Reconciliation/Eucharist/Confirmation

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst."
-John 6:35

The Sacramental life is at the heart of the Catholic Church and her teaching.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.  The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament.  They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions." (CCC paragraph 1131).  Through the sacraments we receive Christ's life and through the sacraments we are made more Christ-like.  Each sacrament has a visible sign or form and some divine grace.  For example, the visible sign for baptism is water and the divine grace is the forgiveness of sins. 

There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Holy Orders.

Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist: The Sacraments of Initiation

The Sacraments of Initiation are at the very beginning of the Christian life--they prepare you to live out the Faith and they strengthen you in the battle against sin.  The goal of the sacraments is to put you in touch with the life of Christ. 

Baptism:

The sacrament of Baptism is received as soon as possible after the birth of a child. However, this sacrament can be received at any age. The preparation for this sacrament includes meeting with a priest.  Please call the Parish Office to speak with one of the priests (701) 772-2624.  The priests set their own appointments.  If the one receiving Baptism is older than the age of reason (age 7), he must receive the 3 sacraments of initiation together (Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist). Arrangements will be made as necessary in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)  program or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) program.   Note:  If you are not a registered member of St. Michael's Parish, a letter of permission from your parish will be needed.  For more information please email: 

The Parish Office
or call (701) 772-2624 to speak to a priest.

Confirmation and First Eucharist:

In the Diocese of Fargo, Confirmation and First Eucharist are received in the 3rd grade.  We ask those who desire to receive these sacraments to register for our Wednesday night Religious Education program.  Along with the Wednesday classes, parents attend a number of workshops and parent meetings to be informed on what and how to prepare their child to receive the sacraments.  The Diocese of Fargo requires that the parents of the child receiving the sacraments attend 2 parent meetings, 4 hours of faith formation per sacrament and accompany their child on a retreat in order to prepare for the sacraments.  Each family will be given a diocesan workbook to go through at home at the beginning of the year.  The sacraments are received by the 3rd graders at the end of the year, in the Easter season, with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Folda.   

If your child is over the age of 3rd grade and has not received the sacraments yet, please contact us and let us know: we have a program designed just for you.

Marie Vetter
Director of Religious Education
(701) 772-2282, ext. 131

First Reconciliation:

In the Diocese of Fargo, First Reconciliation is received at the age of reason (the 2nd grade).  We ask those who desire to receive these sacraments to register for our Wednesday night Religious Education program.  Along with the Wednesday classes, parents attend a number of workshops and parent meetings to be informed on what and how to prepare their child to receive the sacrament.  The Diocese of Fargo requires that the parents of the child receiving the sacrament attend 2 parent meetings, 4 hours of faith formation and accompany their child on a retreat in order to prepare for the sacrament.  Each family will be given a diocesan workbook to go through at home at the beginning of the year.  The sacraments are received by the 2nd graders in February with a special Penance Service. 

If your child is over the age of 2nd grade and has not received Reconciliation yet, please contact us and let us know: we have a program designed just for you. 

Marie Vetter
Director of Religious Education
(701) 772-2282, ext. 131