Sacramental Programme

Sacramental Programme 2023

SCHOOLS – DATES OF ACTIVITIES FOR SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMMES AND MASSES

PRESENTATION MASSES

30th Nov Preparatory Meeting with parents – St Thomas in school 3.30pm

4th Dec Presentation Mass - St Thomas Primary School in Church 11.00

Reconciliation

MARCH

Wed 8^th Preparation Meeting - St Thomas in school 3.30

Sun 12th Reconciliation – St Thomas church 2.30pm

MAY HOLY COMMUNION

Wed 17th May Preparatory meeting with parents in St Thomas school – 3.30pm

Thurs 18th May Confessions St Thomas in church – 2.30pm

Sun 21st May First Holy Communion Mass – St Thomas 2.30

Dear Parents/Carers,

Please note the dates of the sacramental programme this year. This is open to all year 3 to 6 children. The children cannot make their 1^st Holy Communion without already having been baptised and then making the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The 3 meetings in school are with Father Alphonsus, our new parish priest. If you have any questions about the sacrament programme, please don’t hesitate to ask me. I am usually outside the year 6 annex before and after school.

The children in year 3 will be receiving instruction in the sacramental programme by their class teachers as part of their weekly religious lessons and will have prayers to learn and we will ask the children to read at the 3 masses.

Kind regards,

Mark Stenton.

As part of a new initiative, we are enhancing our First Holy Communion Programme with full and clear resource links to the latest catechetical approaches.

I Belong is a programme that contains lively, colourful material in which illustrations and examples are used to reflect the world where today’s children live and experience faith. It is hoped that the children using this book will create a personal momento of this special time in their relationship with God. At the end of each chapter is a “Family Time” page with suggestions for prayer and something to do together as a family. Small information boxes have been added throughout the book. These cover areas such as: search the church for particular items, explanation of Catholic practices, what to look out for while at Mass and new words associated with reconciliation, First Holy Communion and the Mass. There is also a symbol of a Bible to check out bible references at the end of scripture passages. A small candle features on the corner of each page which, when coloured, indicates progress through the book.

This step-by-step guide to the full programme is designed to inspire our children and challenge them to think theologically about the promises they are making!