Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist (First Communion) are the three Sacramental moments by which a person is initiated into our Catholic community. The correct order of celebration is Baptism, Confirmation and then Eucharist. First Penance (First Reconciliation/Confession) may be celebrated at any time but in the current Parish Sacramental Program, Penance will be included in the Parish’s Sacramental Program.
These sacraments are celebrated with and by the worshipping community of the Parish. Through the Religious Education Curriculum, the school assists in the Faith Education of the children, but it is not the school community that celebrates Christian Initiation. It is the Parish Community, of which the school is a part, that welcomes the children into the Catholic community through these Sacraments. The Parish Priest, the Parish community and the child's parents, have the responsibility of discerning when the child is ready for the next step in their Sacramental Initiation process. It is also the Parish Priest, the Parish community and the child's parents, who have the responsibility of preparing the child for the celebration of these Sacraments through prayer, attending all parent meetings, participating in the life of the parish by attending liturgies and special celebrations, and by assisting the child to complete the workbooks.
Children who have been baptised in the Roman Catholic Church, who have not already been Confirmed, have not made their First Eucharist and who are in Year (Grade) 4 or above of their schooling are eligible to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist. The children are also eligible to receive the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation / Confession) at this time. Some children may have already celebrated the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) for the first time and so will not need to prepare for this Sacrament again.
Please contact the Parish Office if you wish to enrol your child in the Parish Sacramental Program. Please remember that by enrolling your child, you are expressing the desire that your child celebrates the Sacraments of Confirmation, First Eucharist and Penance, and in doing so, will become a fully initiated member of God’s Family.
As Baptism is a prerequisite for the celebration of the Sacraments of Confirmation, Eucharist and Penance, a copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate will need to be provided to the Parish Office upon enrolment. This may be done by either :-
emailing a scanned copy to the parish email address: (sacraments.ncparish@cairns.catholic.org.au)
or
by posting to PO Box 547N, North Cairns, Qld 4870,
Parents of children who were baptised in Mother of Good Counsel Church are not required to provide this certificate as a record of the child’s baptism is already held in the Parish Office.