Sacraments are so much more than mere stepping stones, rites of passage, or one-off ceremonies. They are living encounters with God's love that open our lives to being guided, shaped and blessed by the help and grace that comes from God.
When we are baptised, we become a member of God’s family—the family of the Church—hence we are called the Children of God. Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, the others being First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Thus, the three Sacraments stand together, and part of your commitment is to present your child for the other two Sacraments at the appropriate time.
The Church also shares and supports the sincere hope and intention of those couples who freely and maturely promise to live together in an unbreakable covenant in Marriage.
We also ensure that those Sick and Housebound of our Parish Community are visited weekly, and regularly receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick.
More information can be found below:
When we are baptised, we become a member of God’s family—the family of the Church—hence we are called the Children of God. Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, the others being First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Thus, the three Sacraments stand together, and part of your commitment is to present your child for the other two Sacraments at the appropriate time.
The Church also shares and supports the sincere hope and intention of those couples who freely and maturely promise to live together in an unbreakable covenant in Marriage.
We also ensure that those Sick and Housebound of our Parish Community are visited weekly, and regularly receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick.
More information can be found below:
Baptism
Your child is a gift from God, which enriches your life and creates the joy of family life. Through baptism your child will become part of our parish family, and a member of the Catholic Church, calling God, ‘Our Father’. This is because your child has become a child of God, united with Jesus Christ.
Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, we are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission. - (Catechism of the Catholic Church) |
First Holy Communion
As parents, you may remember preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation at school or in a parish group. The celebration of the Sacrament is always a joyful occasion to help deepen our faith, and help us to grow in holiness as we try to become better disciples of the Lord.
As the source of Christian life, whenever we receive the Eucharist, we unite ourselves with Jesus Christ, the bread of eternal life. We enter into communion with all our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church, and are strengthened in our faith. Reception of the Eucharist enables us to become full members of the Catholic Church, in union with Francis, our Pope and Patrick our Bishop; and the family of this parish. As a summit, the celebration of Mass is the high point of our prayer and worship of God. We are inviting and leading our Children into deeper union with Jesus and his Church, revealed in greater love of God and our neighbour; made visible in life of our Parish community. When we gather at Mass, we remember and celebrate that at the Last Supper, Jesus gave us the Sacrament of his Body and Blood as a memorial of him; and as the sacrifice that takes away our sins. “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and I shall be healed”. – from the Communion Rite. “The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life”. – (Catechism of the Catholic Church) |
Confirmation
Confirmation is closely linked with baptism. At our baptism, our parents and godparents professed the faith on our behalf – our baptismal promises. At our Confirmation, we profess these same promises. When we were baptised we received the Holy Spirit, by Confirmation we are sealed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. One way of looking at it is to say that baptism transforms us, making us a new creation. Confirmation makes that public, so that we, in the power of the Spirit, might transform the world.
Confirmation is also closely united with the Sacrament of the Eucharist; so that by reception of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist (the Sacraments of Initiation) we are fully incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ. “All powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide”. – from the Rite of Confirmation. |