Sacred Heart Parish, Camberwell

Sacramental Programmes

Baptism of Infants (under 5):   After Sunday Mass, obtain a green application form.  Preparation classes for parents are held on the 1st and 2nd Sundays of each month at 2:30pm.  The Baptisms are usually on the 4th Sunday of the month at 2:30pm. 

Baptism of older children:   Courses for children aged 5 and over are held from time to time.  After Sunday Mass, obtain a dark green application form. 

First Communion/Confessions   Children at St Joseph's Infants' School are prepared for First Holy Communion in Year 2.   Courses for children at other schools  (in Year 2 or above) are held from time to time in the Parish.  After Sunday Mass obtain a blue application form.  

Confirmation:   The course, for youngsters in Year 8 or above, will be advertised each year in the Newsletter.  The Confirmation is usually in May or June. 

Becoming a Catholic:   Adults who have been Baptised in another Church or who have never been Baptised, and who wish to become Catholics should ask for an orange form, to apply for the R.C.I.A. course.   The R.C.I.A. course starts in September and lasts until after Easter. 

Marriage:   Contact one of the Priests.  You should give at least 6 months notice. 

Anointing of the Sick:   If someone is seriously ill or dying, telephone the Priests to come and administer the Sacrament of the Sick.  In Hospital, ask the Ward Sister to send for the Catholic Chaplain. 

Funerals:   If someone dies, the next of kin should contact a Funeral Director.  The Funeral Director will then contact the Priest to arrange the Funeral Mass in Sacred Heart Church.   

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THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

This section of the parish website is dedicated to the various sacraments including; baptism, confession, confirmation, holy communion, marriage and anointing of the sick.

1210 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:¹ 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.

1211 Following this analogy, the first chapter will expound the three sacraments of Christian initiation; the second, the sacraments of healing; and the third, the sacraments at the service of communion and the mission of the faithful. This order, while not the only one possible, does allow one to see that the sacraments form an organic whole in which each particular sacrament has its own vital place. In this organic whole, the Eucharist occupies a unique place as the "Sacrament of sacraments": "all the other sacraments are ordered to it as to their end."²