Immaculate Heart of Mary follows the Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist — as called for by Archbishop Samuel Aquila in 2015 and implemented across all Archdiocese of Denver parishes by 2020.

In restoring this original order, Archbishop Aquila returned the Sacraments of Initiation to the sequence the Church has celebrated since its earliest days. As a result, children at IHM receive Confirmation and First Communion together at the same Mass at the end of their second year of preparation. Sacramental preparation begins in 2nd grade, with First Reconciliation received at the end of Year One, and Confirmation and Eucharist received at the end of Year Two.

Both programs allow families to complete sacramental preparation at home, but they differ in structure and pace:

At-Home / Online Program Follows the same schedule as the in-person program, typically September through May. Families remain fully integrated with the parish program — attending the same half-day retreats, fulfilling the same First Wednesday Mass requirement, and completing the same adult formation offerings. Lessons are delivered online through the St. Mary's Press curriculum and IHM-created videos, with parents guiding their child through the material.

Home-Based Program Offers maximum flexibility. Families may begin at any point during the year and complete lessons at their own pace. Retreats and program activities are completed independently using guidance provided in the curriculum, students log Masses separately, and parents participate in the Discovery class rather than the full adult formation requirement.

Both programs follow the same Year One/Year Two structure, and families may transfer between programs between years if their needs change.

Children age 7 and older who have not yet been baptized enter the program as OCIC catechumens — participants in the Order of Christian Initiation for Children. Over the course of the two-year program, catechumens prepare for an additional Sacrament: Baptism.

OCIC catechumens attend the same classes as baptized children, but also take part in several additional rites that mark their unique journey:

• Year One — Rite of Welcome: Celebrated in the spring, this rite formally welcomes the child into the process of Christian initiation.
• Year Two — Rite of Election: A special liturgy held at the cathedral, where catechumens are formally called by the Archbishop.
• Lent (Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays): Children preparing for Baptism receive additional blessings and anointings at Mass.

At the conclusion of Year Two, OCIC catechumens receive all three Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist — at the Easter Vigil, the Saturday night before Easter.

• Primer Año — Rito de Bienvenida: Se celebra en primavera, este rito da la bienvenida al niño de manera oficial al proceso de Iniciación Cristiana. 
• Segundo Año — Rito de Elección: Una liturgia especial en la catedral, donde los catecúmenos son llamados formalmente por el Arzobispo. 
  
• Cuaresma (Tercer, Cuarto y Quinto domingo): Los niños que se preparan para el Bautismo recibirán bendiciones adicionales y se les ungirá en Misa. 
  

Families transferring from another parish are welcome to contact Kit to discuss whether our program is the right fit. Because our two-year sequence builds on itself, transfer students are reviewed individually to ensure they are well-prepared to receive the Sacraments alongside their classmates.

Students who have already prepared for and received First Reconciliation may be asked to complete an additional online Salvation History course before entering Year Two, depending on their prior formation.

We want every child's sacramental preparation to be meaningful and complete — and that conversation starts with Kit.

Las familias que vengan de otra parroquia y deseen transferirse a nuestro programa deberán contactar a Kit para platicar sobre el programa que ofrecemos y ver si es el programa indicado para su familia. De esta manera nos aseguraremos que cada caso sea analizado de manera individual y que los niños estén preparados para recibir los Sacramentos. 

Los estudiantes que ya han recibido su Primera Comunión se les pedirá que completen la Unidad de Historia de la Salvación de manera adicional antes de entrar al Segundo Año, pero dependerá también de la formación previa. 

Queremos que cada niño reciba una preparación sacramental completa y significativa — y esa conversación comienza con Kit.

Baptism for children under seven is handled separately from our Faith Formation program. Visit our Baptism page for more information, or contact Family Life Director Susan Anderson directly. / Los Bautizos para niños menores de siete años son coordinados por otro departamento. Visita nuestra página de Bautizos para obtener mayor información o contacta a nuestra Directora de Vida Familiar Susan Anderson directamente.