Arranging to celebrate the Sacraments
Faith Formation for Children
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a method of teaching young children (ages 3 to 9) about Jesus, using methodology that is age-appropriate. It is provided by trained catechists in the Parish Hall on Sundays, immediately following 10.30am Mass.
Children’s Liturgy is provided at 10.30am Mass on Sunday. Children (aged 4-9) attending Sunday Mass with their families can leave the chuch after the Entrance procession to participate in activities designed to support their learning about the liturgy of that day. They re-join their families after the Intercessory Prayers.
Monthly School Mass Children from St Columbkille’s Primary School are escorted to the church to participate in the 10am Mass, normally on the first Wednesday of each month in term-time.
Faith Formation for Adults
RCIA is the Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults which is a process of instruction for adults who are thinking of joining the Roman Catholic Church. In our parish, meetings are held on specified Tuesday evenings at 6.30pm in the Parish House. Meetings are open to anyone who is interested in the Catholic Faith, including those who have been Baptised but have not yet received the Sacraments of First Holy Communion, Confirmation or Reconciliation.
This group has been established to provide young adults with opportunities to explore various aspects of the Catholic faith – Church teaching, history and culture – as well as to socialise. Expert speakers are invited to provide input to 6-week programmes. Trips have been organised to plaxces of pilgrimage.
Throughout the year we try to provide various opportunities for adult parishioners to deepen their understanding of their faith. These have included talks on aspects of Scripture and the Revision of the Lectionary. Small Faith Sharing groups have used materials issued by the Diocese to encourage prayer and reflection on scripture. We have offered the ALPHA course which is mainly aimed at adults who may not have been engaged with their faith for a long time. We have also offered some elements from SYCAMORE, a course designed by Fr Stephen Wang, to explain various aspects of the Catholic faith to adults who wish to deepen their understanding.
Commentaries on Sunday Mass Scriptures
The sacramentality of the word can thus be understood by analogy with the real presence of Christ under the appearance of the consecrated bread and wine. By approaching the altar and partaking in the Eucharistic banquet, we truly share in the body and blood of Christ. The proclamation of God's word at the celebration entails an acknowledgement that Christ himself is present, that he speaks to us, and that he wishes to be heard.
To assist parishioners in reflecting upon the Scripture passages read at Mass each Sunday, we provide short commentaries on the Scriptures read at each Sunday Mass
Pillars of Our Faith
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Through our early church fathers, the profession of faith emerged. This “credo” was not a new belief, but because the church was spreading throughout the world, the Bishops wanted to clearly define what Jesus’ followers believed. There were heretics professing that Jesus was not divine or the Trinity did not exist. So at the Council of Nicaea they began to formulate the Nicene Creed, the statement of beliefs we still proclaim today. Central to Christianity is belief in the Trinity and Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life. We believe in the Incarnation, the Passion, Cross and Resurrection, Ascension and Second Coming.
HOW WE CELEBRATE OUR FAITH
We celebrate the Christian mystery in the Liturgy and the Sacraments. Through the Sacraments the Holy Spirit makes available to us the mysteries of God’s revelation in Christ. The saving gifts of Christ’s ministry are encountered in the Liturgy and are available to us. This is evident in the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist), the Sacraments of Healing (Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick), and the Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Marriage and Holy Orders). Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier.
HOW WE LIVE OUR FAITH
Our Catholic faith draws forth a vocation to life in the Spirit. That life is grounded in the dignity of the human person, made in the image of God. It is also grounded in the communal character of the human vocation. Christ calls us to a life of 'beatitude' - holiness and happiness. We are able to achieve this life with the help of God's law (his commandments) and with his grace. Right conduct, freely chosen, fulfils the two commandments of charity - love of God and of neighbour.
HOW WE SHOULD PRAY
The prayer life of believers is intrinsically linked to the prayer life of the Church herself. So, vocal prayer, meditation and contemplation, and the types of prayer – adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise are provided in the rich treasury of Church teaching. The 'Our Father' - the Lord’s Prayer - was given to us by Jesus to express the sum of all the good things which we must hope for and which our heavenly Father wants to grant us.