Sacraments

Signs and sacrament

As human beings, we live our lives within a vast network of signs and symbols, every word we speak, every gesture we make, every letter we read or voice we hear is a sign or symbol, designed to communicate, to express a message.

When people gather together, they invariably do something of a symbolic nature: celebrate an anniversary or a birthday, a wedding or a funeral. Religious rituals, or liturgies, belong to this same form of human ritual celebration.

The religions of the world bear testimony to many types of rituals: water rituals and rituals of initiation, ritual meals, and ritual sacrifices, atonement and healing rituals, marriage, funeral and ordination rituals. But only Christians call these Sacraments.

In the Catholic tradition, these formal ritual celebrations, or sacraments are messages of God’s love and presence at different stages of our lives. They are called: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation (or Penance – formerly referred to as Confession), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony (Marriage).

In the years leading up to the Second Vatican Council, (1962-65) theologians reminded us that both Christ and the Church are the two basic sacraments from which all other Christian sacraments flow. Jesus Christ is the clearest sign and sacrament of God’s saving presence in the world, and the members of the Christian Community, the Church, are meant to act as ‘the face of Christ’ to that same world.

St Benedict’s Parish Sacramental Process

The Parish hosts a family-based and Parish-supported sacramental program for the children of our Parish. In conjunction with parents, who are the first educators of their children in the faith, We undertake the formation and education of children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Penance, formerly known as Confession), Confirmation and First Communion.

The Parish works with parents to help them educate their children in the faith. In this, we are supported by the Principals and teachers in our two Primary Schools, together with our Parish Catechists who teach Special Religious Education in local State Schools.

The first step towards involving your child in the sacramental process is to register your interest by completing the online form or contacting the Parish Office. Further information will be provided following your enrolment.

For more information about Confirmation, click here.

For more information about First Communion, click here.