Sacraments of Initiation
The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. These sacraments lay the foundation of Christian life, incorporating individuals into the Church and strengthening them in faith.
BAPTISM
Baptism is seen as the sacrament of admission to the faith, bringing sanctifying grace to the person being baptised. In Catholicism, the baptism of infants is the most common form, but unbaptised children or adults who wish to join the faith must also receive the sacrament. A person is to be baptised only once in their life, and the Catholic Church recognises baptisms done by most other Christian denominations as valid. In the rite of baptism, holy water is usually sprinkled or poured on the head by a priest who simultaneously invokes the Trinity with the words, “I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The old self is said to die in the waters, and a new self emerges, mirroring the death and resurrection of Christ. Given that the sacrament is understood as a requirement for salvation, anyone, even non-baptised persons, can baptise someone as the situation requires.
Baptism at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Baptisms are available every Sunday unless a Diocesan function is taking place. Baptisms commence at 12.45pm, but families and guests must arrive by 12.30pm. It is customary to baptise up to four children at each ceremony, highlighting the communal nature of the Sacrament.
Should you wish to have a luncheon afterwards, “The Cloister” Function Room (our Parish Hall) is available for hire.
For enquiries, contact our Sacramental Team on (02) 8839 8400 or [email protected].
Preparing for your child’s Baptism
- Call or visit the Parish Office.
- Administration Tasks
- Complete the Baptism Registration form.
- Confirm dates for the Baptism ceremony and Parent Preparation session with the Parish Office. You may need to give several months notice, as available places fill quickly.
- Preparation Requirements
- Choose Godparents in accordance with Church Canon Law (872-874).
- Attend the Parent Preparation session (normally held in the Cathedral Hall, and usually on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 4.00pm).
- Baptism Rite: Sacrament of Baptism Celebration will take place on the confirmed date and time.
- Post-Baptism Support: Engage in parish life to nurture your child’s faith within the community.
Adult Baptism (RCIA)
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the official process by which the Catholic Church welcomes and forms adults seeking to be baptised, received into full communion, or completing their initiation through the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Rooted in the earliest practices of the Church and restored by the Second Vatican Council (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 64–66), RCIA is much more than a course – it is a journey of conversion, discipleship, and deep encounter with the living Christ.
Who is RCIA for?
- Adults who have never been baptised and wish to become Catholic
- Baptised Christians from other denominations who seek full communion with the Catholic Church
- Baptised Catholics who have not yet completed the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist
For more information, see ‘Become a Catholic‘.
To begin your journey, please contact: [email protected]
NEXT STEPS
For children who have already been baptised, preparation for the remaining Sacraments of Initiation is a parish-based, family-centred process.
The appropriate time to begin this journey is when a child demonstrates the ability to consistently discern right from wrong. This means recognising when an action – either performed or omitted – was inappropriate and taking responsibility for it. Generally, children reach this stage around the age of eight, typically in Year Three of primary school.
RECONCILIATION
Though not a Sacrament of Initiation, Reconciliation is an important step in the preparation process for receiving Holy Communion for the first time.
Also known as Confession or Penance, the sacrament of Reconciliation is seen as an opportunity for renewal and can be done as often as needed. Some Catholics participate weekly before receiving the Eucharist, whereas others may seek the sacrament only during the penitential seasons of Lent or Advent. Reconciliation is a means of obtaining pardon from God for sins for which the sinner is truly remorseful, and brings the sinner back into communion with God and the Church. The sacrament is an opportunity for self-reflection and requires that the person take full responsibility for his or her sins, both those in thought and in action. During the rite, sins are recounted privately to a priest, who is seen as a healer aiding the process, and the priest commonly assigns acts of penance, such as specific prayers or acts of restitution, to complete in the following days. A prayer of contrition is offered at the end of the confession, and the newly absolved Catholic is urged to refrain from repeating those sins.
Reconciliation at St Patrick’s Cathedral
The Sacrament of Penance is available in the First Rite (within the Reconciliation Room).
If you require assistance in approaching the Sacrament, please speak with a member of the Pastoral Team, who will be most happy to review this with you.
If you wish to arrange another mutually acceptable time between yourself and the priest, please contact the parish office on (02) 8839 8400.
Your child’s First Reconciliation
For enquiries, contact our Sacramental Team on (02) 8839 8400 or [email protected].
Useful Links
HOLY COMMUNION
The Eucharist, or First Holy Communion, is another sacrament of initiation and can be received daily if desired. It is the central rite of Catholic worship. A baptised child’s First Holy Communion is usually celebrated around age seven or eight and is preceded by their first confession (the sacrament of Reconciliation). During the Mass, the priest consecrates bread and wine, the elements of the Eucharist, which are transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Christ. As a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and in a reflection of His Last Supper with His disciples, the congregation then shares in the sacred meal. Special lay ministers (i.e., non-priests) are trained to bring the consecrated elements to the ill or otherwise homebound so that all Catholics can participate.
First Holy Communion at St Patrick’s Cathedral
The process of preparation begins during school term four and commences with an Enquiry Evening, which is held in the Cathedral Hall.
Each September, the parish publishes the information about when the Enquiry Evening will take place. Registration for the Sacramental Process opens after the Enquiry Evening and is completed at an Enrolment Ceremony held during Sunday Mass.
Key to preparing for the Sacrament is the preparation sessions facilitated by the parish Sacramental Team. The preparation sessions, which are held approximately every two weeks throughout the school term, provide the information parents need to continue the process of bringing their child to full initiation within the Faith Community. Through these sessions, parents are assisted by the Sacrament Team to guide their child through a reflective process which enriches their knowledge and understanding of the Sacraments. This ‘conversation’ also provides a first-hand opportunity for parents to share their own Faith experiences with their child.
Useful Links
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is the third sacrament of initiation and serves to “confirm” a baptised person in their faith. The rite of confirmation can occur as early as age 7 for children who were baptised as infants, but is commonly received around age 13; it is performed immediately after baptism for adult converts. A bishop or priest normally performs the rite, which includes the laying on of hands in prayer and blessing and the anointing of the forehead with chrism (holy oil) with the words, ”Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” In so “sealing” that person as a member of the church, the outward rite of confirmation signifies the inner presence of the Holy Spirit, who provides the strength to live out a life of faith. At Confirmation, a Catholic may symbolically take the name of a saint to be his or her patron.
Confirmation at St Patrick’s Cathedral
To enquire about Confirmation, please contact the Parish Secretary via email or phone (02) 8839 8400.
Useful Links
Preparing for your child’s Confirmation
Registrations for children wishing to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2025 are now open.
Please note that registrations close on Monday 28 July 2025.
- Call or visit the Parish Office.
- Complete the form
- Preparation Requirements
- Confirmation session 1: Monday 28 July at 7.30pm (Parents Session)
- Confirmation session 2: Monday 4 August at 7.30pm (Parents Session)
- Confirmation session 3: Saturday 16 August at 4.30pm (Parents and Children Session)
- Confirmation session 4: Saturday 23 August at 4.30pm (Parents and Children Session)
- Practice for Confirmation: Saturday 30 August at 4.30pm, followed by the 6pm Vigil Mass (Parents and Children)
- Confirmation Rite: Sacrament of Confirmation will take place on the confirmed date and time.
- In 2025, this date is Saturday 6 September at 11am.
- Post-Confirmation Support: Engage in parish life to nurture your child’s faith within the community, such as Junior Credo (primary school) or Teen Credo (high school).
For further enquiries, please contact the Sacramental Coordinator via email.