Sacrament Formation Guidelines
Determining the Appropriate Path for Sacramental Preparation
General Information
Guidelines for Celebrating Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop (USCCB, 2017)
Online Resources on the Seven Sacraments from the USCCB
Diocese of Portland Godparent/Sacramental Sponsor Verification Forms
Liturgy is Essential
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
RCIA includes children age 7 or older.
What is RCIA? (USCCB)
Diocesan Forms/Guides
- RCIA Intake Questionnaire/Inquirer Information Sheet-Adults (Revised Dec. 2021)
- Adult's Sacrament Formation Paths by Baptismal Status (Dec. 2021)
- RCIA Intake Questionnaire/Inquirer Information Sheet-Child/Teen (Revised Dec. 2021)
- Child's Sacrament Formation Paths by Baptismal Status (December 2021)
- Godparent/Sacramental Sponsor Verification Form
Resources for Use in the RCIA process
- Sponsors and Godparents in initiation process (TeamRCIA)
- Five inquiry discernment questions (TeamRCIA)
- How to discern if children/youth are ready for catechumenate (Sept 2020)
- How to form seekers when you have no resources (TeamRCIA)
- The Process of Discernment (Archdiocese of Atlanta)
- Discerning readiness for Rite of Acceptance or Rite of Election (TeamRCIA)
- Discernment Interview Prior to Rite of Election or Call to Continuing Conversion (Diocese of Lacrosse)
- Doing discernments in the RCIA (Association of Catechumenal Ministry)
- What are we doing at the Rite of Election? (TeamRCIA)
Infant Baptism
Diocesan Guidelines Infant Baptism (1995, 2022 amended version online soon) - also addresses child younger than age of reason
Recording of Msgr Marc Caron and Shannon Fossett addressing Infant Baptism at Nov 12, 2020 LFFA meeting
Initial Parent Interview for Infant Baptism in Spanish (May 2022) in English (June 2022)
Examples of Resources for Use in Sacrament Formation for Infant Baptism: Simple List with Links (May 18, 2022)
Godparent/Sponsor Verification Form PDF (June 2022) Customizable Word Doc
Marriage Preparation
"Telling Anew the Story of Marriage" (Marriage Preparation Guidelines - 2009)
Diocesan policy, permissions, dispensations, etc.
Preparing Children for Confirmation & First Communion
2022 Memo to PCLs about Spring Celebrations (updated April 14, 2022)
The Diocese of Portland Guidelines to Prepare Children for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist was approved and published in June 2015. The guidelines establish a two-year preparation process for all children preparing to receive Penance, Confirmation and First Eucharist which includes the involvement of their parents/guardians. Below you will find a link to these guidelines. A variety of resources to support parish leaders in the implementation of this policy have been prepared by the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation and the Sacrament Guideline Committee.
Follow the links below.
- Sacraments of Christian Initiation of Children (Chart)
- Guidelines for Low-Gluten Hosts
- Godparent/Sacramental Sponsor Verification Form PDF (June 2022) / Customizable Word Doc.
Communicating with parents / guardians
- Sample Bulletin Announcement
- Sample Letter to Parents & Guardians
- Sample Parent Brochure
- Family Consultation with Parish Leaders
Sacrament Preparation - Year 1
- Who do you say that I am?
- Handout for Who do you say that I am?
- Bible in a Nutshell: Scripture
- The Power of the Sacraments
- Do this in Memory of Me: Encounter Jesus in the Eucharist
- Hello! Can you Hear Me Now? Prayer
- I am The Way, Come Follow Me: Following Jesus as a Family
Sacrament Preparation - Year 2
- Forgiving One Another
- Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation
- The Holy Spirit and You
- Sacrament of Confirmation
- Jesus, the Bread of Life
- Celebrating the Eucharist
Resources and Articles
Resources for Sacrament Preparation, including: Sacrament Preparation Program for Parishes • Confirmation Preparation for Teens • Resources for Parent Formation • Resources for Children with Disabilities • Video Resources for Children • Supplemental Resources for Families • Suggested Books
Videos
- Sacraments of Initiation in their Original Order (from Diocese of Honolulu)
