for Confirmation falls under the responsibilities of the pastor and parish religious education program and, most importantly, within the parish community.

Recognizing their religious studies at school, students from St. Michael's Parish who attend Catholic high schools need only to complete the second level of our Confirmation program. Teens from other parishes will be welcomed into our Confirmation program with the permission of their pastor*.

Catholic high school students should be registered in the program at the beginning of 10th grade to be confirmed the following fall. Students in grades 11 and 12 who have not been confirmed are also most welcome in our non-graded program.

Students who attend eight years of catholic school and are continuing their high school education in a public school should enroll in the high school program in the beginning of grade nine to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

*For the purpose of defining one’s "parish community" we are referring to the parish where the family is registered and where they worship.