A letter from Fr Michael.

Dear SFX, HT and OLHC Families,

We hope this letter finds you well and that you and your families are coping with the lockdowns as best you can. The measures set in place by the Victorian Government, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (M.A.C.S) and the Archdiocese of Melbourne, in response to the Coronavirus have had significant impacts on the way communities can gather to worship, pray and commemorate Sacramental milestones. Baptisms, weddings, ordinations for new priests have been postponed. Our entire Catholic worshipping community has been affected. Our Sacramental program for our students across all three schools was disrupted in 2020 and now we are facing the same disappointments with the running of our programs in 2021. As a result we have had to make some significant decisions as to how our, ‘Parent Initiated, School Supported and Parish-Based’ Sacramental program within the Parishes of Montmorency and Eltham will look for the remainder of the 2021 School year. 

Confirmation

Unfortunately the Sacrament of Confirmation will not go ahead as planned at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday 24th October 2021. At this present moment as we end Term 3, we are still unclear as to how Term 4 and students returning to school will look. So we find ourselves in exactly the same predicament as last year. With this narrow window of school life returning we will not be able to hold any Confirmation celebrations this year. We hope in the coming months the Year 6 students will be able to have a conversation with our local Bishop, Terry Curtin to acknowledge our preparation for Confirmation. Even this conversation may have to happen by Zoom. Any further arrangements for future Confirmation for this year's Year  6 students into 2022 will be decided once we are clear with a new way forward. We will then make contact with you. 

First Eucharist

The Sacrament of First Eucharist is unable to continue this year with our students in Year 5. Our Cathedral and Churches are still closed and when we are able to open, density limits will be of such restriction that we will be unable to celebrate First Eucharist within the Parish Masses with any significant numbers of family present. Therefore, unfortunately we have had to make the sad decision not to continue with our Eucharstic practice and plans in place in 2021. 

We are truly saddened and disappointed by the disruptions occurring to our Sacramental program. However, hopefully this information gives you some clarity. Obviously with returning to school in 2022, including our Sacramental programs moving forward, we will have to come up with some very creative ideas with regards to delayed Confirmations and First Eucharist celebrations in Parish life. For the past two years this Coronavirus has deeply disrupted our normal pathways of faith and worship celebrations. We are deeply sorry for this inconvenience and we look forward to working in partnership with you next year. 

Warmest love and regards.

Michael  F  Sierakowski                                  

Moderator