All Sacramental preparation in St. Margaret Mary's is parish based. The programmes have been written and prepared in the parish to meet our specific situation. The programmes are led by fully trained lay people under the guidance of the Parish Catechetical Co-ordinator.
Baptism
 The
parish Baptism programme is open for children from birth up
to and including reception year and is an ecumenical joint venture
with Holy Spirit Anglican parish, Dovecot. Parents wishing to
register their children for Baptism are required to make an
appointment with the parish catechist. After attendance at a
preparation meeting, parents present their child to the parish
at a weekend Mass of their choosing. For children at Year 1
and Year 2 an individually designed programme of preparation
will be offered. Children at Year 3 or above will be required
to join the Parish based First Communion programme and receive
some supplementary baptism sessions. They will be baptised before
their First Holy Communion. Baptisms take place on Sundays at
1.00 - dates arranged at the Baptism Preparation meeting.
First Communion
 The
parish First Communion programme is open to all children in
Year 3 or above. It runs from October till June each year. The
programme includes meetings, special Masses and a Passover Meal.
The programme, entitled 'Let's Celebrate Jesus', takes
children through the different elements of the Mass by linking
them to a family celebration.
First Reconciliation
 Children
celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation while in Year 5 or
above. The programme, entitled 'Being Hugged by God',
aims to lead the children to an understanding of God's reconciling
love. Through role-play the children are encouraged to develop
appropriate life skills. The programme runs from October to
Easter with individual face-to-face Reconciliation being celebrated
during Lent.
Confirmation
 The
parish Confirmation programme is open to young people in Year
10 or above. Entitled 'It's Confirmed', the programme
looks at what is involved in becoming an adult member of the
church and focuses on what is being confirmed in them through
the Sacrament of Confirmation. The programme runs from September
till the end of November. It includes an optional residential
weekend.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
This is known in the parish as the Journey in Faith. The group starts to meet in September and continues throughout the year. Those adults who desire to become full members of the Roman Catholic Church follow the process and are Baptised (when necessary), Confirmed and make their First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. The process is also open to Roman Catholic adults who have not completed the Sacraments of Initiation (namely First Communion and Confirmation). Those who are already full members of the church are welcome to join the group to learn more about their faith.
Marriage
Preparation courses for those contemplating marriage are obligatory for both partners. The course is offered each year and comprises of two, three hour sessions spread over two weekends, usually in the spring.
Sacrament of the Sick
All known housebound parishioners are offered the sacrament every Christmas and Easter. There is also a further opportunity for those eligible to celebrate the Sacrament at the annual Mass of the Sick. The Sacrament is always available on request to the priest at any hour of the day or night.
If you wish any more information, please email
us.
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