Catholic Parishes of East Malvern SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION 2014

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1 St. Mary s Church Catholic Parishes of East Malvern Holy Eucharist Church 91 Manning Rd 1241 Dandenong Rd East Malvern East Malvern Parish Office & Presbytery: 91 Manning Rd, Malvern East 3145 Tel Fax malverneast@cam.org.au Web SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION 2014 for Children NOT ATTENDING our Parish Schools Preparing children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion (the Sacraments that complete our Christian Initiation which began in Baptism) is primarily the responsibility of parents. This is a responsibility that all parents promise to undertake when their children are baptised as infants. The most important part of your child s preparation for the Sacraments is their regular participation in the Sunday Mass and your own example of regular worship, prayer and good works. All other preparation is secondary to that obligation of worshipping together each week with the Christian family gathered together around the altar of God. Bringing your children to Mass regularly is an essential part of fulfilling the promises you made at your child s baptism to bring them up within the life of the Church. God s love and presence are made real and celebrated in the Sacraments. Important times and experiences in our lives are celebrated and enlivened by God s presence. Each Sacrament signifies, in a particular way, the transforming love of God and the new life which Jesus Christ brings. Your parish is ready to assist you in the joyous responsibility of preparing your children for the Sacraments and, to this end, you are your children are invited to become fully involved in the ongoing life of your parish family together with the sacramental preparation programmes offered for your children. Our usual program of sacramental preparation and celebration is: First Reconciliation Normally Children in Grade 3 or above and celebrated towards the end of the Season of Lent. First Communion Normally Children in Grade 4 or above and celebrated on a weekend toward the end of term 2. Confirmation Normally Children in Grade 6 or above and celebrated on a weekend toward the end of term 3. BUT despite having talked above about our Sacramental Program it is important to remember that this is not a program at all - it is a sacramental process. We do not receive the sacraments just because we are in a certain grade at school, or have reached a certain age, or have completed a program of preparation. Rather it is a spiritual process in which there needs to be a moment of discernment about when we are ready to receive the sacrament and that spiritual journey has little to do with age or school grade and more to do with our integration into the worshipping life of the parish community and our personal spiritual growth and prayer life. This discernment of when a child is ready for the sacrament needs to involve the child, parents, catechist and parish priest.

2 Since the two parishes of Holy Eucharist and St. Mary s have been twinned together as one pastoral unit we are now sharing our resources and running our sacramental preparation and the celebration of the Sacraments, together. TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD FOR SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION All children registering for sacramental preparation must belong to either Holy Eucharist Parish or St. Mary s Parish. If you do not belong to either Holy Eucharist or St. Mary s Parish you must make application to your own parish. Please fill out the enclosed registration form and have your child hand it to Fr. Bill personally after any Mass prior to the closing date for registration. The details of our Sacramental Program for 2014 are as follows Normally Grade 3 and above 1 st RECONCILIATION Closing date for Registration - Monday 10 th February to Fr. Bill after any Mass prior to close of registration $30 Fee to be paid with registration to assist with catechetical expenses (Cheques made payable to Holy Eucharist School) 7.00pm Tuesday 25 th February at St. Mary s Parish Hall After-school Preparation Sessions Preparation for all children (from both St. Mary s & Holy Eucharist) will include four after school sessions for the children at Holy Eucharist School run by the Religious Education Co-ordinator (Jenny Lefebvre). 4.00pm 5.00pm at Holy Eucharist School Monday 3 rd March Monday 17 th March Tuesday 11 th March Monday 24 th March Home Activity Pack & Passport to Reconciliation There will be a 4 week home based course handed out at the Information Evening which requires parents to work together with their children as they prepare for the Sacrament. They will also receive a Sacramental Passport. The passport is to be presented to Fr. Bill after Mass on the 4 Sundays prior to their Reconciliation for his signature. Celebration of 1 st Reconciliation All children (from both St. Mary s & Holy Eucharist) whose Passport to Reconciliation has been completed will celebrate their 1 st Reconciliation at Holy Eucharist Church on Tuesday 25 th March at Holy Eucharist Church at 7.00pm

