The sacraments of the Catholic Church are the key ways that God communicates His life of sanctifying grace to humanity. Ordinarily, Catholic children are prepared to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation when they attend Catholic primary school. We offer sacrament preparation courses for Catholic children from our parish who do not attend a Catholic primary school.
Sacrament Preparation Courses Information 2026
Courses Overview.
- In 2026, our parish will offer children’s sacrament preparation courses for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
- We offer the Baptism (for children aged 7 years and older) and Confirmation preparation courses in alternating years. Baptism/Reception into the Catholic Church will be next offered in 2027.
Enrolment Criteria.
- To enrol in First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, children must have been baptised Catholic (or have been received into the Catholic Church if they were baptised in another Christian church).
- To enrol for First Reconciliation, children must be grade 3 or above.
- To enrol for First Holy Communion, children must be grade 4 or above.
- To enrol for Confirmation, children must be grade 5 or above.
- Children may only enrol in one sacrament preparation course per year in the sequence outlined above.
- In order to enrol your child, the enrolment form and fee must be received by our parish prior to the enrolment closure date. The enrolment form should be submitted to the Parish Office by email.
Enrolment Fee. The fee per child per course is $200 ($20-$25 per class). If the child’s family has participated in the parish’s stewardship program for at least six months, the fee is $100 per child per course. The enrolment fee covers the cost of remunerating our qualified catechists and of providing resources.
Attendance. In order to be admitted to the sacrament, children must attend all preparation classes.
Required Resources. Children will need to bring stationary to write, draw, cut and paste.
First Reconciliation
This course is for children who are in grade 3 and above. Children must have been baptised Catholic (or received into the Catholic Church).
The course includes several sessons on consecutive Wednesdays and culminates in the children going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.
Course Commences
Wednesday 28th January 2026
Enrolments Close
Friday 16th January 2026
Age
Grade 3 and above
Class Venue
St Anthony of Padua Church, Lara
Class Time and Dates
4.30pm – 6.00pm
Class 1 | 28/01/26
Class 2 | 04/02/26
Class 3 | 11/02/26
Class 4 | 18/02/26
Class 5 | 25/02/26
Class 6 | 04/03/26
Sacrament | 11/03/26
Submit with your Application Form:
- A copy of your child’s birth certificate
- a copy of your child’s baptism certificate
- $200 enrolment fee
Confirmation
This course is for children who are in grade 6 and above. Children must have been baptised Catholic (or received into the Catholic Church), have received their First Reconciliation, and received their First Holy Communion.
The course includes eigt sessions on consecutive Wednesdays and culminates in the children receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Course Commences
Wednesday 18th March 2026
Enrolments Close
Friday 6th March 2026
Age
Grade 6 and above
Class Venue
St Anthony of Padua Church, Lara
Class Times and Dates
Class 1 | 18/03/26
Class 2 | 25/03/26
Class 3 | 01/04/2026
School holidays
Class 4 | 22/04/26
Class 5 | 29/04/26
Class 6 | 06/05/26
Class 7 | 13/05/26
Class 8 | 20/05/26
Sacrament of Confirmation
6.00pm | Wednesday 27th May 2026
St Mary of the Angels Basilica, Geelong
Confirmation Sponsor
Confirmation candidates need to nominate someone to be their ‘sponsor’. The sponsor must be at least 16 years old and a fully-initiated Catholic (received Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation).
Submit with your Application Form:
- A copy of your child’s birth certificate
- A copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate
- A copy of your child’s First Holy Communion Certificate
- Confirmation sponsor’s Baptism Certificate
- Confirmation sponsor’s First Communion Certificate
- Confirmation sponsor’s Confirmation Certificate
- $200 enrolment fee
Copies of sacrament certificates may be obtained by contacting the parish where the sacrament was received.
First Holy Communion
Term 3, 2026.