WELCOME
Life is God’s gift to us. It is entrusted to our care and each of us has a responsibility to nurture life and enable it to reach its full potential. As parents/caregivers, you have nurtured your child’s growth and development in countless ways.
Faith is an integral part of life. Growth in faith, knowledge and love of God happens in the nurturing and caring environment of the natural family and the family we call church. It is a lifelong journey. Parents nurture the faith of children by their example of Christian living and sharing their experience of the presence of God in their life with their children.
The Catholic Church celebrates seven sacraments based on the teachings of Jesus which are special celebrations of the love of God as we journey through life.
- BAPTISM is the first sacrament that marks the beginning of our becoming full members of the Catholic church community.
- CONFIRMATION confirms the faith we have received at Baptism.
- RECONCILIATION celebrates God’s
loving mercy and forgiveness.
- EUCHARIST welcomes us to the table of the Lord in Holy Communion and completes our initiation as full members of the Catholic faith community.
- ANOINTING OF THE SICK gives us strength and peace in times of illness and failing health whenever we are seriously ill.
- MARRIAGE brings God’s blessing on the life-long commitment of love between and man and a woman.
- PRIESTHOOD ordains men to be priests, who dedicate their lives to celebrating the sacraments and serving the people in the Catholic church community.
The Church recognizes that parents, are the first and foremost educators of children in all areas of life and in faith. Parents have a key role in modeling a living faith to their children and supporting them in the practice of their faith in the Catholic Church community. This journey began with your child’s baptism and has continued as you have encouraged them in christian living through the events of everyday life.
The church and the Catholic School support and assist parents in helping children grow in their knowledge, love and understanding of God.
Noarlunga Seaford Catholic Community supports parents in the faith formation of their children by offering
- a comprehensive religious education program in the Catholic School or in parish based classes.
- children’s Liturgy of the Word at weekend Masses.
- special programs of preparation for initiation in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist and Reconciliation.
RECONCILIATION, CONFIRMATION AND EUCHARIST FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.
The Policy and guidelines of the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide state: -
- Children who are baptised as infants are eligible for Confirmation and first reception of Eucharist from about the age of seven years.
- Sacramental Reconciliation is celebrated as part of the preparation for first Eucharist.
- Confirmation is celebrated together with, or just prior to, the reception of first Eucharist.
The sacramental celebration is prepared for within a community program that involves the child and at least one parent or carer.
Children cannot be initiated with understanding into something they do not know. They come to knowledge and understanding of the life of the community by regularly taking part in the activities of the community, especially the celebration of Sunday Mass.
Because of the important role of modeling the faith to children the church asks that for primary school children at least one parent or carer is a fully initiated Catholic.
The preparation process for all sacraments is community based. Children are enrolled at the request of parents.
Enrolment presumes that children are baptized in the Catholic Faith, are in at least year 3 of Primary school and participate in the life of the community by regular attendance at Sunday Mass. The program requires the active support and involvement of parents and families.
THE PREPARATION PROCESS
The preparation process and celebration of the three sacraments is run annually. It will include
- participation in parent meetings,
- supporting children to participate in the preparation program and home activities
- weekly participation in a Sunday community Mass
The first step in having your school age child initiated in the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist is to attend a Parent Information Meeting. This will be communicated at the beginning of first term of each new school year. At this meeting the preparation process and program will be outlined.
We look forward to welcoming you and
your family to your child’s baptism in
It is our hope and desire that the children will continue to grow, in faith in our Catholic faith community.
Suggested payment of $60.00 to cover cost of resources for all three programs
For further information about Baptism in Noarlunga Seaford Catholic Parish contact
St Luke’s, Noarlunga 8382 1717
nswcp@tpg.com.au or
Seaford Catholic Community 8392 4519
seafordsem@tpg,com.au 2019
Noarlunga Seaford Catholic Parish
The life that began at Baptism is confirmed and lived in the world through the Spirit of Confirmation and is nurtured and sustained at the table of the Lord in Holy Communion.
PREPARATION and CELEBRATION
of
the SACRAMENTS of RECONCILIATION, CONFIRMATION
and
FIRST EUCHARIST (Holy Communion) for
SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
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