St Dominic's is a welcoming community of devoted Catholic Christians looking towards evangelization and justice.
Sacramental Program
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)
Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1210)
St Dominic’s offers preparation programs for the sacraments of:
Confirmation - Information and dates for the Sacramental Program in 2024 can be found here.
Baptism
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. (Matthew 28:19)
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1204)
Infant Baptisms at St Dominic’s
St Dominic’s Parish has regular Baptisms on the Second of the month after the 11am Mass.
Baptism is a significant event in the life of the child and his/her family, and it is important for parents to have a proper understanding of the significance and be prepared for this sacrament. Parents who wish to celebrate their child/children’s baptism at St Dominic’s are required to attend two Preparation sessions before the celebration date can be confirmed.
Contact the Pastoral Associate on pastoral.associate@stdominics.org.au to request an Application Form and the upcoming Preparation Dates.
O Lord, who bring us to participate in the mystery of the Passion and Resurrection of your Son, grant, we pray, that, strengthened by the spirit of adoption as your children, we may always walk in newness of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
First Reconciliation
“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:22-23)
Since the new life of grace received in Baptism does not abolish the weakness of human nature nor the inclination to sin, Christ instituted the sacrament for the conversion of the baptized who have been separated from him by sin. (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 297).
First Reconciliation at St Dominic’s
St Dominic’s Parish has a First Reconciliation Preparation Program once a year for Baptized children who are Year 3 or older.
Families who are interested in this year’s program will need to contact the Pastoral Associate, Carlo David: pastoral.associate@stdominics.org.au
Father of mercy, like the prodigal son I return to you and say: "I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your child."
Christ Jesus, Saviour of the world, I pray with the repentant thief to whom you promised Paradise: "Lord, remember me in your kingdom. “Holy Spirit, fountain of love, I call on you with trust: "Purify my heart, and help me to walk as a child of light."
(An Act of Contrition inspired by the Gospels)
First Holy Communion
“The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
The most venerable sacrament is the blessed Eucharist, in which Christ the Lord himself is contained, offered and received, and by which the Church continually lives and grows. The eucharistic Sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the Sacrifice of the cross is forever perpetuated, is the summit and the source of all worship and Christian life. By means of it the unity of God's people is signified and brought about, and the building up of the body of Christ is perfected. The other sacraments and all the apostolic works of Christ are bound up with, and directed to, the blessed Eucharist. (Code of Canon Law, 897)
First Holy Communion at St Dominic’s
St Dominic’s Parish has a First Holy Communion Preparation Program once a year for Baptized children who are Year 4 or older and have completed their First Reconciliation.
Families who are interested in this year’s program will need to contact the Pastoral Associate, Carlo David:
pastoral.associate@stdominics.org.au
O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Confirmation
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” (Acts 2:1-4)
The sacrament of confirmation strengthens the baptized and obliges them more firmly to be witnesses of Christ by word and deed and to spread and defend the faith. It imprints a character, enriches by the gift of the Holy Spirit the baptized continuing on the path of Christian initiation, and binds them more perfectly to the Church. (Code of Canon Law, 879)
Confirmation for School-aged children
St Dominic’s Parish has a Confirmation Preparation Program once a year for Baptized children who have completed their First Reconciliation and received First Holy Communion.
Families who are interested in this year’s program will need to contact the Carlo: pastoral.associate@stdominics.org.au
Grant, we pray, almighty and merciful God, that the Holy Spirit, coming near and dwelling graciously within us, may make of us a perfect temple of his glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Holy Orders
“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20: 21 - 23).
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred on a man by the authority of Christ through the Holy Spirit. It equips the ordained man with sacred powers, allowing him to serve the people of God by proclaiming the Gospel and administering the sacraments which will benefit them on their pilgrimage to grow in holiness in the likeness of their Father in heaven so that they may one day live in heaven forever with God, the angels and the saints.
If you are considering a vocation to the Dominican friars, please follow the link below:
https://www.op.org.au/vocations/following-in-the-footsteps-of-st-dominic
God, please give to your Church today
many more priests after your own heart.
May they be worthy representatives of Christ the Good Shepherd.
May they wholeheartedly devote themselves to prayer and penance;
be examples of humility and poverty;
shining models of holiness;
tireless and powerful preachers of the Word of God;
zealous dispensers of your grace in the sacraments.
May their loving devotion to your Son Jesus in the Eucharist
and to Mary his Mother
be the twin fountains of fruitfulness for their ministry.
Amen.
– prayer by St. John Vianney
