Enrol your child/children

Please submit the form(s) below by the following dates:

Confirmation: 8 May

First Communion: 17 July 1 July

First Reconciliation: 9 October

This form allows for only one child to be enrolled at a time.

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Letter from Fr Greg Morgan

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9th February 2022 

Dear Parishioners, Parents, & Guardians, 

Warmest greetings and blessings to you all! Despite the obvious adversities and inconveniences catalysed by the pandemic, I very much hope you and your families enjoyed a rejuvenating rest during the recent vacation. Welcome back to another academic year. To those of you whom I have not yet had the pleasure to meet in person, my name is Fr Greg Morgan. At the end of July,2021, I was appointed the fifth parish priest of St Catherine Labouré Catholic Church, Gymea. 

I write to thank you for choosing to enrol your children in Catholic Scripture. It is an honour and a privilege to be able to bring Catholic Scripture to your children, and I know our teachers are very excited to the classroom, please God, in the near future. However, at the present moment, we are unsure when exactly this might be. Therefore, I would like to advise you, the parents and guardians, of the dates of the Sacraments for 2022. 

To clarify. 

If your child is in Year 2 or older and they have been baptised in the Catholic Church, then they are eligible to make the Sacrament of 1st Reconciliation (Confession) 

If your child is in Year 3 or older and has been baptised in the catholic Church and has also received the Sacrament of Reconciliation(Confession), then they are eligible to make the Sacrament of 1st Holy Communion. 

If your child is in Year 6 or older and has been baptised in the Catholic Church, as well as received Reconciliation and 1st Holy Communion, then they are eligible to make the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

Sacramental Information Evening 
An Information Evening will be held on Tuesday 15th March at 7pm in the Church of St Catherine Laboure Gymea (123 Gymea Bay Road Gymea). This meeting will give you specifics regarding enrolments, and also to give you the chance to raise any concerns or questions, I don’t anticipate this to go longer than 30-40 minutes. 

St Catherine Laboure has a New Sacramental Program for 2022 
The new “Parish Based” Sacramental Program offers formation both to the children and to the parents. At least one parent/guardian (but ideally both) is expected to attend. On two or three occasions, parents will be given formation in a separate venue to the children. The children will be supervised by several catechists. It is expected that children and parent(s) will attend all the relevant sessions. If you are unable to do so, then I would ask that you consider delaying the reception of the relevant Sacrament to the following year. The details for this year are as follows: 

Year Six (Confirmation): 
Compulsory preparation classes will take place over four consecutive Sundays: Sunday 15th May: 3:45pm-4:45pm (Parents and children together); Sunday 22nd May: 3:45pm-4:45pm (Parents and children separate); Sunday 29th May: 3:45pm-4:45pm (Parents and children separate); Sunday 5th June: 3:45pm-4:45pm (Parents and children separate) 

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated by Bishop Richard Umbers, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney, on the 11th June at 11am and 2:30pm. 

Year Three or Older (First Communion):
Compulsory preparation classes will take place over four consecutive Sundays: Sunday 24th July: 3:45pm-4:45pm (Parents and children together); Sunday 31st July: 3:45pm-4:45pm (Parents and children separate); Sunday 7th August: 3:45pm-4:45pm (Parents and children separate); Sunday 14th August: 3:45pm-4:45pm (Parents and children separate) 

The reception of First Holy Communion will take place on: 20th/21st August — 5pm Vigil, 7:30am, 9:30am, 5pm; 27th/28th August — 5pm Vigil, 7:30am, 9:30am, 5pm 

Year Two or Older (First Reconciliation)
Compulsory preparation classes will take place over two consecutive Sundays: Sunday 16th October: 4:00pm-4:45pm (Parents and children together); Sunday 23rd October: 4:00pm-4:45pm (Parents and children separate) 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will then be offered on Thursday 27th October at 4pm and 6pm. 

Attendance at Mass 
A final word on attendance at Mass. I certainly appreciate that many of our families are distant from the regular practice of their faith. There are, undoubtedly, many reasons for this. The most important thing I want to reiterate is that you should always feel welcome and at home in this Parish; irrespective of where you might be in your journey of faith. The doors are always open to you and your families. Furthermore, I also want to reiterate that you should feel absolutely free to approach me about everything and anything. All this notwithstanding, I would still like to challenge you to consider committing to the more regular reception of the Sacraments. Like any relationship, unless we dedicate time and effort to it, the relationship will inevitably die to inanity. This to me, especially as a priest, is a sad thought — that so many people go through life without knowing the hope, the joy, and the love that is communicated through our Catholic faith. I have often found – particularly when working as a hospital chaplain – that it is only in the last minutes of one’s life that the priorities are rearranged and faith, finally, becomes a priority. 

Always feel free to email me on the details below or to ring the parish office if you would ever like to chat about anything and everything. Once again, be assured of my love and prayers for you all. I do hope to see each and every one of you at Mass soon. Please see our website and Facebook page for details.

gregory.morgan1987@sydneycatholic.org