God is Love Derry Diocesan Pastoral Plan Sacramental Preparation “Let Everything you do be done in Love” (1Cor 16:14) Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre

God is Love Derry Diocesan Pastoral Plan Pastoral Theme 1.0 Build Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Strategic Objective: Increase the number of people participating in the sacraments and encourage more people to play an active role in the life of the parish Parish Tasks 1.2.1 Use the parish survey to reshape parish activities and build community. (tbc by July 2019) 1.2.2 Implement reshaped parish activities and carry out planned activities to build parish (tbc July 2019)

God is Love Derry Diocesan Pastoral Plan Pastoral Theme 2.0: Be Disciples of Jesus Christ, Growing in Faith Together Strategic Objective 2.1: Encourage a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and practices Parish Tasks 2.1.1 Offer educational programmes designed to enable those with faith to grow their commitment to God, and to deepen their knowledge through prayer and the sacraments-especially through the weekly celebration of Sunday Mass (ongoing from April 2019) 2.1.2 Put in place a plan to deliver parish-based or Inter-parish ministry to: -parents of children for Baptism; -children and families preparing for First Penance, First Communion and Confirmation (ongoing from June 2018)

Parish Sacramental Preparation Sacramental Preparation Talks-Parish/School/Home Parish Based Programmes for Sacramental Preparation Do This in Memory-First Eucharist God’s Confidence-Confirmation Programme Retreats Sacramental Preparation-Special Circumstances Sacramental Preparation of Adults- the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Sacramental Preparation Talks-Parish/School/Home Format: Talk for both sacraments; Talk for single sacrament Facilitated By: Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre Personnel and Derry Youth Community Talk for parents-Prayer, Reflection, Explanation of the Sacraments, Connecting the sacraments to life, Parent Booklet with prayer and activities for families to share at home Talk for parents(as above) with workshop for children facilitated by the Derry Youth Community & Volunteers

Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre Sacramental Preparation Resources Children’s Workbooks (with teaching notes) Shalom-First Penance Celebrate-First Eucharist Filled With Joy-Confirmation Parent Books Celebrate-First Penance/First Eucharist *** An Irish translation of all the above is available on request

Do This in Memory-First Communion Preparation The programme is designed to facilitate the involvement of parents and the wider parish community in the preparation for First Eucharist The Coordinator’s Manual includes: • Liturgical guidelines for each Sunday of the programme • Homily notes • Text of Sunday readings • Communion reflections • Liturgical guidelines for the celebration of First Eucharist • PowerPoint presentation/notes for the initial parent meeting Grapevine Leaflet for Parents THUMB Book for Children ***Training for Teams Provided by Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre Personnel

God’s Confidence-Post Confirmation Programme Living the Sacrament of Confirmation Programme Foundation: “to enable young people to live life knowing that God has great confidence in them, to be the presence of his Son Jesus Christ in the world” Programme Writers: Ms Gerardine Doherty Miss Thérèse Ferry Rev Paul Farren Rev John Mc Devitt Programme Content An opening and closing liturgy; Four sessions facilitated by trained personnel; Family Prayer; Community Prayer Main Elements of Programme: Prayer; Fasting; Almsgiving; Mission ***Training for Teams Provided by Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre Personnel

Sacramental Preparation Retreats Facilitated by Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre Parish Retreat days for children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation Individual/Group work; Ice breakers; Morning Prayer; A faith based quiz; Meditation; Scripture Reflection; Journaling;the stories of Jesus; Prayer through Movement; Eucharist; Closing Liturgy; Praying in Colour; Prayer through Art Days of Reflection for parish personnel involved in Sacramental Preparation

Parish Sacramental Preparation in Special Circumstances Child for Baptism, Eucharist or Confirmation at an age different from diocesan/parish norm Children not attending Catholic School Family coming together to receive sacraments Adults receiving sacraments which they have missed through various reasons ***Training for Parish Personnel facilitated by Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre Personnel Responding to inquiries Outline of Programme Format of sessions Planning for Reception of sacraments Sensitive issues

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults The rite of Christian initiation is for unbaptised ‘adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts. By God’s help they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and at the proper time will receive the sacraments fruitfully’. (RCIA 1) It is also for the…. Reception of baptised Christians into the full communion of the Catholic Church Preparation of uncatechised adults for Confirmation and Eucharist Christian initiation of children who have reached catechetical age

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Formation Not Information The process of initiation is more than just preparing for the sacraments It involves the whole community in welcoming the candidate and journeying with them ***Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre Personnel will facilitate training of Parish RCIA Teams and provide ongoing support as they develop this process

Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre Contact Details Director: Rev Paul Farren Advisor in Primary RE: Thérèse Ferry Advisor in Post Primary RE: Mary O’Boyle Diocesan Pastoral Youth Leader: Yvonne Rooney Diocesan Youth Coordinator: Pádraig Delargy Secretary: Anne Marie Hickey Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre The Gate Lodge, 2 Francis Street, Derry, BT48 7DS Tel: +4428 71 264087 Fax: +4428 71 269090 Email ddcc@derrydiocese.org www.catecheticalcentre.org www.jp2award.com Door of Faith@derrydiocese