A person’s most significant education in faith occurs within the context of the family. What happens within the family shapes not only a person’s approach, but their appreciation of God and the Church and the person’s encounter with God through the Sacraments.
A ‘Sacrament’ in Catholic theology is a sign that points to a deeper reality.
The sacraments are often divided into the three categories of Initiation, Healing and Service.
- Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist
- Healing: Penance and the Anointing of the Sick
- Service: Holy Orders and Matrimony
Baptism
Whether a baby or later in life, Baptism is a birth into the Christian community and into a Faith which is the recognition of the importance of God in your family’s life. Here at St Therese’s Parish, Baptisms are celebrated on the fourth Sunday of each month (excluding August.) Baptism families also attend a parish Welcoming Mass at 10:30am on the third Sunday of the month for a special blessing for the families celebrating Baptism. The Welcoming Mass is a joyous reminder to the parish community about their own faith and what it means to them. Please visit our Baptism page for more details.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation is offered each Saturday at 5:45pm (just before 6:00pm Mass.) St Therese’s parish also celebrates Communal Penance each year during Lent and Advent.
First Reconciliation – For a child’s understanding may be defined as ‘Preparing to make peace’. The Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as ‘Confession’ and ‘Penance’, is one of the sacraments of the Church which specifically continues Jesus’ ministry of healing and forgiveness of sin. Here at St Therese’s, our Parish School helps prepare our Year 3 children for their first reconciliation sacrament. If you or your child would like to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation and are not enrolled at our Parish School, please contact the Parish Office or visit our Sacramental Programme page for more information..
First Holy Communion (Eucharist)
‘Eucharist’ is a Greek word meaning ‘thanksgiving’. The Eucharist is a celebration of the Christian community in which all are included. The ritual around the Eucharist is to nourish and nurture us, so that strengthened by God’s Word, we are enabled to act and live with courage and commitment as disciples of Jesus in our world.
Here at St Therese’s, our Parish School helps prepare our Year 4 children for their First Holy Communion sacrament. If you or your child would like to celebrate the sacrament of First Holy Communion and are not enrolled at our Parish School, please contact the Parish Office or visit our Sacramental Programme page for more information.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the final sacrament of initiation into the Christian community, and acceptance towards the challenge and responsibility of nurturing God’s gifts to the world. Candidates are invited to go into the world (as the Apostles did) with the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Confirmation is celebrated at a special service in our church once a year officiated by the Bishop Terry Curtain and our Parish Priest Fr John Hannon.
Here at St Therese’s, our Parish School helps prepare our Year 6 school children for their Confirmation sacrament. If you or your child would like to celebrate Confirmation and are not enrolled at our Parish School, please contact the Parish Office or visit our Sacramental Programme page for more information.
If you’d like your child to receive a Sacrament and they are not attending a catholic school, please contact our office on 9401 6330 or visit our Sacramental Programme page for more information..
