Celebrating the Sacraments

There are seven sacraments which are:
1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Holy Eucharist (Communion)
4. Reconciliation (Penance)
5. Anointing the Sick
6. Holy Orders
7. Marriage

Baptism

Through Baptism, God our Father brings a baby, child or adult into his royal family, adopting the person as his own beloved daughter or son. We become the brother or sister of Jesus Christ, and of our fellow Christians. Baptism is very much a family affair, a special day both for the child’s family and for the family of the Church, and it needs careful preparation. Baptism preparation at St Augustine’s involves three sessions which take place every other month on Tuesday evenings from 8.00 - 9.30 in the Meeting Room. At St Augustine’s we regard these baptism evenings as essential before a baptism can take place. There are leaflets entitled Your Baby’s Baptism at St Augustine’s in the church porch. Contact Jean Dunne, who will send you a baptism preparation pack, enrol you for the preparation sessions, and arrange a date for the baptism itself. The deacon or priest appointed to celebrate the baptism will visit you at home to make any arrangements.

You may have either one or two godparents, each of whom must be a confirmed, practising Catholic. You may also have non-Catholic Christians as witnesses to the Baptism.
Every Baptism involves the Church, and the whole parish community should be involved as fully as possible. The best time for Baptism, therefore, is at Mass on Sunday, in the presence of the parish community gathered for worship. At St Augustine’s, we strongly encourage Baptism during Sunday Mass. If for some reason you prefer not to have your baby’s Baptism at Mass, it can take place at a service on Saturdays at 12 noon or Sundays at 12.45 p.m. to which parishioners are also invited. There can be no such thing as a private Baptism: that would contradict the whole meaning of Baptism. If your baby is not baptised during Mass, we would like publicly to welcome your child into our parish community at Mass the following Sunday or soon afterwards.
If you are a couple or individual expecting a baby, you are warmly invited to ask for a blessing for your unborn child and yourselves.

First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion is a wonderful moment in the life of any Catholic child and his or her family. The Catholic Church stresses today that preparation for First Reconciliation (Confession) and Holy Communion should be a partnership between parents, parish and school, with parents playing the primary role. At St Augustine’s, First Reconciliation and First Communion is made in Year 3 (in the school year in which a child reaches the age of 8), and the preparation programme goes on from November until June each year. For children at St Augustine’s School, teaching takes place at the school. For all others, it takes place on Saturdays in the church Meeting Room from 3.00-4.00 p.m. Whatever support is given by teachers and catechists, parents have a key and vital role in preparing their children for these sacraments - by their own teaching of their children, and by the example and witness they give, especially by their own regular participation in the Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

There are three basic elements to our parish preparation. Firstly, your child’s preparation - by yourselves, supported by catechists. Secondly, your own ongoing education as Christian parents: five sessions are provided over the year for parents as an opportunity to explore and deepen your own faith and understanding of the sacraments. Thirdly, the liturgical celebrations, leading up to First Holy Communion.
Your child will make his or her First Communion on one weekend at one of the following Masses: Saturday 3 pm Sunday 11.15 am or 3 pm. in the Summer. The final celebration is the Solemn Communion Mass, when all First Communion children sit together and are presented with their certificates.
In September of each year, a special leaflet is produced for the parents of children beginning Year 3 at Primary School. This includes a registration form and a diary of all the dates for the following year’s programme.

Confirmation

In our parish, Confirmation preparation is begun in Year 10, the year in which you reach the age of 15 (the old Fourth Form). Confirmation is the sacrament by which the Risen Jesus, through the power of his Holy Spirit, commissions you to be a public witness to him before others, as an active member of his Church. It is important that the young people themselves are happy with taking this step, and prepared to take on the responsibilities involved. Our Confirmation programme (which includes plenty of fun as well as the serious stuff!) is on Friday evenings from 7.00-8.30, from January until the Confirmation by the Bishop in June/July. This is a big commitment, and a sign of the deeper commitment to all that receiving the sacrament involves. The programme includes a weekend away together after Easter. Young people will be invited to register for the programme in October, and there is an opening session for candidates and their parents before Christmas. After Easter, there is a special Confirmation Inscription Mass at which the young people make a formal decision to be confirmed. The Confirmation Mass itself is followed by a celebration, and then you will be asked to commit yourself to some form of active service in the parish.

Marriage

There is a special blessing for engaged couples. We will be very happy to arrange for this blessing either at Mass or less publicly.

At least six months notice of a marriage is normally required, so please do get in touch with one of the priests or deacons here at St Augustine’s as soon as possible once you decide to get married. Please see someone here before you make any other arrangements. Generally speaking, you can get married at St Augustine’s only if one or other of you lives in the parish. A Catholic is required to get married in a Catholic Church for it to be a proper marriage, unless permission is given by the bishop.
Marriage is a huge step and a great calling, and it is important that you prepare for it as fully as possible. Once you have made your initial contact with a priest or deacon here, you will have at least four sessions with him as a couple to explore the meaning of Christian marriage. This is essential, and at St Augustine’s we also require you to take part in a Marriage Preparation Day along with other engaged couples. There is a special leaflet in the church porch entitled "Your Wedding at St. Augustine's". Read this carefully, and then come to see one of the priests or deacons. As a parish community, we will want to share your joy and give you all the support we can. The priests and deacons will help you in any way we can to make your preparation for your wedding, the celebration itself, and your married life afterwards as happy and blessed as possible. Congratulations if you have just decided to get married.

Am I being called to be a Priest or a Deacon?

In the midst of the Church, the Risen Jesus calls some men to be sacramental signs of his own living presence as our Shepherd and Leader, our Teacher and High Priest. The ordained ministry is vital to the life of the Church, and our faith is that Jesus continues to call people to service as priests and deacons. If you are a boy or unmarried man, could it be that you are being called to be a priest of Jesus Christ in his Church? Priestly ministry involves sacrifice and life-long commitment, but there is tremendous joy and fulfilment to be found in serving the people of God in the name of our Lord. Come and talk to one of our priests. For more information on the priestly ministry, click www.ukpriest.org . For a look at the web site of St John's Seminary, Wonersh, the seminary for our local diocese, click www.wonersh.org/ .