Sacraments & Rites - Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church

Preparing for the Sacraments

The sacraments are signs and means by which faith is expressed and strengthened, worship is offered to God and our sanctification is brought about.
They were instituted by Christ the Lord and entrusted to the Church. Cf. Can 840.

Sacrament of Initiation
Baptism Registration If you wish to have your child baptized, you must be registered in the parish. If you live outside the parish boundaries, you should approach your local Catholic church to request baptism, as that is where you will be connected as a family. Application for baptism If you are registered in the parish of Our Lady of Fatima, please contact the parish secretary to arrange to meet with the parish priest. Learn more Eucharist Children who have already made their First Confession, prepare for First Communion in Grade 4. Older children who have made their First Confession and wish to prepare for First Holy Communion also join in the Grade 4 class. Children must attend catechism sessions regularly and attend Mass every Sunday in order to be properly prepared to receive the Eucharist for the first time. Non-Catholics who wish to receive the Eucharist must join the RCIA process. Click here Confirmation The Life Teen programme, from Grade 8 to Grade 11, covers our Catholic faith systematically and comprehensively. It leads our teens into an ever deeper relationship with Christ and helps to strengthen bonds of Christian friendship among them. The whole four-year programme forms an integral part of our Confirmation preparation programme. Those who skip out part of the programme will not be adequately prepared for Confirmation in Grade 12. They will have to join the RCIA programme in matric or when they have left school. For further information click here

Sacrament of Initiation

Baptism

Registration
If you wish to have your child baptized, you must be registered in the parish. If you live outside the parish boundaries, you should approach your local Catholic church to request baptism, as that is where you will be connected as a family.

Application for baptism
If you are registered in the parish of Our Lady of Fatima, please contact the parish secretary to arrange to meet with the parish priest.

Learn more

Eucharist

Children who have already made their First Confession, prepare for First Communion in Grade 4. Older children who have made their First Confession and wish to prepare for First Holy Communion also join in the Grade 4 class.

Children must attend catechism sessions regularly and attend Mass every Sunday in order to be properly prepared to receive the Eucharist for the first time.

Non-Catholics who wish to receive the Eucharist must join the RCIA process. Click here

Confirmation

The Life Teen programme, from Grade 8 to Grade 11, covers our Catholic faith systematically and comprehensively. It leads our teens into an ever deeper relationship with Christ and helps to strengthen bonds of Christian friendship among them. The whole four-year programme forms an integral part of our Confirmation preparation programme. Those who skip out part of the programme will not be adequately prepared for Confirmation in Grade 12. They will have to join the RCIA programme in matric or when they have left school. For further information click here

Sacrament of Healing
Penance and Reconciliation The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated at 11.00a.m. and 4.30p.m. on Saturdays, with occasional exceptions, for example if the parish priest is away. Exceptions will be highlighted in the bulletin. The parish priest is also available to hear Confessions at other times, by arrangement. Children prepare for First Confession in Grade 3. Older children, who have not made their First Confession, also join that class. Anointing of the sick Who should receive the sacrament? A parishioner who is seriously ill or who is to have a serious operation ought to receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. He or she, or a relative or friend, should contact the parish office to arrange for the parish priest to visit and offer anointing. Learn more

Sacrament of Healing

Penance and Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated at 11.00a.m. and 4.30p.m. on Saturdays, with occasional exceptions, for example if the parish priest is away. Exceptions will be highlighted in the bulletin. The parish priest is also available to hear Confessions at other times, by arrangement.

Children prepare for First Confession in Grade 3. Older children, who have not made their First Confession, also join that class.

Anointing of the sick

Who should receive the sacrament?
A parishioner who is seriously ill or who is to have a serious operation ought to receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. He or she, or a relative or friend, should contact the parish office to arrange for the parish priest to visit and offer anointing.

Learn more

Sacrament of Service
Marriage Marriage is the Sacrament which binds one man and one woman together in a covenant under God and His Church. It is a Sacrament of vocation, a response to a specific calling that God has placed in the hearts of a couple. It is a bond that lasts for life which is permanent, faithful, and fruitful. Marriage is not just about two people, but is the foundation of the family, the "domestic church," the most basic and foundational structure, not only for the Church, but for all of society. Learn more Holy Orders Orders The sacrament of holy Orders comprises three degrees: the episcopate (bishop), the priesthood and diaconate. A man who thinks he may be called to serve God as a priest or deacon should contact the parish priest. Religious life A woman who thinks she may be called to serve God as a nun or sister in Religious Life could contact the parish priest who will be able to introduce her to some of the many religious Orders and Congregations. She may wish to contact the Dominican Sisters of Newcastle in the convent adjacent to the parish. Phone 031 564 4366. Visit: https://www.dominicansisters.co.uk/

Sacrament of Service

Marriage

Marriage is the Sacrament which binds one man and one woman together in a covenant under God and His Church. It is a Sacrament of vocation, a response to a specific calling that God has placed in the hearts of a couple. It is a bond that lasts for life which is permanent, faithful, and fruitful. Marriage is not just about two people, but is the foundation of the family, the "domestic church," the most basic and foundational structure, not only for the Church, but for all of society.

Learn more

Holy Orders

Orders
The sacrament of holy Orders comprises three degrees: the episcopate (bishop), the priesthood and diaconate. A man who thinks he may be called to serve God as a priest or deacon should contact the parish priest.

Religious life
A woman who thinks she may be called to serve God as a nun or sister in Religious Life could contact the parish priest who will be able to introduce her to some of the many religious Orders and Congregations.

She may wish to contact the Dominican Sisters of Newcastle in the convent adjacent to the parish. Phone 031 564 4366. Visit: https://www.dominicansisters.co.uk/