Religious Education and the Sacrament Program

“Religious Education is the first Learning Area in the Catholic school curriculum. This is so because, though a classroom activity, Religious Education is a form of the Ministry of the Word. Unlike the other Learning Area, it is an activity of Evangelisation in its own right.” (Mandate Letter, 43)

Family Centred Sacrament Program for the Celebration of First Reconciliation (Confession), First Eucharist (Holy Communion) & Confirmation.

At St Helena’s Catholic Primary School we accept part of the responsibility for passing on our Christian faith, values, traditions, beliefs and stories to the children of our community. Within our community children can learn what it is to be a Catholic. There is a saying that it takes a whole village to raise a child, likewise, the whole faith community is needed to help our children before, during and after the celebration of the sacraments.

Parents are the primary educators of their children. Our School offers an approach to sacrament preparation that is family centred, parish assisted and school & catechist supported. This is a three way partnership in which families, the parish and school collaborate in the preparation and celebration of the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation.

The Role of the Family
Parents are the first and best teachers of their children in the ways of faith and are assisted in this by the more formal education provided by the parish and school. Parents educate and form their children’s faith by:
• their daily example of Christian living
• sharing of the faith through stories
• praying together as a family e.g. prayer before meals, bedtime prayer
• giving their children the opportunity to experience belonging to a faith community, especially at Sunday Mass.

Parents, with the assistance of teachers, parish pastoral associates and the parish priest have an important role in discerning the readiness of their children to celebrate a particular Sacrament.

What is expected of families?
Parents/guardians are expected :
• To attend a General information night in order to become familiar with the Sacrament preparation process in this parish
• to attend the Parent Information Night specific to the Sacrament the child will be celebrating. This is important in order to gain an overview of the sacrament and to obtain information about enrolment
•to attend an Enrolment/Commitment Mass
• to attend a Parent/child workshop
• to return all relevant paper work etc. by the due date
• to assist their child with their preparation.

The Role of the School
The school is responsible for co-ordinating sacrament preparation and offers a formal program which enables parents to be involved in the process with their children.

This means that the child’s understanding and learning is developed throughout their school life at a level appropriate to their age. Preparation for the Sacrament does not begin in the year of the Sacrament but is a process that allows the children to fully begin to understand the sacrament they are to receive.

What is expected of the Parish school?
• to provide a formal education in faith and
• to nurture our children in an environment that leads them and their families to develop their personal relationship with Jesus.

The role of the Parish
The role of all members of our parish is one of support through communal and personal prayer, hospitality and giving witness to Christian living.

What is expected of the Parish?
• to invite families to enrol their children for sacrament preparation
• to pray for and with the children as they prepare to enter full initiation of the Catholic Church

Working Together
This process of enrolment encourages all of us to work together to  share this special journey with your children. Thank you for allowing us to participate in this wonderful initiation with your children into our Catholic community.