Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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insegnante
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Posted: Sept 30 2009 at 11:47am | IP Logged Quote insegnante

Hi ladies,

Can I ask a favor? I have been looking at First Communion notebook posts here and on blogs, but I am having trouble finding an "overview" or understanding where to start and then what to do step-by-step after that... a template, a list of instructions. A kid doesn't need a very creative, crafts-competent mother to have one of these, right? And maybe I'm perceiving this as more complicated than it is.

Not that many of you have more time than I do, but maybe someone here has an idea where I could find a resource that eliminates the whole "too many great possibilities to choose from" overwhelmed feeling?

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MarilynW
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Posted: Sept 30 2009 at 11:56am | IP Logged Quote MarilynW

Hi Theresa - I did this with the twins - intended starting early but had crippling morning sickness so started after Christmas - I have no hands or time to post right now - and it was before I blogged - but I have typed up a template for a few people who asked - not sure where it is. Do you want to come over and look at all our resources and the notebooks (just wait until everyone is well - hopefully soon) - if I could have 2 hands I would do a post on my blog as Matthew will be starting his next year and I need to plan it myself.

It does not have to be complicated - mine are simple and my guys loved it - I had hyperemesis and managed to do it for twins. Abby is working on her confirmation one right now - but luckily does most of it herself.

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MelissaClaire
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Posted: Sept 30 2009 at 12:38pm | IP Logged Quote MelissaClaire

I just started putting an outline together for my dd who will be making FHC this year. I pulled things from all the other notebooks posted to give me an idea of what I wanted to do--and just copied and pasted direct parts of others posts about them to help me build it--it's not complete, but it's more of a working outline. I've copied and pasted it here, but I can email you the word document if you want since it has the links embedded in it. Just PM me your email.


First Communion Notebook


Dedication
     -Blessed Imelda Patron Saint of First Communicants
     -Blessed Imelda Glory Story CD and coloring page
     -prayer

My Baptismal name
     -St Therese Glory story
     -coloring page
-personal reflections on St. Therese (why she likes her, what qualities she admires, what trait of St Therese’s she’d most like to have)

Why Did God Make Me?
God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven.
     
Bible stories (how the story of God's love for us leads (among other things) to the gift of the Eucharist)
     Adam and Eve
Noah’s Ark-- Noah is saved through the waters of the flood, as we are now saved through the waters of baptism.
Good Shepherd
Vine and branches
focus in on the True Vine. It encourages the child to find themselves already attached to the vine through their baptism. It is in that living as part of the Body of Christ that they want to keep that sap (grace) flowing from the vine to the branches. In doing so they realize that they need to remove anything that might be blocking that flow. That can only be done through confession. And in receiving confession, the response is deeper communion with God through the Eucharist.
Last Supper
The Prodigal Son
Soldier—not worthy to receive you
The Lost Coin
The Lost Sheep
Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God. He is divine. He forgave sins. He worked miracles.

Wedding at Cana narration John 2. Jesus changed water into wine and showed that he had power over material elements

Loaves and Fishes (Small Gifts in God’s Hands narration) again, showing power over material elements

Jesus walked on water—showed power over his own body

Resurrection—again, power over his own body

Storm on the Sea—when Jesus speaks, it becomes a reality

The Last Supper—all the miracles rolled into one miracle.

Road to Emmaeus—the disciples did not recognize him until the breaking of the bread. We might not recognize him but he is really present. Because Jesus is glorified, he is not limited to normal physical limitations.

Prayers to Memorize

10 Commandments
     Living the 10 Commandments for Children

Why Reconciliation?
Steps to making a good confession
What to do in the confessional
Copy work quote
Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly. Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession.
    – St. Isidore of Seville

             Come holy Spirit, help me to make a good confession
                  -know what my sins are
                  -be very sorry for my sins
                  -make up my mind not to sin again
                  -tell my sins to the priest
                  -do the penance the priest gives me

Reflections on my first reconciliation

Church manners
     From worksheet for CHC—color map through 1-8
1.     Upon entering I bless myself with holy water. This reminds me of the Holy Trinity, my Baptism and how much Jesus loves me. (He died on the cross for me!)
2.     Before entering the pew I adore Jesus Who is present in the tabernacle by genuflecting reverently
3.     Kneeling quietly, I prepare for Holy Mass. I open my heart to God in prayer.
4.     I do not want to disturb others’ prayers so I am very quiet and sit still in church
5.     I pay close attention to the prayers at church because I know I am present at Jesus’ sacrifice.
6.     I participate in the prayers of the Mass and join my offering of self with Jesus’.
7.     I thank Jesus for His love and give Him all of mine!
8.     When Holy Mass is over I make a thanksgiving and prepare to go home and live the Mass!

