Sacramental Programme
it is mainly for the parishioners, families of the parish & those attending the parish school
‘Parents are the First Teachers of the Faith’
It is the privilege & the duty of the Catholic Schools to teach the faith, and help children learn and grow with the faith, it is the purpose for which they are set up as a faith school
Parishes are the living communities of the faith, nurtured and nourished! Coming together each Sunday is the best preparation for the sacraments, it is the best way to belong to the Church and to the parish community.
Without Sunday parish community mass the sacraments will loose its efficaciousness, purpose, worth and value!
By very celebration of the sacraments meaningfully and purposefully in our day to day life and living, wherever we are, is the witness and the mission of the church. The true disciples of the Church!!
Sacrament of Baptism
If you wish to ask for the Sacrament of Baptism your first contact is the Parish Priest; Fr Prem Fernando
frpjfernando@gmail.com
Infant Baptisms
In the Catholic Church it is a long standing tradition to ask for infant baptisms as it is the gateway for the sacramental life that so precious an inheritance for the Catholic. God’s call to the whole of humanity to become a child of God, and to take that path entering the sacramental life is not denied even to an infant who is totally dependent on the mother and the father, is now not denied. In fact for every loving, responsible parent it is the first and the last treasured inheritance they would wish to give their children. The infant baptisms are an expression of such longing of the parents.
For this very reason many parents baptise their children within weeks and months a child is born. Normally infant baptisms are carried out in the life of the church by discipline before a child reaches the school going age. When passed this age, they will simply have to wait desiring adult baptism which known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA Programme) which is taken up by them after they are adults, and seek the faith on their own accord.
Once the Parish Priest is contacted and the programme is arranged, the Parish Catechist for the sacrament of Infant Baptisms, Irma Foster will get in touch with the parents to prepare them for the sacrament.
Adult Baptisms – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Programme
Normally this Programme needs a few months of preparation ideally leading up to the stages of scrutiny in lent and their baptisms at the Easter Vigil service.
If you wish to be a Candidate or support the RCIA programme in the parish kindly contact the Parish Priest first.
Sacrament of First Confession / First Reconciliation
You can ask for the sacrament individually or as a bubble or from the Parish School. Once enrolled, catechised, prepared and ready you can arrange a suitable time and date with Fr Prem to celebrate the sacrament following safeguarding and safety guidelines. Simply email Fr Prem.
The Sacrament of first Confession / Reconciliation for the school
6th December 2022, at 3.30 – 4.30pm in St Thomas More, Church
Kindly See pre-requisites below for further information
Learning and Teachers/parents Material recommended
What the parish used in recent years form publishers Our Sunday Visitor (orderosv.com)
Please note there are also the teaching/ parent guides too
Sacraments of Confession and First Holy Communion
You can ask for the sacrament individually or as a bubble or from the Parish School and for your own style of preparation (see details below under pre-requisites). Once enrolled, catechised, prepared and ready you can arrange with Fr Prem a suitable date to receive the sacrament at any of the parish masses; ideally on a Sunday. Kindly email Fr Prem to arrange it.
All celebrations will following safeguarding and any safety guidelines at the time.
Kindly See pre-requisites below
What the parish used in recent years from publishers Our Sunday Visitor (orderosv.com)
Please note there are also the teaching/ parent guides too
Diocesan Education Service Booklet for Yr 3
– download below
Sacrament of Confirmation
You can ask for your own suitable sacramental preparation individually or as a bubble or from the Parish School. Once enrolled, catechised, prepared one may receive the sacrament of confirmation when it is celebrated for the parish by the Bishop. It is normally the
All celebrations will following safeguarding and pandemic safety guidelines at the time.
Kindly See pre-requisites below
Learning and Teachers/parents Material recommended
Bibles that are recommended – Authorised Catholic Versions with Imprimartur
- Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition, Revised Edition
- Catholic Bible: Revised Standard Version
- CTS Bible
What the parish used in recent years for the Sacrament of Confirmation from Gracewing publications
Please note there are also the teaching/ parent guides too
Diocesan Education Service Booklet for Yr 6
– download below
Other Recommended Books – From Redemptorist publications
Pre-requisites for the sacraments of reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation
- Enrol – Contact Fr Prem and let him know that you are taking up an authorised and approved preparation (catechesis) programme (one of 1, 2, 3, given below) in view of receiving the sacrament. For this purpose you must be a Baptised Catholic and must present the candidate’s baptism certificate. School shall let the parish know well in time the names of the candidates enrolled through the school with copies of their baptism certificates.
- Proof of Preparation – Catechesis (There are three options, and 1,2 are mostly recommended for those not in the Parish School, but it is open to them as well if there be a genuine need)
- Home Teaching and Schooling the sacramental preparation – Prepare the child at home following the official teaching of the catholic church through authorised and approved teaching and learning material. This can be discussed with the parish priest at the enrolment. – In this case the Parent/s will be held responsible before God, for handing down the correct teaching of our faith.
- Learning and teaching done in groups, bubbles. One or two parents may come together with their children with or without a volunteer catechist of the parish and so prepare their children following an approved and authorised teaching and learning material. This can be discussed with the parish priest at the enrolment. – Those who lead the teaching will share the responsibility with the parents before God, for handing down the correct teaching of the faith to our children and the future generations.
- Preparation and catechism done in and through the Parish Catholic School which comes under the Archdiocesan Education Service. It therefore has to follow a preparation programme for the sacraments inbuilt to the school curriculum, and so catechise and prepare the children for the sacraments. This fulfils the purpose of having Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. In this case the school teachers (catholic and non catholic teachers) together with the parents are held responsible before God, for handing down the correct teaching of the faith to our children and the future generations.
Photographs and celebration (only a cake) for First Holy Communion and Confirmation parents to come together and organise appropriately. Please do let Fr Prem know well in time (not at the last minute please) if you plan to do so Thank you
Mass Times
St Thomas More
Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm
Sunday: 11.00am
Holyday: 9.30am
Weekday: varies see newsletter
Confession: Saturday 5.00 – 5.30
Benediction: First Fridays after mass 12.30 -1.00 normally
St Hugh
Sunday :9.30am
Holyday: 7.30pm
Please also have a look at the Service Tab
Contact Details
St Thomas More,
142 Oxford Rd,
Kidlington,
Oxfordshire, OX5 1DZ.
General Contacts and enquiry by
email: frpjfernando@gmail.com
Urgent matters and messages Tele 01865 377093
Useful links
The Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham