Below is a Video to give you some more information about Confirmation in our Parish (filmed in 2021).
Structure of the Sacramental Program
The current order of reception of the Sacraments in the Diocese of Broken Bay is Baptism, Confirmation, First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (First Communion). Children in Yr 3 (or above) who have been Baptised are eligible for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The preparation program for each sacrament is a parish based program and is structured in such a way that parents and children spend quality time with each other in preparation to receive the sacrament.
They are designed to be facilitated in small groups and your Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Toukley/Lake Munmorah assists with your child’s preparation by providing the reading material, workbooks, and facilitators to assist you and your children to prepare worthily to receive the sacraments.
If you wish to be a facilitator for any of the sacraments, or have any concerns, or difficulties, please do not hesitate to speak with Fr Tomy at any time, or contact the parish office 4396 4455.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the second Sacrament of Christian Initiation, and it confirms the life of Baptism in those who receive this sacrament.
The effect of this sacrament is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit and its seven gifts, which draws us further into the life of faith uniting us to Christ, and gives us special strength, to spread and defend the faith by word and action, as true witnesses of Christ.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is received by children, who are eight years of age or over (Year 3 at school), who are baptised and, are worthily prepared by their parents, with the help of the parish community, to receive this sacrament.
Confirmation is administered by the Bishop and, on rare occasions, by a priest delegated by the Bishop.
Preparation
The family-centred preparation program commences at the time of the parent information and enrolment session and is conducted over several weeks. The program is facilitated in small groups, to help parents prepare their children to worthily receive this sacrament.
There are also special rituals for parents and children, at the weekend Masses during the children’s preparation period.
Celebration of Sacrament 2024
The date for our Confirmation Celebration this year is Saturday 17 August 2024 for both churches at St. Mary's Church, 11:00 AM.
Parent Information Sessions
We are holding compulsory that a least one parent will attend to this Information Session as a pre-requisite for enrolment where you will learn more about the Sacramental Program. We also ask that you bring one passport-style photo of your child to be displayed in the church during the entire Program. The Parent Information Sessions will be held on the 4th June, Tuesday. Parents had the option either to attend at St Brendan's Church at 2:45pm OR at St Mary's Church at 7:00pm.
Enrolment for Confirmation 2024
It is important to note that the sacramental program starts at the time of the enrolment. Enrolments will be taken online 4th June 2024.
The online enrolment process allows parents/carers to choose a suitable date/time for the preparation sessions. The preparation sessions will commence in the week of Monday 24th June 2024.
Parents/Carers and enrolled Children need to attend all preparation sessions across 4 weeks, and complete the workbook during/following each session, for your child to be adequately prepared to receive this sacrament. You are strongly encouraged to attend Mass during the preparation program.
Confirmation Workbooks will be given to all registered candidates on their first preparation session.
These workbooks are intended to be used during each of the facilitated sessions, and completed at home before the next session, for your child to be adequately prepared to receive this sacrament. It is also expected that you and your child attend Mass on Sundays, particularly on the weekends during their preparation.
A copy of your child's Baptismal Certificate must be supplied at the time of Enrolment (only if the child was not Baptised in this Parish). The enrolment fee of $30 per child (or $40 per family if you have more than one child enrolled) covers the cost of materials and administration. This fee is to be paid online during the booking process. If you cannot book or pay online, please contact the Parish Office by calling 4396 4455 or email toukleyparish@bbcatholic.org.au.
Confirmation Name
Children preparing for Confirmation are required to choose the name of a Christian Saint who inspires them to act under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and to follow Jesus more closely. The choice of a saint’s name is entirely up to the parents and child. This activity can help your child to come to know more about some men and women who have shown their love & witness to God in a special way. A useful website to explore taking a saint’s name is www.catholic.org/saints/ then click on Saints Index.
Sponsors
Every child who is to be Confirmed is required to have one (1) Sponsor - a practising Catholic over the age of 16 who has received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist (Holy Communion).
The Sponsor accompanies the parent, and child, through the preparation process and helps them, by their example, live a good Christian life. A sponsor also helps the child to select the name of a Christian Saint and, acknowledges to the church community that the child is worthily prepared.
The Sponsor cannot be the parent or guardian of the child who is to be confirmed.
Five Ways to be a Great Sponsor
- Pray for the child and parents.
- Spend some time & keep in touch.
- Plan to be around on those special days.
- Share your faith.
- Enjoy being a sponsor.
Some helpful tips for selecting a Sponsor:
- It is suggested that one of your child’s godparents be invited to be the sponsor thus linking the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.
- If this is not possible then we suggest that you choose a member of the family or someone important to your child. A parent cannot be a sponsor to their own child.
- This person is to be a practicing Catholic who has received all the sacraments and is 16 years or over.
- Together with the parents the sponsor is asked to guide the child and be a source of support as s/he continues the journey in faith.
Blessing Masses for Candidates
We will be holding ‘Blessing Masses’ for our Confirmation candidates. Attendance at one of these Masses is essential to adequately prepare for the Sacrament. The dates are:
St Brendan’s: Saturday 5:00pm Mass
St Mary’s: Sunday 9:00am Mass
We encourage families to attend Mass every weekend during the Program.
Practice/Rehearsal
There will be a Compulsory practice/rehearsal at both Churches. Please attend the practice for the Church where you will be attending the Confirmation Ceremony.
Confirmation FAQ’s:
How long do the preparation classes run for? -
- Approximately 30- 60 minutes.
Do I need to attend the sessions with my child? -
- Yes, one parent MUST attend each session with their child.
Is there homework? -
- Yes, the child will have a workbook to complete ready for the following week.
What happens if I miss a session?
- All sessions must be attended. If you cannot attend a class, please email toukleyparish@bbcatholic.org.au so that we can arrange for you to attend a make-up class.
Do I need to attend Mass during the program?
- We invite you to attend Mass every weekend, please see Mass times above.
What should my child wear to the Confirmation Ceremony?
- Candidates should wear smart clothes, suggestions for boys include trousers and button-up shirt. For girls, a dress or skirt and shirt, or trousers and shirt. Shorts are not suitable.
What time should we arrive at the Confirmation Ceremony?
- We ask that families arrive at least 30 minutes before the ceremony begins so that we can place the children and settle everyone. Full instructions will be provided at the practice/rehearsal.
How long does the Confirmation Ceremony go for?
- This depends on the number of candidates but our best estimate is 45-60 minutes.
For any questions, please contact the Sacramental Coordinator by phone on 4396 4455 or email toukleyparish@bbcatholic.org.au.