St Patrick’s Primary School

FROM THE REC & CURRICULUM LEADER

Dates for your Calendar

Week 2- Mother's Day Breakfast, Friday 9th May.

Please follow the link for your free tickets. This will help with catering for the day.

Key Dates for Confirmation:

Family Mass- Sunday 4th May, 9:30am
Retreat- Friday 6th June, 9:15-2:30pm
Confirmation- Sunday 8th June, 9:30am

Please contact the Parish for enrolment

Receiving the Sacraments is a special part of our faith journey. Baptism is the first of the Sacraments that people undertake when they are initiated into the Catholic Church. This is followed by the Sacraments of Confirmation, Reconciliation and First Eucharist. At St Patrick’s Primary School, Bega, we support students' participation in these Sacraments through our Sacramental program. The program strives to help our students grow as part of a church community and feel a real sense of belonging to the wider Family of God.

Sacramental Program at St Patrick's Primary School

St Patrick’s students participate in a Parish-based Sacramental program, specifically for those students enrolled, alongside an education-based classroom program for all students. Students will participate in the Sacraments during the following Years of Primary Education.

Reconciliation, The Sacrament of Penance: When the child is in Year 3 or above
Eucharist: When the child is in Year 3 or above
Confirmation: When the child is in Year 5 or Year 6.

The program commences with an information session that is run for parents early in the year. Students will then attend a compulsory Sunday enrolment Mass with their parents/carer. As students prepare for the Sacrament, they will participate in a range of learning experiences, along with a retreat and youth group facilitated by the Religious Education Coordinator and Parish Priest.

Enrolment

Enrolment is directly through the St Patrick’s Parish. The link for enrolment will be sent out to all parents early in the year as well as being available on the Parish website.

Parental Commitment

The family is the place where a child’s education in faith begins and grows. What happens within the family shapes the child’s appreciation of God and the Church family. We ask that parents make a solid commitment to the Sacramental Program by attending the information session and enrolment Mass with their child and discussing learning at home.

A Brief Explanation of each of the Sacraments

Reconciliation, The Sacrament of Penance

The Sacrament of Penance is one of the most beautiful aspects of Catholicism. Jesus Christ, in his abundant love and mercy, established the Sacrament of Penance, so that we can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church. The sacrament “washes us clean,” and renews us in Christ, and places us in a state of grace to receive the Eucharist.

First Eucharist

Eucharist is a Greek word meaning ‘Thanksgiving.’ Of the sacraments, the Holy Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is the most central and important to Catholicism, it is the third sacrament of initiation. When we receive Holy Communion, we’re intimately united with Jesus Christ - who becomes part of us. Also, by taking Holy Communion, we express our union with all Catholics who believe the same doctrines, obey the same laws and follow the same leaders.

Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation involves your child confirming their Christian faith as their own, and in doing so being sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, anointed with the oil of chrism and sent as a witness of God into the world.

If you would like any further information about any of the Sacraments, please contact the Parish office or Mel Ferris.

Mel Ferris