Sacramental preparation in the Diocese of Sandhurst and so in the Parish of St. Mary’s, is parish based, family centred and school supported. This approach to sacramental preparation is primarily spiritual, where the adults and children journey in faith together and grow in awareness of the sacraments in their lives. By its nature this preparation process contains teaching about the sacraments that is developmentally appropriate. It cannot contain all the teaching because faith education and learning about the sacraments is a lifelong process.

Children learn much about life and faith from the ordinary, everyday happenings in families, but families often do not name these experiences as faith. The sacramental preparation process may be the first step towards this linking of faith and life. There is a very real need to affirm parents in their role and remind them that they are the first and primary educators in the faith development of their children.

Steps In Faith: A Parish Approach to Sacramental Preparation is the basis for sacramental preparation for families and parish. The Catholic School has responsibility to support this process with continuous systematic catechesis on the sacraments.