Sacramental Life

Our Sacramental preparation is parish-based.  This means that our preparation is implemented and supported by the Parish.  It is open to all parishioners and their families in our parish community irrespective of which school their children attend.

Preparation  is ‘family-centred.’  This means that parents are required to be actively involved with their childrens' lessons during each of the preparation sessions.

While the school based Religious Education Curriculum supports and enriches our Sacramental preparation, the church recognises that the parents are the first educators of their children’s development in faith.  After all, it is the parents who presented their child for Baptism into the Catholic Faith and promised to nurture that faith.
As parents, knowledge is not the key factor, but our faith and a willingness to spend time sharing with our child/children as they go through this journey of faith development.
Our preparation is only successful due to our committed Sacramental Team members who volunteer their time throughout the preparation. 

WE NEED YOUR HELP      

St Mary’s would like to extend an invitation to all parents and ask that they contribute a small amount of time in helping and assisting the Sacramental Team. Parent-helpers are provided with all the resources, and support is on hand from the Pastoral Associate. Without more assistance from parents, preparations such as these, will become more difficult to run and your child may not have the sacramental experience they deserve. 

Baptism

Baptism is one of the Sacraments of Initiation and celebrates the reception of an child into the Christian community.

Baptism is celebrated every second Sunday at 10:00am and every fourth Sunday during the 8:30am Mass.

Parents are required to attend a Baptism Preparation Session which is held every third Tuesday of the month.

A baptism team will assist and support in your preparation for the baptism of your child.

Please contact the Parish Office to make arrangements.

RCIC

All children who are 7 years old or older will undergo a period of formation along with parents and sponsors.

These children will celebrate all three Sacraments of Initiation viz, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

RCIA

All adults who wish to become members of the Christian community need to undergo a period of preparation along with sponsors whose role is to accompany the candidate.

As with the children of the RCIC program, the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are celebrated together.

Confirmation

Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22)

The Sacrament of Confirmation builds on what was begun in Baptism and what will be nourished in Holy Communion.  It completes the process of initiation into the Christian Community and summons children and their parents to join others on the spiritual journey that began at  Baptism. 


This sacrament is called Confirmation because the faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong. It challenges you to listen more closely to the Spirit, received at Baptism, as you hear again Jesus’ message and the call to discipleship. 

First Eucharist

THE PROCESS OF INITIATION

First Eucharist is the final stage of the process of initiation.  Baptised into the community and confirmed in the Spirit, the children are called to share in the Eucharistic meal with the entire Christian community.  The process summons children and parents to, once again, join others who have been travelling the same spiritual journey.  It challenges them to listen with their hearts to Jesus’ call to his disciples, “Do this in memory of me.”

As they prepare to join the community around the table of the Lord for the first time, the children, with their parents, share the story of God in their own lives; they listen to the story of God in Scripture and in our church; they explore symbols and take part in Sunday and home rituals.

Marriage

In the Catholic tradition marriage is a sacramental covenant between a man and a woman.

First Things
  1. Contact the parish office to confirm the date and time of the wedding ceremony.
  2. Contact your celebrant, ideally, at least six months before the wedding.
  3. In the case of remarriage, please contact your celebrant as soon as possible.

Marriage preparation
The church encourages all couples to adequately prepare for marriage by undergoing a marriage preparation course.

Documents
You will need a birth certificate and a baptism certificate.

Completion of forms
Yo need to complete the Forms required by the state and church.

The wedding ceremony
Have a meeting with the celebrant so he can assist you in the preparation of your wedding ceremony.

Funerals

The Christian community prays for its deceased members, confident of the gift of eternal life. It also ministers to those who are grieving and consoles them with the comforting word of God.

Funerals are usually arranged in co-operation with the Funeral Directors.

The Consolation Team assists and supports the grieving family in the preparation of a funeral service and comforts them in their time of loss.