Blue Banner with text: Signs of Grace—You Are Loved

A First Holy Communion preparation kit titled 'Signs of Grace: You Are Loved.' The set includes blue-labeled teacher and student guides featuring an illustration of the Last Supper with Jesus and his disciples. A matching DVD case and disc are also included. Two study guides titled 'Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist' with golden chalice artwork are present on the left. The kit also contains Mass prayers and responses booklet, colorful activity sheets with drawings related to lessons, saint cards with portraits and information on saints such as San Antonio de Padua and Santa Clara de Asís, and a blue 'Certificate of First Holy Communion' with space to fill in the child's name and church details.

Signs of Grace: You Are Loved prepares children to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time by revealing the intimate love that God has for us. Parent sessions using award-winning Augustine Institute Studio’s Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist help meet the crucial need for ongoing formation and catechesis for the entire family.

The curriculum includes eight sessions. Each presents the teachings of the Church on the Sacrament of the Eucharist with a focus on helping children understand intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally that the Sacrament of First Holy Communion is a real encounter with Jesus Christ, who desires to unite himself to us at the deepest levels of our humanity.

Activities, Scripture, videos, and stories are provided to engage both the mind and the heart so that the child can come to fully understand the gift of grace and mercy offered through the Sacrament.

And while the curriculum is focused on the child, it also recognizes that it is in the Christian family that the Faith is first learned and is most effectively understood and lived out. A Family Take-Home Page is provided with each session in English and Spanish to engage parents and the entire family in this journey of faith.

A detailed teacher guide provides instructions for parent sessions using Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist, the acclaimed series about the Sacrament of Holy Communion produced by the award-winning Augustine Institute Studios.

Purchase a Starter Kit

Signs of Grace: You Are Loved includes:

Student Guide

Each session includes a story from Scripture as well as a story of a saint relevant to the lesson, key word definitions, a fun activity, a story featuring fictional characters children can relate to, and a session recap.

Activity book page spread with workbook activities.

Student Activity Book

Each session includes sticker pages and engaging, lively activities, including family take-home pages in English and Spanish, word searches, songs, crossword puzzles, and flash cards.

Teacher Guide

Each session includes a clear overview and outline of the main objectives as well as discussion questions to prompt engagement with the students and detailed instructions for each activity.

Supplemental activities are also provided with a list of necessary materials and instructions. Also included is information for a parish leader on how to implement the program within a parish, specifics on how to hold parent sessions using the Augustine Institute’s Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist, and an attendance poster to help teachers incentivize their students to complete take-home pages.

DVD with text: Signs of Grace; You are Loved. Preparing for First Holy Communion

Engaging Video Segments for each session

Each session includes a short video that is carefully crafted to ease the child into the lesson for the day, helping them become open and excited for what they will learn. Animation, hand-drawn Catholic symbols and graphics, engaging sound, and warm, entertaining presenters meet them at their level and convey the big idea of what is about to be unpacked by their teacher.

Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist

The Augustine Institute series Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist (available on FORMED), along with sample Leader Guide and Participant Guides, is for use in parent sessions. This series explores the truth and beauty of Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, from its origins in Sacred Scripture to its profound role in the life of the Church and its members.

A series of saint prayer cards, and a number of other communion materials, including a First Holy Communion Certificate, and a leaflet for mass responses.

Prayer Cards and Certificates

Saint prayer cards that coincide with the saints highlighted throughout the program
Mass prayers and responses cards that walk through the whole Mass with all of the responses, including gestures
Certificates of Completion to personalize for each participant

Lessons in You Are Loved Include:

Video thumbnail of Matt Fradd sitting with his daughter on his lap.

Session 1: Preparing the Way for Christ

Key focus: The Eucharist in Salvation History
Scripture Story: Exodus 12:14–28
Saint: Saint Catherine of Siena
Children’s Story: Buried Treasure

Session 2: The Last Supper

Key focus: Jesus institutes the New Passover
Scripture Story: Luke 22:14–20
Saint: Saint Clare of Assisi
Children’s Story: Boxes

Video thumbnail of Dr. Scott Powell sitting in front of an illustration of a dinner table with text below it reading: PASSOVER.

Session 3: The Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Key focus: Jesus is the Lamb of God—connect to Passover
Scripture Story: John 19:28–20:10
Saint: Venerable Antonietta Meo
Children’s Story: Trading Places

Video thumbnail of Jules Miles standing in front of an illustration of an open book.

Session 4: The Sacrament of the Eucharist

Key focus: Emphasize the Real Presence, Eucharist means Thanksgiving
Scripture Story: John 6:35–40, 48–51
Saint: Saint Tarcisius
Children’s Story: How Small Is God?

Video thumbnail of Chris Stefanick. To his left is an illustration of Jesus. Text to his write reads; THIS IS MY BODY.

Session 5: Receiving Holy Communion

Key focus: Emphasize Real Presence
Scripture Story: 1 Corinthians 10:14–17
Saint: Saint Anthony of Padua
Children’s Story: Ducks

Video thumbnail of Chenele Shaw. Text above her reads: COMMUNION.

Session 6: The Liturgy of the Mass

Key focus: The Liturgy makes present the saving work of Christ
Scripture Story: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
Saint: Saint Dominic Savio
Children’s Story: Once Upon a Time

Video thumbnail of Mary Pollice. There is text to her left reading 'Responsorial Psalm'.

Session 7: The Liturgy of the Word

Key focus: Connection between the altar of the Word and of sacrifice
Scripture Story: Luke 24:13–27
Saint: Saint Justin Martyr
Children’s Story: Love Letters

Video thumbnail with text: SIGNS of GRACE

Session 8: The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Key focus: Encountering Christ through the Eucharist
Scripture Story: Luke: 24:28–35
Saint: Saint Pius X
Children’s Story: The Big Picture

Click here for a sample of the Teacher Guide
Section on how to implement in a parish
Click here for a sample of the Student Guide
Click here for a sample of the Activity Guide
Scope and Sequence

For Children

VIDEO CLIP SAMPLE
Session 5: You Are Loved

For Parents

VIDEO TRAILER
Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist

Signs of Grace: You Are Loved includes:

You Are Loved Kit: $149.00

This Starter Kit (valued at over $250!) includes everything you need to run your class:

1 Teacher Guide 280 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9991778-1-5
You Are Loved DVD Video for each of 8 sessions; approximately 35 total minutes of video content.
1 Student Guide 144 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9991778-0-8
1 Student Activity Guide 144 pages + sticker pages ISBN: 978-0-9991778-2-2
1 set of Certificates of Completion Pack of 20
1 set of Mass Response Cards Pack of 20
1 pack of Saint Prayer Cards 20 sets of 8
1 Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist – Leader Guide
1 Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist – Participant Guide

Now Available Online!

Online Course: Prepared for Grace – You are Loved $29.95 each – additional discounts for 5 or more students. $59.95 for group analyst role.‍

Program Components

1 Teacher Guide 280 pages
(volume discounts available)
Student Guide: $14.95 144 pages
Student Activity Book: $7.95 144 pages + sticker pages
Certificates of Completion $14.95 Packs of 20
Mass Prayers/Responses Cards for children $14.95 Packs of 20
Saint Prayer Cards $39.95 20-Packs of 8 Featured Saints

Order Now