Sacrament Formation Guidelines

Info on formation for specific sacraments

General Information

Sacramental Preparation Flow Chart

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

 

Liturgy is Essential

 

Restored Order of Initiation Sacraments 

For more than 20 years the Catholic Church in Maine has followed the original or "restored order" of celebrating the initiation sacraments with children: Baptism as an infant (newborn to age 6) with Confirmation and first Holy Communion in the same Mass around what Canon Law describes as "the age of reason" (typically ages 7 to 12).

  • This practice echoes what happened in the early Christian Church and mirrors the holistic formation process outlined in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, sometimes referred to as the "catechumenate." 
  • Click to read a short article "Confirmation at the Time of First Communion" for an explanation of why the Diocese of Portland continues to confirm children at the time they receive their first holy Communion.
  • Watch this short video about the history of how the Church came to celebrate three sacraments of initiation and God's action in giving the graces through the ritual celebrations.