Sacramental Program

Dear Parents,

Each year St Joseph’s and St Laurence’s provide a Sacramental Program which all families are invited to be a part of. The Sacramental Program prepares students who have been baptised to take the next steps in their Catholic faith journey. Families are invited to support their children in making the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist (otherwise known as First Communion) and Confirmation. 

The Sacramental Programs are offered for families who have a student in the following grades:

• Reconciliation is offered to grade 3 students.
• Eucharist is offered to grade 4 students.
• Confirmation is offered to grade 6 students.

To prepare students in making their sacrament, religious education classes focusing on the sacrament are provided during the school day and an activity book will be sent home for families to work through with their child in a way that works for the family. The discussion around the sacrament is most important outcome of this activity book. Families are required to attend one Parent and Child Workshop, and of course the liturgy where their child receives and celebrates the sacrament for the first time. A child will not be able to receive a sacrament without undertaking the full preparations, as every sacrament requires the necessary preparation from the recipient. 

We also strongly encourage you to attend the Sunday Masses in the churches closest to you or your weekend activities, leading up to the actual celebration of the sacrament. Participation in the Eucharist provides the child and the family with due spiritual preparation. 

This year our Sacramental Program will have a different look. Both St Joseph’s and St Laurence’s Schools will combine for the Parent and Child Workshops and the liturgies. Throughout 2024, Parent and Child Workshops and Sacramental Masses for each of the three sacraments will be held in the Leongatha. Then in 2025 Parent and Child Workshops and Sacramental Masses for each of the three sacraments will be held in Korumburra.

If your child is not baptised and expresses an interest in being baptised, or you would like to have them baptised, please feel welcome to contact one of us to discuss this further. This, of course, applies to any member in your family who wants to become part of the sacramental life of the Church. Everyone is welcome in our Church and their presence would be a great gift to our Church family. 

Yours Sincerely,

Fr. Stanly Devasia, Catherine Riseley, Sharon Anderson & Liz O’Loughlin