Sacraments of Initiation
"The sacraments of Christian Initiation lay the foundations of every Christian life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the Sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life” (CCC, 1212).
Sacramental preparation at Springbank Catholic is ongoing. For more information, or if you have any questions, please call 519-471-4220 or email sacramentsatspringbank@dol.ca
Registration for Winter sessions of Sacramental Preparation for
First Reconciliation / First Communion and Confirmation will open in December.
Baptism
Baptism is a sacrament of welcome into the Family of God and our parish community, “where the ‘I believe’ of Baptism is married to the ‘we believe’ of the whole Church” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 166-167). Baptisms are celebrated within the context of the Sunday Eucharist.
More than learning about the Sacrament of Baptism, the preparation process is an opportunity to get to know and grow in community with other families at a similar life stage and with the wider parish.
If you would like to have your child(ren) baptized, please complete the form below and a member of our Baptism Preparation Team will contact you to discuss preparation and the scheduling of a date for baptism.
Eucharist
In the Eucharist we partake of Christ’s body and blood together as members of His Body, the Church. The regular reception of this sacrament strengthens our bond with the risen Christ and the community that gathers each weekend.
Baptized children of catechetical age (seven years old or older) may begin a program of sacramental preparation to receive the Eucharist for the first time, after having prepared for and had opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance (First Reconciliation). First Communion is celebrated during the context of the Sunday Eucharist, preferably during the Easter season.
In the Diocese of London, young people preparing to receive their First Communion (Eucharist) must first have the opportunity to prepare for and to receive their First Reconciliation.
Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation deepens the graces and the blessings of the Holy Spirit received at Baptism. Through Confirmation a person is strengthened anew by the Holy Spirit to live out the Christian life more fully. In the Diocese of London, Confirmation is ordinarily celebrated with children who are in grade seven or eight and have completed a sacramental preparation program at the Family of Parishes where the child’s sacraments will be celebrated.
The goal of Confirmation Preparation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end, catechesis for confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church, as well as the parish community.
Children who have reached the age of reason (seven years) and are of catechetical age who wish to be baptized, are to be prepared through a program called The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Adapted for Children.