Sacraments
Emmanuel offers a number of Sacraments of Initiation each year. If you or members of your family are ready to begin a journey towards one of the Sacraments below, we would love to support you!
Sacraments are designed to be celebrated within a believing community. If you don’t yet worship regularly with Emmanuel, we’d love to invite you to join us for Sunday Mass or engage with one of our ministries while seeking further information.
Information about each sacrament is outlined below, and updated each year with the latest information and enrolment forms.
Go to: Baptism | Confirmation | First Reconciliation & First Communion | RCIA
To enrol or enquire about any of these Sacraments below, please contact the team at sacraments@ec.org.au or phone (07) 3217 5199.
Baptism (Infants & Children)
Timeframe: Throughout the year
Baptism for infants and children is offered throughout the year. Most families choose to celebrate their child’s baptism during our Sunday Mass, however private celebrations on Saturday or Sunday afternoons may also be able to be arranged.
To enquire about upcoming dates, or for Baptism of older children/adults, please contact Luke Plant at sacraments@ec.org.au or phone (07) 3217 5199.
Confirmation
Timeframe: May-June in 2024
Our Sacramental Preparation begins with an information session for both Parents and Children with full information about dates and expectations, and ways to support your child through this time.
Parent Information Session: Tuesday 23 April, 7:30-8:00pm (Zoom - link available closer to date)
Presentation at Mass: Sunday 5 May, during 10:30am Mass.
Preparation Sessions: Thursdays 9 May til 30 May., 6:30-7:30pm at Emmaus Centre, Ellen Grove.
Sacrament of Confirmation Received: Sunday 9 June during 10:30am Mass
Please also see the information below regarding ages of children.
First Reconciliation & First Communion
Timeframe: July-August in 2024
Our Sacramental Preparation begins with an information session for both Parents and Children with full information about dates and expectations, and ways to support your child through this time.
Parent Information Session: Thursday 20 June, 7:30-8:00pm (Zoom - link available closer to date)
Presentation at Mass: Sunday 14 July, during 10:30am Mass.
Preparation Sessions: Thursdays 11 July til 1 August, 6:30-7:30pm at Emmaus Centre, Ellen Grove.
Retreat and Sacrament of First Reconciliation: Saturday 10 August, time/venue to be announced.
Sacrament of First Communion: Sunday 11 August during 10:30am Mass
See also the information below regarding ages of children.
RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Timeframe: March til May in 2024
The RCIA process guides adults who are seeking to become Catholic, or for baptised Christians seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. RCIA is best understood not as a course to be completed, but a journey of engagement with the Church which includes periods of evangelisation, formation and spiritual preparation.
While Emmanuel offers an annual process as the ‘norm’, each enquiry is approached according to the individual circumstances of the person; this can include their faith journey so far, their engagement with Emmanuel, whether they have been previously baptised, and any personal situations such as marriage.
The usual annual rhythm includes:
Enquiries: Throughout the year
Preparation Sessions: November - February (but March - May in 2024)
Sacraments of Initiation: April (but 26 May in 2024).
During this time, we also encourage you to worship with us and connect with Emmanuel or our ministries if you do not already do so, as engagement with the life of the church is a key part of your preparation and discernment of God’s call for your life.
To enquire about the enrolling in the RCIA process, please contact Luke Plant at sacraments@ec.org.au or phone (07) 3217 5199.
Some things to note regarding ages for the Children’s Sacramental Program
We follow the Brisbane Archdiocesan guidelines for Christian Initiation for Children. These include:
In the year children turn 8 (Grade 3), they may receive the Sacrament of Confirmation
In the year children turn 9 (Grade 4), they make First Communion and, as part of their preparation for this, celebrate their First Reconciliation in the second rite.
In the year children turn 10 (Grade 5), they celebrate the Sacrament of Penance with individual confession and absolution in the first rite.
These ages offer a good guideline, but readiness is about much more than just age so if you feel your child may be ready to begin or continue their Sacramental preparation this year, we’d love to chat with you! Please contact Chantale 0421 310 069 / chantale@ec.org.au.