3 1 st COMMUNION Normally Grade 4 and above Closing date for Registration - Tuesday 1 st April to Fr. Bill after any Mass prior to close of registration. $40 Fee to be paid with registration to assist with catechetical expenses (Cheques made payable to Holy Eucharist School) 7.00pm Thursday 1 st May at St. Mary s Parish Hall After-school Preparation Sessions Preparation for all children (from both St. Mary s & Holy Eucharist) will include seven after school sessions for the children at Holy Eucharist School run by the Religious Education Co-ordinator (Jenny Lefebvre). 4.00pm 5.00pm at Holy Eucharist School Monday 5 th May Monday 12 th May Monday 19 th May Monday 26 th May Monday 2 nd June Tuesday 10 th June Monday 16 th June Home Activity Pack & Passport to 1 st Communion There will be a six week home based course handed out at the Information Evening which requires parents to work together with their children as they prepare for the Sacrament. They will also receive a Sacramental Passport. The passport is to be presented to Fr. Bill after Mass on the 7 Sundays prior to their 1 st Communion for his signature. Reflection Day All candidates must attend the Reflection Day and you will need to advise their own schools of this requirement and their consequent absence from school on that day. Lunch will be supplied. 9.00am 3.30pm Thursday 19 th June at Holy Eucharist Parish Hall Celebration of 1 st Communion All children (from both St. Mary s & Holy Eucharist) whose Passport to Communion has been completed will celebrate their 1 st Communion at Holy Eucharist Church on Sunday 22 nd June at Holy Eucharist Church at 10.30am

4 CONFIRMATION Normally Grade 6 and above Closing date for Registration - Tuesday 3 rd June to Fr. Bill after any Mass prior to close of registration $50 Fee to be paid with registration to assist with catechetical expenses and bus hire. (Cheques made payable to Holy Eucharist School) 7.00pm Thursday 26 th June at St. Mary s Parish Hall Preparation at Home There will be a six week home based course handed out at the Information Evening which requires parents to work together with their children as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Passport to Confirmation At the Information Evening each child will be given a Sacramental Passport. The passport is to be presented to Fr. Bill after Mass on the 6 Sundays prior to their Confirmation for his signature. Reflection Day Wednesday 13 th August at St. Patrick s Cathedral All candidates must attend the Reflection Day and you will need to advise their own schools of this requirement and their consequent absence from school on that day. A bus will collect children from both Holy Eucharist and St. Mary s. Further information will be handed out at the Information Evening. Rehearsal After we return from the Cathedral on Wed 13 th August at Holy Eucharist Church from 3.30pm pm. Celebration of Confirmation All children (from both St. Mary s & Holy Eucharist) whose Passport to Confirmation has been completed will celebrate their Confirmation at Holy Eucharist Church on Saturday 16 th August at Holy Eucharist Church at 2.30pm

5 REGISTRATION FOR SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION for Children NOT ATTENDING our Parish Schools Child s Christian Names Address Surname Date of Birth Age School School Level (Year) Tick Sacraments already received and list date and church where received Tick Sacraments already received Church & Parish where Sacrament received Date Sacrament received Baptism: Reconciliation: Communion: Confirmation: For which Sacrament/s do you wish to prepare your child this year? Please tick Reconciliation Communion Confirmation Mother s Name Father s Name Phone Parish Church where you attend Mass Confidential Information Home For emergency contact: Mother: Work hours Mobile Father: Work hours Mobile Any food allergies Anaphylaxis [ ] Epipen Available [ ] In the event of accident or illness during any of the Sacramental Preparations run by the Catholic Parishes of East Malvern, I authorise the obtaining on my behalf of such medical assistance as my child shall require. I accept all responsibility for payment of any expenses thus incurred. Signature of parent or guardian Catechetical Fee: Reconciliation $30 Communion $40 Confirmation $50 Please enclose Cheque payable to: Holy Eucharist School Enclosed $ This fee is not payable if your child is attending either St. Mary s or Holy Eucharist Parish School Each Child wishing to prepare for the Sacraments is asked to personally hand this Registration Form to Fr. Bill after any Mass prior to close of registration