The sacrament of First Eucharist will be celebrated at Maria Regina church on Saturday 11 September at 5pm and on Sunday 12 September at 9am.
The sacrament of First Eucharist will be celebrated at Sacred Heart church on Saturday 18 September at 5pm and on Sunday 19 September at 9.30am and at 6pm.
We look forward to seeing all our candidates at the compulsory practice for both parents and children to be held at the following times -
Avalon Thursday 9th September 2010 at 3.45pm for children making their first Eucharist on 12 September 2010 at 9am. Thursday 9th September 2010 at 4.30pm for children making their first Eucharist on 11 September 2010 at 5pm.
Mona Vale Thursday 16th September 2010 at 3.45pm for children making their first Eucharist on 19 September 2010 at 6pm Thursday 16th September 2010 at 4.30pm for children making their first Eucharist on 18 September 2010 at 5pm Thursday 16th September 2010 at 5.15pm for children making their first Eucharist on 19 September 2010 at 9.30am
For further details contact the Sacramental Director (Suzy Caruso) on 99977311 xtn13 or by clicking this link.
At Baptism your child entered into a relationship with Jesus and with the community of those who believe in Jesus. He or she has become a brother or sister of Jesus and a child of God.
This begins a new way of life which is able to recognise God in daily life and in the natural surrounds in which we live. It gives us a new understanding and appreciation of human life. Our life is see within the context of the life of God.
The time has now come to formally deepen the relationship through the reception of other sacraments.
Bishop David Walker Diocese of Broken Bay.
Each programme of Sacramental preparation uses a three part process, including:
Parent/child sessions (using a Session Booklet)
Suggested Sunday rituals (Session Booklet)
Home activities and rituals. (Homepages)
There are four weekly sessions for each Sacrament, held in small groups in family homes and usually led by a parent group leader. Easy to follow session notes are provided.
Parents and children are expected to participate in the sessions and there will also be involvement in the Parish Masses during the weeks of preparation.
THE SESSIONS Sessions are based on a model of liturgical catechesis, and centred on word, symbol and ritual. Session titles, sub-titles and picture symbols help focus each session on both the liturgical life of the Church and the daily lives of the children themselves. Materials are focussed at a level that children of that age will understand and should foster participation.
SESSION FORMAT: Welcome and centering.
THE STORY OF GOD IN MY LIFE (Life Experience)
THE STORY OF GOD IN SCRIPTURE (Scripture)
THE STORY OF GOD IN THE CHURCH (Church Tradition) Celebrating together Blessing and dismissal.
"EXTRAS" IN SESSIONS BOOKLET
REFLECTIONS FOR PARENTS AND GROUP LEADERS. o One introductory reflection and one for each of the four themes. Reflections are repeated in Parents' Booklet.
SETTING UP A SACRED SPACE. o For Group Leaders: Sacred space gives us a focus; On holy ground; Aboriginal spirituality; Setting up a sacred space.
THE STORY OF GOD IN SCRIPTURE. o For Group Leaders: Managing the session; key words; questions; short conversation; speaking clearly and maintaining eye contact.
MUSIC. o For Group Leaders: Suggestions given to enhance group sessions (songs composed especially for children) or for use in parish liturgies (suitable for all ages for community worship).
GROUP LEADERS' KITS. o Everything a leader will need for the smooth running of the Group.
HOME PAGES CONTENTS • Something For You To Do • Something For You To Read • Something To Think About • Something To Remember: • My Prayer:
PARENTS' BOOKLET CONTENTS • Introductory Reflection • The Four Symbols • Suggested Rituals for Sunday Mass • Suggested Rituals for home • Session One Reflection • Session Two Reflection • Session Three Reflection • Session Four Reflection • And in the Confirmation Booklet: Information For Confirmation
Sacraments are sacred events, in which we enter more fully into the mysteries of our Catholic faith. They are community events, which remind us of the role of the community in our faith life.
We are a community of faith, and we journey together to God. The sacraments use things that are part of life. This reminds us that God is present in our life.
The sacramental life of the Catholic community is meant to affirm the presence of God in our ordinary everyday situation. The sacraments provide the support that we need to live out our faith commitment.
The sacraments, gifts of Christ’s love and forgiveness, are offered to us through the Church. When the Church - the community of believers - celebrates a sacrament, Christ himself is present in the celebration.
The Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist - welcome, incorporate and unite us with Christ, into, the Body of Christ.
Following the revision of the liturgical rites of the Second Vatican Council Second Vatican Council the order of the Sacraments of Initiation in the Diocese of Broken Bay follows the traditional order of reception:
Baptism Accepting Christ’s invitation to belong to the Christian community.
Confirmation Sealing and confirming our spiritual birth in the Church.
Eucharist Receiving Christ, under the signs of bread and wine, thus fulfilling our initiation to a life of communion and service.
Baptism
At Baptism the child enters into a relationship with Jesus and with the community of those who believe in Jesus. They become a brother or sister of Jesus and a child of God.
A child’s initiation begins at Baptism and it is then that the parents promise to share their faith with their children and to bring them to the other sacraments.
The Church has always taught that the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation confirms and perfects what we receive in Baptism. The reception of Christ in the Eucharist gives to the disciples of Christ, the full status of a Christian.
Hence the order of the three sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. They are the three stages in our initiation.
Confirmation
In the early centuries the practice of the Church was to baptise and confirm in the one celebration. However, the unity of this celebration was put to the test by the rapid growth in the Church. Difficulties arose with the great increase in numbers, and the rising incidence of the initiation of children. This led to two developments:
In the Eastern Rite Churches the Bishops delegated their priests to administer the three sacraments together. This practice still holds today.
Bishops in the Latin Rite delayed the Confirmation of the newly baptised until they could be present.
In the New Testament we find a multiplicity of patterns in regard to Baptism and the gifts of the spirit, which in later times became identified with Confirmation. The only thing we can be sure of in the scripture evidence is that the waters of Baptism and the gifts of the spirit, though in some way distinguishable, they can never be totally separated. The separation of Baptism and Confirmation into two separate ceremonies occurred in the fifth and sixth centuries in the Roman Rite.
Eucharist
Actually, the sequence of celebrating Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist is a long-standing tradition in our Church. Pope Pius X in the early part of the last century lowered the age for the reception of First Communion from the approximate age of 15 to the age of reason. While the age for First Communion was changed, the age for Confirmation was not moved.
The Eucharist is the culmination of initiation into Church life and not a stage on the way.
It was not until the revision of the Rites following the Second Vatican Council that it was once more made clear that the order for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation is Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
The returning to the old order, better expresses the true meaning of the sacraments. The celebration of our Christian initiation begins at Baptism, is then sealed at Confirmation and is completed by our sharing at the Eucharistic table. This order restores the Eucharist or First Communion as the high point of a child’s welcome into the Christian community.
The Church clearly states that a child, who has reached the age of reason, usually has the capacity to be taught the meaning of Christ’s action in the sacraments of Confirmation, Eucharist and Penance. Baptism entitles them to be prepared for these sacraments.
Penance
Although not a sacrament of Initiation the Sacrament of Penance offers the experience of forgiveness and healing. It holds a significant place in this life long process. The Church has made a pastoral judgement that, prior to receiving Eucharist they are presented for the Sacrament of Penance.
It is important to remember that the reception of these sacraments is just the beginning of a journey of sharing in the sacraments which continues right through life. Further education in faith through the home, school and parish, will help the children to grow in their appreciation of these sacraments.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 September 2010 08:53
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