SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 

Will Your Child Make Their Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Our 2026 Sacramental Program will commence with a Parent and Child Workshop for children (especially those in grade 3) who are making their sacrament of Reconciliation from both St Laurence's and St Joseph's Primary Schools.  The date of this workshop is Wednesday, February 18 at 5:30 pm and will be held at St Laurence's School in Room C (the grade 5/6 classroom on the far left of the verandah).  Families within the wider South Gippsland area are also most welcome to attend. It is an expectation that families attend the workshop as part of the preparation for their child receiving this sacrament.

Please park in the St Laurence school car park behind the church. Enter the school via the Brumley Street gate.

We are seeking the names of those families who would like to be involved in the preparations for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Confession or Penance).  If you are wanting your child to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation please email office@stlleongatha.catholic.edu.au

Children who have taken part in the preparations will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time in St. Laurence's Church on Thursday, March 19 at 5 pm.

SACRAMENT SCHEDULE

Each year St Joseph’s and St Laurence’s Schools 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 for grade 3 students

·       Eucharist for grade 4 students

·       Confirmation for grade 6 students

Note: A child in an older grade who hasn’t made their Sacraments at the usual time is also invited to join in with the Sacrament preparations as they arise within the school year as long as the child has been baptised. 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.

To prepare students in making their sacrament, religious education classes focusing on the sacrament are provided during the school day and a sacramental activity resource 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 the most important outcome when using this resource. 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 a church closest to you leading up to and following your child's celebration of their new sacrament. Participation in the Eucharist provides the child and the family with due spiritual preparation. 

St Laurence’s and St Joseph’s Primary Schools work together as parishes in partnership which includes coming together for our Sacramental Program.   In 2026, all sacraments and sacramental workshops will be held in Leongatha at St Laurence's Church or St Laurence’s Primary. Therefore, all families from St Laurence’s and St Joseph’s Primary Schools who choose for their child/children to make their sacraments will require a commitment to attend Leongatha for both the Parent & Child Workshop and the Sacramental Mass (although First Eucharist celebration masses will be offered in Korumburra too). Students who attend other schools in the local area are also invited to join in.

Yours Sincerely,

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