Registration is temporarily suspended, but will reopen on Sunday, July 14 at 4 pm through the button link above.
If your child needs to be baptized, or was baptized outside of the Catholic faith, please contact Lori Mathews (lmathews@stmatthewcatholic.org).
Preparing for First Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist
In the Diocese of Charlotte, the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is received in the spring of Second Grade. Preparation for First Holy Eucharist takes place over two consecutive years. The first year may take place in Catholic school or Faith Formation; the second year a child must be registered with the Office of Faith Formation to prepare. For specific questions regarding First Eucharist, please contact Lori Mathews
RECEIVE: Preparation for Elementary School
Second Grade: For the child who attended Catholic school or Catholic faith formation in First Grade, the parent enrolls them in RECEIVE: Catholic School, 2nd Grade. For the child who did not attend Catholic school or Catholic faith formation in First Grade, the parent enrolls them in RECEIVE: Grades Two and Three. This child will attend weekly faith formation sessions in addition to their religion class at school.
Third to Fifth Grade: For the older elementary child, the parent enrolls them in RECEIVE according to their grade level. This child will attend weekly faith formation sessions in addition to their religion class at school.
Participation in RECEIVE includes a parent-child orientation for each Sacrament, two parent-child mini retreat experiences and an at home activity booklet that supplements the Sacramental process.
BRIDGES: Preparation for the Sixth or Seventh Grader
The middle school youth will attend weekly faith formation sessions in addition to their religion class at school. After completing this program and receiving the Sacraments, the youth will be eligible for our IGNITE Confirmation process in eighth grade.
CHOSEN/OCIT: Preparation for Eighth to Twelfth Grade
Eighth and Ninth Grade: The young teens should be enrolled in the parish CHOSEN Faith Formation process. This process will prepare the teen for both Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.
Tenth to Twelfth Grade: The older teen should be enrolled in the parish ORDER OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR TEENS (OCIT) Faith Formation process. This process will prepare the teen for both Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.
Participation in middle and high school preparation includes in-person sessions, nine “Be The Church” experiences which immerse the teen in parish life, an optional weekend retreat and a parent-teen day retreat.
Preparing for Confirmation
In the Diocese of Charlotte, the Sacrament of Confirmation is received in the spring of eighth grade or older. Preparation for Confirmation takes place in two parts. The first part is two consecutive years and may take place in Catholic school or Faith Formation; for the second part, a child must be registered with the Office of Faith Formation to prepare. For specific questions regarding Confirmation, please contact Trish Martin.
Eighth or Ninth Grade: If your child was in a Catholic school or Faith Formation in seventh or eighth grade, they may be enrolled in our parish IGNITE Faith Formation process for Confirmation, which includes one trimester of in-person sessions (choose fall, winter or spring). If your child was not in Catholic school or Faith Formation in seventh or eighth grade, they must be enrolled in our parish CHOSEN Faith Formation process for Confirmation which includes in-person sessions.
Tenth to Twelfth Grade: The older teen should be enrolled in the parish ORDER OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR TEENS (OCIT) Faith Formation process for Confirmation which includes in-person sessions.
Participation in these programs includes nine “Be The Church” experiences which immerse the teen in parish life, an optional weekend retreat, a parent-teen day retreat and an evening of prayer/rehearsal just prior to the Sacrament. For expectations regarding Saint selection, Sponsor requirements or details about Be The Church, please visit our IGNITE or CHOSEN or RCIT webpage.
Thank you for allowing us the privilege of supporting your family through the Sacramental process.