Sacramental Programs at Our Lady of the Angels

General Information

Our Programs take place through a Parish based and family centred process.

That means that it is you (as the primary teacher of your child) that does the preparation with your child. Assistance is given through the facilitation of the content during the program sessions. It is essential the content is then revised, discussed and all homework is completed each week.

Your support of your child progressing on their faith journey is one of the most beautiful gifts you can give to them!

For your child to receive the Sacraments, your commitment to attending all sessions and applicable rehearsals is compulsory.

Through making the sacraments, your child will be receiving something God has instituted Himself – His Grace is something more indelible and important than anything we can ever receive from anyone else here on earth or experience in life and, when received with the right heart and mind, following the proper preparation, will be with them for the rest of their lives.

Each year our Parish holds the Sacramental Program for school aged children within the Parish as follows:

–        children in Grade 3 or above – the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance in Term 1 and Sacrament of First Holy Communion in Term 2;

–        children in Grade 6 or above – the Sacrament of Confirmation in Term 3.

PENANCE & FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Please see the table below for the dates and times of the program and sacraments for Terms 1 and 2.

Registration for First Holy Communion: For all those who have registered into the Program for the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance, your child/children will then automatically be registered into the Program for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion unless you specify otherwise.

If your child was not enrolled in our Penance Program in Term 1, however has made their First Penance/Reconciliation prior to this year or at another Parish, if you reside within our Parish, you are welcome to register your child into our First Holy Communion Program. PLEASE CLICK HERE to access the online registration form. 

CONFIRMATION

The Dates for Confirmation in Term 3 are as shown in the schedule below. Registration into this program will open in June and will be made accessible through this webpage.

For further information about the above Sacraments or if your child is wishing to catch up on any missed Sacraments, please contact the Parish Office on 8883 4063.

How do I know if my child is ready?

The recommended age for a child who has been baptised as an infant to receive their Sacraments of Penance and First Holy Communion is considered when a child reaches the age of reason (or capable of acting responsibly) which is considered to be around the age of 7. Children who are in Grade 6 or above are then able to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

However, some children may not be ready at the recommended age and that is perfectly ok. 

(Please note that our Parish accepts enrolment into the Sacramental Program for Penance and Communion when a child is in Grade 3 or above and Confirmation in Grade 6 or above only.)

Receiving a Sacrament, whilst most important to a child’s faith journey, is something to be done at a time when a child is capable of also understanding and able to prepare for what it is that he or she is receiving. Only a parent can make that determination on behalf of their child.

Some questions you may ask yourself when making this consideration before your child receives the Sacrament of Penance/Communion are:

 What does my child know about God?

 Does my child know how to pray?

 Does my child know the differences between RIGHT and WRONG?

 Can my child accept that they make mistakes?

 Can my child admit that they sometimes do what is wrong?

 Is my child able to say “sorry” when it is appropriate?

It is important that as parents you make a decision yourself and not be swayed by the fact that the child is now in a particular class e.g. Year Three or Year Six.  There is no right class that marks the right time for the reception of the Sacraments.