Sacramental Program for Government School Children

Co-ordinator / Leader Elma Gama Leos
Contact Number Parish House: as per our Contact-Us page.
Email RingwoodNorth@cam.org.au
Members / Participants ~18
Year the group started 1995
Gathering place / time Sunday 4.00 - 5.00 p.m. in the Out of School Hours Care House which is next to the Church (finishing with Sunday 5 p.m. mass when available - confirm mass availability here)
Main Function / Purpose Our High Spirits group is for families with children who attend non-Catholic schools but who still wish to complete Catholic sacraments. The High Spirits sacramental classes run on Sundays with the school calendar. There are no classes on school holidays or long weekends. Classes commence at 4:00pm at the Parish House and end with 5:00pm mass. To enrol in the program there is an expectation that families will be actively involved in their children Faith journey and are encouraged to join their children to worship together at 5:00pm mass.
Sacraments are celebrated with the Holy Spirit School children and for each program we join with the Holy Spirit school families for an information night and a children’s workshop.  The remainder of our classes are taught in the Parish House.

Provide a pathway for:
  • Catholic parents seeking baptism for their primary aged child/children
  • Catholic parents of children Grade 3 and above seeking the Sacraments of Reconciliation (March 2022), Eucharist (July 2022) and Confirmation (May 2022)
  • Children as young as 7 that want to have a Catholic religious education and who are not ready for sacramental preparation
Following High Spirits, children are expected to attend the Sunday 5 p.m. mass and families are encouraged to join us. After mass we have supper to integrate into the community and families are welcome to stay.
Major Events Special Masses: Community Mass, Christmas Masses

High Spirits Program

Our High Spirits group is for families with children who attend non-Catholic schools but who still wish to complete Catholic sacraments. To enrol in the program there is an expectation that families will attend Mass regularly and in particular that the children will take part in Children’s Liturgy, at either 6.00pm Saturday night Mass or 10.30am Sunday morning Mass. The High Spirits sacramental classes are run after school on Monday afternoons. Sacraments are celebrated with the Holy Spirit School children and for each program we join with the Holy Spirit school families for an information night and a children’s workshop, the remainder of our classes are taught in the Parish House.

Rite of Acceptance

Baptism
School aged children wishing to be baptised will need to participate in a series of lessons which will introduce the children to prayer, bible stories and Catholic traditions.

Baptism

Reconciliation
Children will need to be in Grade Three or above to participate in our Reconciliation program. Reconciliation is held in November.

Eucharist
Children will need to be in Grade Four or above to participate in our Eucharist Program. First Eucharist is usually held at the end of August. Click the booklet image to see an example of the booklet prepared for the First Eucharist Mass.

Confirmation
Children will need to be in Grade Six or above to participate in our Confirmation Program. Confirmation is usually in May or June.