Dear Parents and Carers,

We welcome children and their families to our program for the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

• Year 3 St Columba's students
• External candidates undertaking their preparation at another school
• Children participating in the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP)

St Columba's students will be prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of our Religious Education curriculum. Content covers:

• People have the gift of conscience
• God shows love and mercy
• People follow God's rules to live in peace
• Catholics celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation people are invited to be peacemakers

We look forward to sharing this important faith journey with you.

Allen McMahon

Principal

• Year 3 Teachers - Mrs Poole / Mrs McFarland and Miss Mercer
• Assistant Principal - Jesse Yock
• Catechist Coordinator - Helen Sisto

• All children receiving the Sacraments must attend the Enrolment Mass with a parent.

• Sacramental enrolment forms are handed into classroom teachers no later than one week before the Enrolment Mass.
• PREP children and external candidates hand the Enrolment Mass forms into the Catechist Coordinator.

• One parent from each family to attend.

• Runs for approximately one hour.

• At the Church.

• Facilitated by 24:7 Ministry.
• Held in St Columba's Kalyara Mia (undercover area) within school hours from 9 am to 3 pm.
• PREP children and external candidates to be dropped off and picked up at St Columba's front office.
• Children wear sports uniform, including hat.
• Bring morning tea, lunch and drink bottle.

• Families arrive at their allocated session time (10am, 10.15am, 10.30am or 10.45am).
• These sessions are allocated at the parent information evening.

• Reflects the importance of the ceremony and should not take away from its meaning.

• Smart casual is appropriate.

• Photos and videos are prohibited during the service, as this takes away from the significance of the ceremony.
  

• Families are welcome to take their own photos before and afterwards.

• Students sit quietly at the back on the left side of the church.
• Families sit quietly on the right side of the church.

• Students arrive during their allocated time and sit quietly until they are advised it is their turn.

• Students are given a card of assistance to help with the process of what to do and say to receive the Sacrament.

• One at a time, children are advised by the teacher to go to the Priest by themselves to receive Reconciliation.

• After time with the Priest, each child goes to a part of the church to say their prayers.

• Students collect their certificate from the back of the church.

• Families can then leave with their child.

• These certificates are valuable documents. Please keep them in a safe place as the school cannot re-print copies.