FIRST RECONCILIATION 2003

(For children who received Confirmation in 2002)

Dear Parents, 

Any child who has received the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation is eligible to begin his/her preparation for receiving the Sacrament of First Reconciliation (Penance).  The First Reconciliation Program is due to start in our parish beginning with Parent Information & Enrolment Sessions in May - one at St. Brendan’s on Tuesday, 13^th May at 3.00p.m. and another at St. Mary’s Parish Hall on Thursday, 15^th May at 7.30p.m.  These sessions are for parents only and it is compulsory that a parent attends one of them.  Your attendance will be noted at the session and will confirm your child’s acceptance into the program.  You may attend either session.

ENROLMENT & FEES

An enrolment form is attached herewith.  There are several options for lodging the enrolment form with the Parish.  The first is to bring it to the Parish Office (not the school office) at 458 Main Road Noraville by Friday 9^th May.  The second is to lodge it at one of the Parent Information & Enrolment Sessions.  The third is to log on to the Parish website at www.toukleycatholic.org.au.  A course fee of $15.00 per child or $25.00 per family must accompany the enrolment application.  If you enroll via the internet, the course fee is payable at the Parent Session.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you have been involved previously in one of our Sacramental Programs, we are now taking payment for the course at the time of enrolment and not at one of the small group sessions.  Please assist us by having the correct money available to lodge with your enrolment application.  No-one will be excluded from a Sacramental Program due to cost. Simply ring me at the Parish Office if there is any problem with payment.

CLASSES (small group sessions)

Four small group sessions, once per week, commencing the week beginning Monday 26^th May.  Attendance at these sessions is compulsory for parent and child.  You will book into a group at the Parent Information & Enrolment Session.  There will be plenty of options available for you as regards day/night of the week, time and venue, or if you wish to lead a group in your own home or in one of the Parish rooms you can even organise your own group of friends and/or neighbours in advance.  Simply contact me at the Parish office and we can organise this.  We prefer to limit the size of a group to a maximum of 8 children (and their parents), but smaller is okay if that suits you.

DATES OF SACRAMENT

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation will be held at St. Brendan’s on Wednesday 25th June at 7.30p.m. and two at St. Mary’s one on Tuesday 24^th June at 7.30p.m. and the other on Thursday 26^th June at 7.30p.m.   The 2^nd Rite of Reconciliation will be used and parents of the children will present them to the priest during the ceremony.  It will not be necessary to have a practice for this Sacrament.  Children can sit anywhere in the church with their families for the ceremony.    You may attend whichever of the three ceremonies that suits you and you are asked to nominate which session you will attend with your child on the Enrolment Form.

GROUP LEADERS

We will require 25-30 group leaders for this program.  Please consider volunteering your services.  In the past, some people have teamed up with another person to lead a group.  Leading a group with a friend can make the task a little less daunting, especially for first-timers.  Each of the four sessions is planned step-by-step, so it is simply a matter of following the leader’s handbook.  For planning purposes, could I ask you to ring, fax or email (sacraments@iprimus.com.au) me at the Parish Office immediately if you are able to lead a group.  Group leaders will be required to attend a one hour workshop at either St. Brendan’s School Library on Tuesday 20^th May at 3.00p.m. or at St. Mary’s Parish Centre on Thursday 22^nd May at 7.30p.m.  You will be leading the group in which your child is involved and you get to choose the day, the time and the venue for your group.  You may have it in your own home and organise your own group if you wish.  Please, think about it and ring me.

ARE YOU A NEW PARISHIONER?

If you are new to our Parish and you come from a Diocese where the order of the reception of the Sacraments is different to ours in the Diocese of Broken Bay, please ring me at the Parish Office.  If your child is in Year 3 upwards and has not received Confirmation, he/she may still be eligible to enroll in our Reconciliation Program.

FIRST COMMUNION

For your information, the Sacrament of First Eucharist will be held this year in November For your information, the Sacrament of First Eucharist will be held this year in November (not June as in previous years).  All children involved in the Reconciliation Program will be eligible for First Communion.

If you have any enquiries regarding the Reconciliation Program, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the Parish Office during office hours (8.30a.m. – 4.30p.m.) Monday to Friday on 4396.4455 or at sacraments@iprimus.com.au.   As with all our Sacraments, we recommend that you bring your children to Sunday Mass during the course of the preparation program.  I look forward to working with you and your children at this important time in their lives.  

Yours sincerely,

Alison Newell

Sacramental & Catechist Co-ordinator

Click Here for Reconciliation Program Enrolment Form