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Welcome to the Sacramental Programme for 2025
The programme at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish is parish based, family centred, and school supported and aims to support you and your family while you grow together in the knowledge and expression of your faith. Click on the link below for our brochure which sets out the dates and requirements for the preparation and celebration of the Sacraments of Confirmation, First Reconciliation and First Communion during 2025.
Click here to download our Sacramental 2025 Programme brochure
Structure of the Programme
The order of reception of the Sacraments in the Diocese of Broken Bay is Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation and Eucharist (First Communion).
The Sacramental preparation program in our parish, and indeed throughout the Diocese of Broken Bay, is a parish based and family centred process. It is structured in a way for parents/guardians and their child to work through the booklet together as part of a parish sacramental group under the guidance of a group leader, and are encouraged to continue the discussion and exercises at home. Both parish and family play an important role in journeying with the children towards full initiation into the Church.
If you are unable to attend one of the four preparation lessons you must contact Colleen/Parish Office as soon as possible and you will then be advised on how best to complete the missed lesson to suit your circumstances. All 4 lessons must be completed to be eligible to receive the Sacrament.
If you have any concerns, or difficulties, please do not hesitate to speak directly with Colleen or Fr Brian Moloney by contacting the parish office 4332 2216. Office hours are 9:30am - 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
We look forward to working with you and your family at this important time of our child's faith development.
Important Information for Enrolment in the Sacramental Programme
Expressions of Interest:can be completed online. (see the link below for the current Sacrament) However, to finalise the enrolment process, parents or guardians are required to attend one of the three scheduled information sessions advertised in the flyer for each Sacrament. If you cannot attend one of these sessions you will need to contact the parish to make an appointment with one of our priests. During these sessions, important details about the current Sacrament will be discussed and only then will the children be enrolled accordingly. At these sessions, the workbook can be collected along with other instructions. If your child was not Baptised at our parish or Confirmed at our parish, you will be required to produce a copy of their certificates at the time of enrolment. Please note that children do not need to attend these sessions. Expression of Interest form for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
Enrolment Fee: There is an enrolment fee of $30.00 per child, which helps cover the costs of programme materials for each Sacrament. Payment can be made in cash or EFTPOS during the Information and Enrolment session. If paying by cash, it is helpful to have the correct amount. If financial difficulties arise, please to speak with Fr Brian or Colleen for assistance.
Enrolment Deadline: It is essential for all children to be enrolled at least one week before the commencement of lessons. Additionally, a parent or guardian must have attended an information session or had a meeting with a member of the clergy before the deadline date.
Compulsory Attendance: Attendance is compulsory for both the child and parent/guardian at all four sessions of the preparation programme to ensure proper preparation for receiving the Sacrament. You must advise Colleen/Parish office if you miss a lesson and find out how to make up the missed lesson. Attendance at all four lessons is required to be eligible to receive the Sacrament.
Baptism Certificate Requirement: If this is your child's first Sacrament at Our Lady of the Rosary, The Entrance, and your child was not baptised here, a copy of the child's Baptism certificate must be provided at the time of enrolment. Additional documentation may be required for other Sacraments not received in our parish.
Encouragement for Mass Attendance: As part of the Sacramental Programme, parents and guardians are encouraged to attend weekend Masses with their children to help them to understand the meaning of what they are learning about the Sacrament. Children will be presented to the parish community during designated parish weekend Masses throughout the preparation period leading up to receiving the Sacrament.
Location of Events: All events will take place at the parish precinct unless stated otherwise.
Special Needs: If your child has special needs, we seek to accommodate them in our program so that they may be welcomed and participate in the program in the most appropriate way for them. Please contact Colleen Smith for more information (see details below).
Thank you for your attention to these details. We look forward to supporting you and your child through this important process.
The Sacramental Programme is made up of the following parts:
1. INFORMATION AND ENROLMENT SESSIONS
Parents/Carers seeking the reception of the Sacraments for their child/ren are required to attend an Information and Enrolment session for each Sacrament. This is an opportunity for parents to obtain information about the Sacrament, an overview of the content of the classes and a review of the Sacramental ceremonies. There is also an opportunity for questions and discussion. The sessions are for parents and carers (children are not required to attend), to support them with all they will need in order to prepare their children for the Sacrament. If you are unable to attend an Information and Enrolment session, then you will be required to contact the parish office to make an appointment with one of our priests to discuss enrolment of your child in the Sacrament.
2. PRESENTATION OF CHILDREN
Families are encouraged to attend weekend Masses during the Sacramental programme to assist the children in understanding the Sacrament they are learning about. (Mass times are 5:00pm Saturday evening or 8:00am or 9:30am Sunday Masses)
The Children will also be presented to the parish community at some of these Masses and this step affirms your child's belonging to the parish community and invites the whole community to pray for you child.
3. PREPARATION CLASSES
Leading up to each Sacrament there are four (4), compulsory one hour preparation lessons that are held at the Parish Centre, next door to the Church. A parent/carer is required to attend each session with their child. While the program is parish based it is also family centred with activities to be completed at home to emphasise the home as a faith community. These classes provide the children with an understanding of the symbols and processes for receiving each Sacrament. Children and their families are encouraged to attend the weekend Masses throughout the programme in order to enhance their preparation. Dates and times for classes are provided for each Sacrament at the information sessions or as advertised. All four sessions must be attended to be eligible to receive the Sacrament. If you are unable to attend a session or miss a session you must contact the Sacramental coordinator for instructions on how to make up the missed session.
Class/Session times and dates are advertised closer to the commencement of each Sacrament.
4. ENRICHMENT DAYS
Enrichment days are held for the children prior to their reception of Confirmation and Eucharist. On these days the children revisit what they have learned during the preparation sessions and also receive instructions in preparation to receive the sacrament.
If there are any extenuating circumstances, regarding times and dates of the Sacramental Programme, please make an appointment to see the Parish Sacramental Coordinator, Colleen, no later than one week prior to the first Information and Enrolment session.
We welcome children with special needs and are happy to discuss and work with parents to ensure their child receives the Sacraments of initiation. If your child has special needs, we seek to accommodate them in our program so that they may be welcomed and participate in the program in the most appropriate way for them. Please contact Colleen Smith for more information (see details below).
The parish also offers a preparation program for families (where one or both parents are Catholic) with:
children aged seven years and older who are not baptised and would like to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
Children who have been baptised into another Christian denomination who wish to be received into the Catholic Church and participate in the Sacramental Program.
If neither parent is Catholic, we still welcome your enquiry and we are happy to discuss this further with you.
The parish also accommodates any children/young people/adults who have been baptised Catholic who may not have received all the sacraments and parents who may wish to become a Catholic.
Contact:
Pastoral Associate/Sacramental Coordinator: Colleen Smith
Parish Office: (02) 4332 2216
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