Parts of the Mass
     -order and what we see
The Eucharist
     Adoration poem

Eucharistic miracles


Drawings
Picture of chalice and Host

About my church
     My Church is ________
     It is located in ________
     My priests names are ________


Picture books
     The Weight of the Mass
     Today I Made My First Reconciliation
     Today I Made My First Communion
     Jesus With Us
     Little Catechism on the Eucharist

Letter to Jesus about making my first communion

Letter to Rebecca from parents



faith and life
http://www.ignatius.com/Textbooks/FaithAndLIfe/Downloads/200 9Gr2-Lessons%201-22.pdf


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teachingmyown
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Posted: Sept 30 2009 at 12:49pm | IP Logged Quote teachingmyown

Melissa,
That sounds great! Can I get the file, too?

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Molly
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MarilynW
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Posted: Sept 30 2009 at 1:10pm | IP Logged Quote MarilynW

OK Theresa - here is a copy of an email I sent to someone who asked me about our notebooks (I will be adding to it for Matt) Also I have all the resources listed in a letter to Father J - which I have to do to inform him that I am doing the FHC preparation - I can email you my letter if you want.

used a 12X12 scrapbook. I got some ideas from the CHC lesson plans for Grade 2 (though did not really use them that much) - I bought their Holy Cards sets though and lots of religious stickers at a h/s conference. Here is an outline of Nick's notebook:

Section 1 - letter that Steve and I wrote to Nick at the beginning of the FHC year - our wishes for him for the important year etc

Section 2 - Our Family Bible Verse (ours is Deut 6v4-9)

Section 3 - My Name - sonogram picture, Nick wrote what his names mean and why we chose them. Also a picture and narration of Saint Nicholas

Section 4 - Baptism - Nick's narration of his understanding of the sacrament. (we read some books - I will send you a copy of the letter to my pastor outlining our program as I did not send my children to ccd) - we used the Precious Life books for sacraments. Copy of baptism certificate. Photos of baptism day - with parents and godparents

Section 5 - My Prayer Chart - series of Holy Pictures - as each prayer was learned by heart, he got to choose a holy card and stick it in the appropriate prayer box. Prayers learned - Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Act of Contrition and Angel of God.

Section 6 - Steps to a Good Penance - we talked about the steps. I typed them up and cut them into strips. Nick had to stick the strips in the correct order

Section 7- Gentle Examen for Young Children - nicely typed up and colored in (CHC)

Section 8 - Nick wrote out his Act of Contrition in his best writing

Section 9 - First Penance - photos. Narration of the day and how he felt. I made him a laminated bookmark which is in there. Plus Order of Service from the ceremony.

Section 10 - Narration of Precious Life Book - the Little Caterpillar that Finds Jesus - artwork of chalice and host

Section 11 - Narration of The Weight of a Mass

Section 12 - Holy Mass Booklet that they made with Holy Pictures - we talked about the various parts of the Mass. They made the booklets and I laminated them

Section 13 - Resolutions made by Saint Dominic Savio on the Day of his FHC - They did copywork and wrote these out - then wrote their own resolutions

Section 14 - I printed out "The Holy Father Speaks to Children - Your First Holy Communion" with a picture of JPII ( this is really lovely)

Section 15 - not all stuck in yet - photos of FHC day, Mass mementos, cards and bookmarks received

Hope this helps

Call me if you want any more info.

And thank you for making me think about starting Matt's. I would so like to do it over 2 years rather than one.

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MNMommy
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Posted: Oct 02 2009 at 7:07am | IP Logged Quote MNMommy

We just started dd's notebook. Here is another resource that I really like.

notebook

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insegnante
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Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 11:43am | IP Logged Quote insegnante

Sorry I forgot to come back and thank you all for your helpful suggestions!

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Theresa
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