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

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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: Fax: Door of