First Communion Info
Rescheduled First Communions from Spring 2020 - Now Happening!
Postponed celebrations of First Communions celebrated October 3-November 15. There will a maximum of six children and their families celebrating their First Communion at each celebration.
If there is a First Communion at a weekend Mass, the children and their families will sit together in the front section of church -- one pew per family marked with “reserved” signs.
At Communion time, the ushers will hold off on letting anyone else out of their pews to receive Communion until the First Communicants and their families have received Communion.
Please review this PDF of What to Expect for Communion. It includes details of getting in the church, where to sit, where to stand, and more.
Still Need to Reschedule Your Child's First Communion from Spring?
If you still need to schedule your child's First Communion or Confirmation, please email Kevin Chears at kchears@stgertrudechicago.org or call the Rectory at 773.764.3621.
Date Announced for First Communion Celebration for Spring 2021
We will continue our tradition of celebrating First Communion on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, Saturday, May 8. Parent meetings regarding First Reconciliation and First Communion will be held in January.
Students must have completed two full consecutive years of classes either at a Catholic school or by taking Religious Ed before celebrating their First Communion and First Reconciliation.
Registration is now open for our Religious Ed program! Please use this fillable PDF form, save it, and email it to me at kchears@stgertrudechicago.org.
Please fill out this sacramental form and email it to stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org.
Sacramental Forms Required
Please fill out this form and email it to stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org.
First Communion
An Update on Religious Education and First Communion and Confirmation Catch-Ups
On Friday, September 11, Jim Potthast, our Coordinator of Religious Education and Youth Ministry, resigned his position here at St. Gertrude. His unexpected and swift departure has left us in a bind. In fact, that weekend we had expected to begin celebrations of First Communion and Confirmation (postponed because of the pandemic), as well as the start of Religious Education classes.
We’re working hard to schedule the First Communions and Confirmations that were to be made in the spring. The new plan is that they will be celebrated each weekend beginning October 3 through November 15. Each celebration will be limited to six children/young adults and their families. Rectory staff will be reaching out to these families to schedule a date and time this week!
We are working out the details of the sacramental preparation programs for 2021 First Communion and Confirmation.
As for Religious Education classes, registration will begin next weekend, with online classes beginning in mid-October.
If you have a question regarding rescheduled sacraments, date preferences, or suggestions about Religious Ed classes, please reach out to Kevin Chears at kchears@stgertrudechicago.org.
I am very sorry for all the families who have been adversely affected by this turn of events. Hopefully, in a few more weeks, things will be back to a regular schedule. Thank you to all of you for your patience and understanding!
~ Fr. Rich
First Communion
First Communion Info
Sacramental preparation is an integral part of the curriculum for children making their First Communion. Students must have completed two full consecutive years of classes either at a Catholic school or by taking Religious Ed before celebrating their First Communion and First Reconciliation.
First grade is considered the first year of preparation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion, and second grade is the second year of sacramental prep.
Second graders receive First Reconciliation and First Communion in the spring of 2021 (Saturday, May 8) if they have completed two years of classes. Some third graders who attended Religious Ed for the first time in the 2019-2020 school year will also make their First Communion.
The Religious Education program begins Tuesday, October 20 and concludes in May. This school year, our classes will move to Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm. Lessons will be held on Zoom and will be no longer than 45 minutes per session.
Registration is now open for our Religious Ed program! Please use this fillable PDF form, save it, and email it to kchears@stgertrudechicago.org.
