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Sacraments of Healing | St. Margaret of Scotland R.C. Church
Sacrament of Reconciliation – March 2024 
 
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is scheduled to take place in March 2024.
To prepare for this sacrament, classes will be held in The Meeting Place every Wednesday at 4:00 pm, starting from January 31st, 2024.
 
Before receiving the Sacrament, children are required to attend up to 10 preparation classes, each lasting 45 minutes.
 
To register please email Donvale@cam.org.au
 
Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most unique and beautiful aspects of Catholicism. Jesus Christ, in His abundant love and mercy, established the Sacrament of Confession, so that we as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church.  The sacrament “washes us clean,” and renews us in Christ.  Pope Francis said: “To receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation means being wrapped in a warm embrace”.
 
 
First Holy Communion
The word ‘communion’ means to be united with. In Holy Communion we are united in a special way with Jesus Christ.  At His last supper, Jesus said of the bread that he shared among His followers, “Take and eat, this is my body.”  When we receive Holy Communion, we are sharing in the body and blood of Christ.  Holy Communion and the whole celebration is also known as Eucharist, from a Greek word meaning thanksgiving.
 
 
Confirmation
The Sacrament of  Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church (together with Baptism and Holy Communion).  This special anointing, given by the Bishop or Priest, has the effect of increasing, deepening, and strengthening the sanctifying grace of God given to us at our Baptism. While Baptism removes from our souls the stain of original sin, Confirmation pours into our souls the power of the Holy Spirit and his seven gifts – just like the Apostles received at Pentecost. Confirmation is therefore the sacrament most closely identified with the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
 
At Our Lady of the Pines Parish we offer a Sacramental Programme for children who attend Government and other non-Catholic schools and who wish to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
 
(For children who attend OLOP Primary School, this programme is conducted through the school).
 
Lessons are held once a week after school and are 45 minutes long.  The programme runs for a period of approximately 10 weeks per sacrament and is conducted by our Catechist, Mrs Trish Gurney.
 
Although this programme is run by the parish, it is still very much a partnership with the children’s families.  With the support of the parish, families will be encouraged to actively participate in some aspects of the preparation, including attending Mass, and will be given tools to nurture their own and their child’s faith.  
 
When registrations open for each Sacrament it will be advertised in our newsletter and on this website.
 
The requirements for making each of the sacraments is as follows:  
 
First Reconciliation:
  • must be a baptised Catholic
  • must be in Grade 3 or above.
 
First Holy Communion:
  • must be a baptised Catholic
  • must have made the Sacrament of Reconciliation
  • must be in Grade 4 or above.
 
Confirmation:
  • must be a baptised Catholic
  • must have made the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
  • must be in Grade 6 or above.