In addition to the Catechism classes we organize the Sacrament Teaching for children and young people.

Those children, who have reached the age of 9 or who are in the 3rd grade, are now invited to come to the sacramental teaching of the First Holy Communion to prepare for receiving the Eucharist for the first time in the spring of 2025.           
Dear children's parents, please contact the parish through this invitation letter!

SACRAMENT TEACHING: First Holy Communion 2024/2025
 
Dear parents of children preparing for First Holy Communion,

I invite your children to the Sacrament Teaching organized by the Holy Cross Parish, which prepares to receive the sacrament of penance and First Communion in spring 2025.

Here are the dates of the sacrament teaching of First Communion (in our church building in the rooms of the English School, accessed from the church hall through the sacristy, every Sunday at 11.30 am):

Sun September 22, 2024 at 11.30 am (theme: Creation, Moses) + parents’ meeting
Sun October 20, 2024 at 11.30 am (theme: Creation, Moses)
Sun November 24, 2024 at 11.30 am (theme: Ten Commandments) + parents’ conversation
Sun December 15, 2024 at 11.30 am (theme: Ten Commandments)


Sun January 26, 2025 at 11.30 am (theme: Holy Eucharist) + parents’ conversation
Sun February 16, 2025 at 11.30 am (theme: Holy Eucharist)
Sun March 23, 2025 at 11.30 am (theme: Holy Eucharist) + parents’ conversation
Sun April 27, 2025 at 11.30 am (theme: Sacrament of Penance)
Sun May 18, 2025 at 11.30 am (theme: Sacrament of Penance) + parents’ meeting

The teachers and tutors are Sinikka Meurman and the parish priest Fr Tri Nguyen.
Children are asked to bring pencils and educational materials.

So there are totally nine teaching sessions. All teaching sessions are compulsory. If there is a serious obstacle, please inform Sinikka in advance (+358404197077). Otherwise, the absence means moving to the teaching group of next year (autumn 2025).

In order to receive the First Communion, your child must be a registered member of the parish and a baptized Catholic. In addition, he or she must attend Catholic catechism classes, either at school or on a Saturday course, and attend the Holy Mass at least 10 times. If your child has been baptized outside of Finland, we ask you to submit a baptismal certificate to the parish during this coming winter.

We also organize five parent-meetings during the sacrament teaching to help parents in issues concerning the First Holy Communion of children. These meetings will be on Sun 22.09.24; 24.11.; 26.01.25; 23.03. ja 18.05. immediately after Sunday Mass (11.30 am) in the church building on the premises of the English School.

Fri 23.05.2025 at 17.00 Confessions and Rehearsal //
Sat 24.05.2025 at 9.00 am First Communion Mass
 
IMPORTANT REQUEST: Could you kindly confirm your children’s attendance for the classes organized by the parish by replying as soon as possible to these contacts: tel. +358503617942 or email: [email protected] or [email protected] (Fr Tri Nguyen), so that we can properly prepare the program? Thank you very much for your cooperation!

I wish you abundant blessing from God!
 

 Those young people, who have reached the age of 14 or who are in the 8th grade, are now invited to come to the teaching of the Confirmation to prepare for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in the autumn of 2023. Dear young people and your parents, contact the parish!
 
SACRAMENT TEACHING: Confirmation 2024/2025

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1: 8).

Dear Catholic youngster,
You have come to an age where you have time to take more responsibility for your life. Faith is an important part of every human life. Therefore, your parish invites you to a teaching that will help you take responsibility for your faith and prepare you to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. God wants to give you through your bishop's hands this sacrament, which is an important supernatural aid to the path of living the faith. It is a way of deep and genuine joy.

Dear parents of the young,
We will hold a meeting about the sacrament teaching of the confirmation on November 17, 2024, immediately after Sunday High Mass (at 11:30 am) in the English School room; access from the church through the sacristy. All parents whose children attend religious instruction and want to receive the sacrament of confirmation must be present at the meeting, where I will share the most important things about preparing for and celebrating the sacrament of confirmation.

There are seven very important teaching days in the academic year 2024-2025 for all children who will receive the sacrament of confirmation in Autumn 2025. The first day of teaching is November 17, 2024 at 11:30 am. This so-called sacrament teaching helps young people prepare spiritually for the sacrament of confirmation and understand its deep spiritual significance. At the same time, they are prepared for their valuable participation in the sacraments of repentance and confirmation. Without that special teaching and active participation in the Sunday Mass, your child cannot receive the sacrament of confirmation.

Here are the important dates: (in a church building on the premises of the English School)
Sun November 17, 2024 at 11:30 am: Sacrament Teaching + Parents’ Meeting
Sun December 08, 2024 at 11:30 am: Sacrament Teaching
​
Sun January 19, 2025 at 11:30 am: Sacrament Teaching + Parents’ conversation
Sun February 09, 2025 at 11:30 am: Sacrament Teaching
Sun March 16, 2025 at 11:30 am: Sacrament Teaching + Parents’ conversation
Sun April 13, 2025 at 11:30 am: Sacrament Teaching
Sun May 04, 2025 at 11:30 am: Sacrament Teaching + Parents’ conversation
 
The teachers and instructors are Eini Tastula (tel. 045 1821800; email: [email protected]) and parish priest Tri Nguyen.
The program also includes a 5-day camp, to be held in June next year, the place will be announced later.

Fri 12/9/2025 17:00 pm - confession and rehearsal // Sat 13/9/2025 11:00 am - Bishop's Mass and Confirmation
 
After the sacrament of confirmation, young Christians are expected to actively participate in the life of the Church, especially the Sunday Mass, and to live the Catholic faith. This again requires the example of parents and a continuous support. So I ask you, dear parents, to help your child prepare well for receiving the sacrament of confirmation.
 
IMPORTANT REQUEST: Could you kindly confirm your attendance for the classes organized by the parish by replying as soon as possible to these contacts: tel. +358503617942 or email: [email protected] or [email protected] (Fr Tri Nguyen), so that we can properly prepare the program?

Thank you very much for your cooperation!
 
Tampere, 27.10.2024

Fr Tri Nguyen

Parish Priest of the Holy Cross Parish
tel. +358 50 361 7942, email: [email protected] tai [email protected]