Sacramental Program – General Information

Each year, our Programs for the Sacraments are offered,

First Penance/Reconciliation in Term 1;

First Holy Communion in Term 2; and

Confirmation in Term 3.

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 for the program during the sessions. It is essential the content is then revised, discussed and all homework (if any) is completed each week.

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

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

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.

Further, each of us are reminded of our obligation as a Catholic, or parent raising a Catholic child, to attend Mass each Sunday as Jesus Himself told us to ‘Do this in Memory of Me’.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact the Parish Office.

Sacramental Programs
for First Penance/Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

If you would like your child to progress on their faith journey, this program is for any child who has been baptised,
reside within our Parish boundaries and is entering into Grade 3 or above.

If you are unsure your child is ready, please see the section below on “How do I know if my child is ready?”.
You are welcome to also contact the Parish Office if you wish to discuss further.

The schedule for the 2024 Sacramental Programs for Penance/Reconciliation
and First Holy Communion are below (please note it is compulsory that your
child receives First Penance/Reconciliation prior to receiving First
Holy Communion):

Registration

Registration for the Sacraments of Penance/Reconciliation in Term 1 and Sacrament of First Holy Communion in Term 2 for 2024 are now closed. Please contact the Parish Office on 8883 4063 for further information.

 

What you will need to provide

A copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate will be required to
be provided to the Parish Office no later than 8^th February 2024.
(This is a requirement whether or not your child was baptised in this
Parish – in the event you cannot locate your child’s baptism certificate,
kindly contact the parish where they were baptised and request for a
copy/extract of their baptism certificate to be forwarded to our Parish Office.)

Once registered into the Program for the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation,
your child will then automatically be registered in the Program for the
Sacrament of First Holy Communion unless your child does not complete the
Penance/Reconciliation Program or you specify otherwise.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Our Confirmation Program is for any child who has been Baptised and made their First Holy Communion, reside within our Parish boundaries and is in Grade 6 or above.

The dates for Confirmation in 2024 are set out below and registrations will be opened in or around mid-Term 2

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 infants 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 around the age of 7 years. However,
some children may not be ready at the age of 7 years and that is perfectly ok. (Please note that our Parish accepts enrolment into the Sacramental Program when a child is in Grade 3 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 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.  There is no right class that marks the right time for the first reception of the 

Sacrament of Penance, for the reception of the Sacrament of First Holy Communion or the Sacrament of Confirmation.