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Reconciliation & Holy Communion

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Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion 

In the year that children turn nine (usually year four) our Parish welcomes parents to enrol their children into our Reconciliation and Holy Communion program.  Within this program they will prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with individual confession and absolution (first rite). This will involve learning in detail what it means to examine their conscience.  They will then be welcomed to the Lord’s Table and receive Holy Communion for the first time.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated before receiving First Holy Communion as this is the healing Sacrament that ‘cleanses us’ and makes us ready to receive Jesus in the form of the Holy Communion.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is made up of three parts: Confession, Penance and Reconciliation.  The entire Sacrament is a celebration of God’s love and mercy. It celebrates the call to repentance after a process of conversion of heart.

“This includes confessing our sins and receiving the forgiveness of God through the ministry of the priest. Through this process, a person is reconciled with the Church (and community) and continues to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ." Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Once we are put right with God and community through this healing Sacrament, we are then ready to receive Jesus in the form of Holy Communion. 

Sometimes parents may feel that children are not yet mature enough to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation (as it involves a deeper understanding of forgiveness than just saying sorry).  However, in order to be fully prepared to receive Jesus in the sacrament of First Holy Communion, we require children to attend a 'Liturgy of Mercy'.  This involves children examining their behaviour in light of how God wants them to live and saying sorry for when they fall short.  

Holy Communion, or Eucharist, is the last Sacrament of Initiation.  The first time we receive Holy Communion this completes our initiation into the Church. This Sacrament takes place in the Mass and is sometimes called the “source and summit” of the life of a Catholic. Unlike many other sacraments, Holy Communion is not celebrated just once. Each week, Catholics go to Mass to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist, the ritual in which, by the power of the Holy Spirit, bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. We who celebrate and receive Communion are also transformed, becoming Christ’s presence to others, and recognising the presence of Christ in others.

For Catholics, the Eucharist, or Mass, is the most powerful way to encounter the real presence of Jesus Christ.

If you feel your child is ready to begin preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, please complete the Online Enrolment Form below. 

The program runs over a period of nine weeks and concludes with Reconciliation on Thursday 9th September at 5.00 p.m. or 6.00 p.m. and with First Holy Communion on Saturday 11th September at 11.00am or 5.00 p.m. 

Enrolments for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion will open on 14th June and close on 12th July.

Enrolment for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion 2027: 
Enrolment for Reconciliation and Holy Communion: fs12.formsite.com/…ne/aspleysacpro/signup
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​Reconciliation and First Holy Communion Preparation
​Attendance at a Parent/Carer Information session (mandatory)
Either Wednesday 14th July 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.
OR Wednesday 14th July 7.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.

​Attendance at a Rite of Enrolment Mass (mandatory)
Either Saturday 17th July 5.00 p.m. 
or Sunday 18th July 7.00 a.m., or Sunday 18th July 9.00 a.m., or Sunday 18th July 5.00 p.m.

Attendance at TWO Workshops.  Parent/s and child to attend (mandatory) 

  • First Holy Communion Workshop:
    Either Sunday 15th August 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 noon.
    OR 3.00 p.m. - 4.30 p.m.
  • ​Reconciliation Workshop:  Sunday 29th August 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 noon OR 3.00 p.m. - 4.30 p.m.

Attendance at ONE practice session - First Communion (mandatory)
Child and at least one parent to attend.
Thursday 8th September 4.00 p.m. OR 5.00p.m.

Liturgy of Mercy (for those not celebrating Reconciliation) Mandatory 

Wednesday 8th September 6.00pm​

Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Thursday 9th September 5.00 p.m. 6.00 p.m. 

Celebration of Sacrament of First Holy Communion

Saturday 11th September at 11.00 a.m.

Saturday 11th September at 5.00 p.m.

There is an administration cost of $70 per candidate.

 

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Our Parish acknowledges the Turrbal people as the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we worship, and their connections to the land, waterways and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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