The Sacraments are an opportunity to encounter Jesus in our lives and to develop our relationship with God. The Sacraments are signs that point to something more, they are a visible sign of inward grace that also help us in becoming more aware of all the goodness in our lives.
At the heart of all is the belief that God loves us all without any action on our part, a free gift from God that we call Grace! God’s grace is experienced in many different ways, the Catholic Church believes the Sacraments are one very special way to experience God’s presence.
Here at St Dominic’s the sacraments are lived long before they are celebrated; we see it in the way our community interact with one another and the involvement of all in the life of our College. The Sacraments help us to build and express our Catholic faith.
At St Dominic’s our programme covers the three Sacraments of Initiation; Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion (the Eucharist).
Baptism:
Welcomes us into a family of people who believe in living as Jesus did. This family is all around the world, welcoming others. In Baptism we acknowledge the gift of the Holy Spirit in each of us. It is a gift given to us from God that guides, supports, strengthens and forms us into people that are able to live joyful lives full of love.
Confirmation:
Asks us to consciously nurture the gifts we have and use them for others. We are asked to serve those around us and are guided in our actions by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. (The fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5:22-23)
Eucharist or First Holy Communion:
Is a regular event that nourishes us to continue our personal growth and live in community. It is a time of gathering with others and acknowledging that none of us is perfect, but we are perfectly created. It is a time when we acknowledge the sacrifice that Jesus gave his life for us, while at the same time we gather around a table, like the first apostles, and commit our lives to Jesus.
Our College Sacramental programme is run by our Director of Mission and Identity, the Religious Education Department and supported by our College Chaplain. It is held over an 8-10 week timeframe with one-hour sessions and within the school day. Once students have finished the programme they attend the celebration of the Sacraments, led by our College Chaplain.
