FIRST HOLY COMMUNION Celebration 2023
CONFIRMATION Celebration 2023
FAQS
TIMETABLE Confirmation Celebration 2023
TIMETABLE First Holy Communion Celebrations 2023
TIMETABLE First Holy RECONCILIATION 2023
Confirmation: Service of Light 2022 Timetable
Service of Light is a beautiful ceremony of passing on the flame of faith from parents to children.
For times and dates of the celebration this year, please check here.
Who can attend the celebration of First Holy Communion
At the information meetings, Parents and Guardians were presented with an explanation of the resources available to celebrate the sacrament.
Based on that information, present families were asked to choose between two available options:
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OPTION A: the child receiving the sacrament + parents/guardians
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OPTION B: the child receiving the sacrament + 4 people
Parents across both meetings voted for the OPTION B:
the child receiving the sacrament + 4 people
FAQs to OPTION B: the child receiving the sacrament + 4 people
Can I invite eight people if I have twins?
This year, we have conducted registration per family, so if you present one or two children for the sacrament of First Holy Communion, you still choose four people to attend the celebration.
Who can attend the celebration of Confirmation?
At the initial information meetings, Parents and Guardians were presented with an explanation of the resources available to celebrate the sacrament.
Considering the capacity of our church, we are asking for each candidate to be accompanied by parents and the sponsor only for the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation.
What if I can’t make it to the enrolment mass?
We are preparing our enrolment masses with lots of care and hoping that you and your child will be able to make the experience.
We have two enrolment masses. Please check if you can make it to any of them.
You are welcome to attend whichever mass suits you, even if your child’s school is listed for the other celebration—no need to liaise with us on that.
What if I can’t make it all?
The experience is lost. We’re sorry if you miss it. We are wholeheartedly looking forward to you joining another Family Mass in the future.
I want my child to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion in 2023.
How do I organize this?
Presenting your child for baptism opened their faith journey. Your child has grown since you brought them to the Church for the first time,
and now, together, you are about to take another step in the faith journey.
The sacrament of First Holy Reconciliation and First Holy Communion mark the next stages of that journey.
The celebration of those sacraments takes place annually.
First Holy Reconciliation is celebrated during the season of Lent, and First Holy Communion is celebrated during the season of Easter (April/May).
A preparation programme involving parents and children, the parish community, and the schools
takes place throughout the school year before a child receives the sacraments.
Parents and guardians need to register their children with the Pastoral Area
for the preparation programme and the celebration of First Holy Communion.
Registration for First Holy Communion in 2023 is available to all children baptized in the Catholic faith.
Registration starts on Thursday, 8th of September 2022 and closes on Monday, 10th of October 2022.
I want my child to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
How do I organize this?
The Sacrament of Confirmation celebrates a child’s growth in faith, as the candidate prepares to take over more responsibility for their spiritual growth.
A preparation programme involving parents and children, the parish community, and the schools takes place throughout the school year before the candidate presents for the sacrament.
Parents and guardians need to register their children with the Pastoral Area
for the preparation programme and the celebration of Confirmation.
Registration for Confirmation in 2023 is available to all children baptized in the Catholic faith.
Registration starts on Thursday, 8th of September 2022 and closes on Monday, 10th of October 2022.
Why do I need to register with the Pastoral Area?
The sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation celebrate important stages in your child’s faith journey.
Families presenting their children for those sacraments are being supported by the local Faith Community.
The Sacramental Team provides you with resources and updates at every stage of your sacramental journey and coordinates the ceremonies.
Registration is necessary for the Sacramental Team to also understand the number of children presenting for the sacraments, and prepare and plan accordingly.
It is important for you to stay in touch with our Sacramental Team.
We are available at sacramentalceremonies@gkpastoralarea.ie
When do I need to register my child for First Holy Communion or Confirmation?
Parents and guardians need to register their children with the Pastoral Area.
Registration starts on Thursday, 8th of September 2022 and closes on Monday, 10th of October 2022.
How do I register my child for First Holy Communion or Confirmation?
The registration form for First Holy Communion and Confirmation in 2023 and the preparation programmes is available on the Pastoral Area website from the 8th of September 2022 till the 10th of October 2022. Details, including a link to the registration form, will be published on the website.
This year we conduct registration per family, so if you register one or more children
for one or both sacraments, you complete only one registration form.
Registration starts on Thursday, 8th of September 2022 and closes on Monday, 10th of October 2022.
What are the dates for First Holy Communion and Confirmation in 2023?
First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies are celebrated during the season of Easter (May). The dates for 2023 will not be finalized until the end of the year.
Once available, details regarding the dates will be emailed from the Sacramental Coordination Team in December 2022 to families registered with the Pastoral Area.
How do we support our child at home when preparing to receive the sacraments?
Parents and guardians as the first and best teachers in developing your child’s faith, you play a significant role in preparing their children for the sacraments, and the Sacramental Team will support parents and guardians in this role. We will provide information meetings, family gatherings, and resources via our webpage and emails.
Please ensure you’re registered with the Pastoral Area if you want to present your child for sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
My child does not attend a Catholic school.
Is there any preparation programme for First Holy Communion/Confirmation?
We will hold gatherings for families whose children do not attend Catholic schools to help them prepare for the sacrament.
Our Sacramental Team works on merging the sacramental preparation with weekly Sunday Mass.
A crucial part of the sacramental journey is placing the Sunday Eucharist in the heart of family preparation.
The details of the preparation programme and gathering dates will be emailed after registration has closed.
Please attend the information meetings in October to get more details.
Also, keep an eye out on your email and this webpage for more information.
I did not receive any emails from the Sacramental Coordination Team yet.
Once you have registered your child/children for the sacraments, you will receive an automated email notification confirming the completed registration and basic details.
Please allow up to 24 hours for this notification to arrive.
If it’s over 24h and you still haven’t heard from the Sacramental Team, please check your spam/junk folder and add our email address to your trust recipients.
If you still do not appear to be receiving our emails, please contact us at sacramentalceremonies@gkpastoralarea.ie
What can I do if I am having difficulty completing the online registration form?
If you are having any technical issues with completing the registration form, please flag it with us before registration closes.
If you are struggling to make the financial contribution in a single payment, please contact us at sacramentalceremonies@gkpastoralarea.ie before registration closes.
My child has not been baptised yet, but I would like them to make their First Holy Communion/Confirmation in 2023
You cannot register this year for the sacraments of First Holy Communion or Confirmation if your child is not baptised.
Please follow our baptismal registration process instead.
We will be delighted to welcome you next year for the continuation of the sacramental journey.
I don’t have a copy of the baptismal certificate.
Can I go ahead with the registration?
If your child was baptised outside the Parishes of Greystones and Kilquade, we will ask you for a copy of their baptismal certificate at the registration. Please contact the Parish where your child was baptised if you do not have the certificate. They will be able to provide you with a copy.
If there are any issues or delays with obtaining this document, please proceed with registration and contact the Sacramental Coordination Team at sacramentalceremonies@gkpastoralarea.ie.
Where can I find more information regarding the sacraments?
For more information regarding First Holy Communion see here.
For more information regarding Confirmation see here.
I’d like to contact the Sacramental Coordination Team.
How do I do this?
If you need to contact the Sacramental Coordination Team, please reach out to Lisa and Natalia at our email address sacramentalceremonies@gkpastoralarea.ie