This year’s programme is full. You can now enroll your child in our 2020 programme which starts on 2 February. Further dates and details will be available soon.
Please contact Eddie, our pastoral co-ordinator, with any queries: ponsonbyhernebayparish@gmail.com 09 376 4303
If your child requires Baptism please contact Fr Rory.(021 0394 980)
Sacramental Programme 2019 Ceremony dates:
First Reconciliation 4.30pm, Sunday 24th February 2019
Confirmation 6.30pm, Saturday 27th April 2019
First Eucharist 10.30am Sunday 28th April 2019
Class Sessions: Reconciliation, 3rd, 10th, 17th February 2019
Confirmation, 3rd, 10th, 17th March 2019
First Eucharist, 24th,31st March & 7th April 2019
Practice for Ceremonies of Confirmation and First Eucharist
: 25th April 2019 (Anzac Day) time to be confirmed.
Important Information
Dear Parents / Caregivers
We hope you and your child enjoy this preparation course, and we have some FAQ that we hope this information sheet will help to answer. Please do not hesitate to contact us if there is something not covered here.
- How long is the course?
The Sacramental Programme has 09 sessions. It is compulsory to attend 09 classes to enable children and parents / caregivers to prepare for receiving the Sacraments. A list of dates of the sessions, and the Sacrament ceremonies are attached with this sheet.
- If my Child is not Baptised?
Please arrange with your Parish Priest, or Father Rory, Ponsonby Herne Bay Parish, to have your child Baptised. If this could occur before the start of the programme, it would be helpful.
- What will my child be taught in Class?
Classes are taught using the Auckland Diocese guidelines. Booklets will be given to work on at home. Each session we will let you know what work is required to be completed at home before the next session. We have learnt that no matter what we teach in class or Church, nothing will take root unless it is supported in the home. The Parent classes are designed to help you acquire the knowledge and language to feel confident in sharing the faith with your children. Most of the sessions will be a mixture of children alone with their teachers, as well as combined parent/ children sessions.
At the end of the class time the children will be escorted from the hall into the Church where they will sit as a group to celebrate Mass. This enables them to connect with the Mass.
- Who are the Teachers?
Our teachers are volunteers and we are very grateful of the time they give to help prepare your children to take these special Sacraments.
Fr Rory will be teaching the Parents Class this year.
Dianne McArdle is the overall coordinator of this programme, and she also teaches the children. Dianne has been teaching these programs for a number of years and we are lucky to have her in this role.
- When / Where will the Sessions be held
All the sessions will begin at 9.15 am on a Sunday morning at Sacred Heart Church in Ponsonby.
The parent’s and children’s sessions will be held in the Hall next to the Church.
- Can we bring Siblings to the classes?
Sorry there is no provisions for younger siblings to be cared for by the teachers during the sessions. Parents must be responsible for siblings not included in the programme. It can be distracting for both teachers and attendees to have other children at the back of the classrooms. We appreciate it if you could make alternative arrangements for childcare whilst you are attending the course.
- Photographs?
We ask you to supply a recent photo of your child, with their full name on the back of the photo. These are placed on the board at the back of the Church. The parishioners are then asked to pray for all those preparing to take the Sacraments of initiation into the Church.
We ask that no photographs or video are taken during Confirmation or First Eucharist Liturgies. Please remember the significance of these Sacraments.
Photographs will be taken by a professional photographer as the candidates are confirmed by the Bishop. There are also group photographs taken at both Confirmation and First Eucharist. All photos will be made available for you to purchase.
- What does my child wear for the ceremonies?
At each Ceremony, we ask that jeans are not worn for either boys and girls.
For Reconciliation, just neat and tidy as you would dress for any special occasion.
For Confirmation. As above but as a photo is taken with the Bishop, many wear their special outfits for both Confirmation and First Eucharist.
For First Eucharist- Girls white dresses, flowers in their hair (if wanted.)
Boys, white shirts and black trousers, or other traditional forms of formal dress.
- How do we choose a Confirmation Name?
It is usual to choose a Saint’s names, why not chose one that means something special to you? Family or Godparents names can be a good place to start. There is lots of information about Saints names at these websites: www.catholic.org/saints or www.catholic-saints.info or try your school or local libraries.
- How do we pick a confirmation Sponsor
Each child needs a Sponsor for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The sponsor should be at least 16 years old, Confirmed and a practicing member of the Roman Catholic faith.
Ideally a baptism godparent. However, somebody else may be sponsor, maybe even a parent, as long as they fit the criteria above.
I do hope this information has been useful. If you need any further information about anything please contact Eddie Eyre, either by email eeyre1952@gmail.com or mobile 0274820187.
Eddie Eyre
Pastoral Coordinator
For Parish Priest, Fr Rory Morrissey