With you always

Once again, any thanks to all who came along to the two sessions last week. Our theme was ‘ reconciliation’ and the children, and families and indeed the whole parish community are invited to come along on the Monday or Wednesday of this coming week when the children make their First Confessions – and the rest of us make our Nth confession!

Including the Reconciliation services this coming week, that will make four meetings at which the children and their families have looked at different aspects of Baptism, done a Treasure Hunt in the churches, and reflected on Belonging and Reconciliation. In the New Year we look at Holy Communion and Confirmation in preparation for the Celebration of these Sacraments in May of next year.

 

 

With Your Always Update

The next sessions are this coming Monday (12^th) at Onchan 6.30 – 7.30pm and again Douglas (in Saint Mary’s School) 6.30 – 7.30pm. Following the principles of Family Catechesis, the sessions will be for the children and their parents.

We have received some questions regarding the timing and dates of the Masses at which the children will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. As in year past there will be choice of two masses

7.00 pm on Friday 10^th May at Saint Anthony in Onchan

OR

1.00 pm on Saturday 11^th May at Saint Mary of the Isle, Douglas.

As regards what the children will wear for these Masses, the Catechists and Priests suggest that we go for something which is relatively simple and yet dignified;

For the girls: a simple white dress, the sort that can be worn again in other circumstances and which avoids ostentation.

For the boys: school trousers, white shirt and red tie.

 

With you always

November sessions are held on Monday 12^th at Onchan and Wednesday 14^th at Saint Mary’s School, Douglas both evenings from 6.30 until 7.30 pm.

Meanwhile, families are asked to continue the theme of the last session which was ‘Making the Sign of the Cross’ – as a family make a particular point of making the sign of the cross when the family prays together (ie at the grace before and after meals) and indeed when your child goes to bed at night, make the sign of the cross on his/her forehead. In this way they become more familiar with this most fundamental part of our praying lives.

It has become clear that there are  still children who, having already made their First Holy Communion, did not for various reasons receive the Sacrament of Confirmation last year. As the materials provided for us by the Archdiocese in the ‘With You Always’ Programme are intended for children of 8 years of age and who are to receive both Confirmation and Holy Communion. It does not seem fair to expect these older children to join in with the younger. Therefore there will be separate sessions later in the year/early next year, for any child over eight years who is still to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Further details will be posted here in the Parish Bulletin. However the principles of ‘Family catechesis‘ will apply – ie it will not just be the young people invited to share these sessions, but mums, dads, grandparents as well.

 

Don’t forget

Registration Forms: Parents/guardians of children aged eight years (School year 4) attending local schools please pick up a Registration Form from Saint Mary’s Presbytery, Hill Street, Douglas (telephone 675509). Return these completed forms to the Presbytery by Monday, October 1^st

 

Family Catechesis - the celebration of Confirmation and First Holy Communion for our children

As you are aware, this year sees the launch of a new sacramental programme in the Archdiocese entitles ‘With your Always’. This of course is the promise of the Lord Jesus to his Church as recorded at the end of Saint Matthew’s Gospel

“I am with you at all times, even to the end of the ages”

Confident that the Lord is faithful to his promise, the Church celebrates His presence through prayer and the Sacraments.

The vision of ‘Family catechesis’ is that it is not only the duty but also the privilege of parents in the parishes to help prepare the next generation for the worthy celebration of the Sacraments. Therefore we invite the Parents/Guardians to also be part of this process by coming along to all the Preparation sessions together with your children, so that as a Family you can prepare for the Sacraments.

The catechists and Clergy will be there to help structure the Sessions, to provide the material which is to be looked at – and to attempt to answer any questions that families might have.

Registration Forms: We invite all parents/guardians of children aged eight years (School year 4 ) attending local schools to please pick up a Registration Form from Saint Mary’s Presbytery, Hill Street, Douglas (telephone 675509). Please return these completed forms to the Presbytery by Monday, October 1^st

Children of Year 4 who attend Saint Mary’s School will automatically be enrolled for these Preparation Sessions, and further information will be sent out to all families in the next days.

Structure of the Preparation Sessions: There will be seven one hour Sessions, spread through the months from October to April. Each session will be held of an evening, from 6.30 to 7.30 pm, but you have a choice of two venues;

Saint Anthony, Onchan on a Monday evening

OR
Saint Mary’s School, Douglas on a Wednesday evening.

Preparation will be for the Sacrament of Confession, which will be celebrated in Advent and Confirmation and Holy Communion (Both Sacraments will be celebrated in the One Mass) which will be celebrated in May.

 
Naturally you need to attend only one venue; we will ask you to state your preference on the Registration Form.

Parents’…. will be the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith. May they also be the best teachers bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do”

Rite of Baptism

These sessions are not only for the Children. Parents/guardians are asked to be an active part of the process and to take part in all the Sessions. This differs from years past, when parents often dropped-off the children and then collected them later in the evening. This is not the intention from this year forward.