Enrollment on the Sacramental Programme will be done through the parishes in one of the churches.
This includes children who attend St. Joseph's Primary School or St. Edward's Primary School.
Enrollment Cards are available in the church porch both at Sacred Heart and St. Edward's and at St. Joseph's Church.
The dates for the Special Masses and Celebrations are as follows.
Thursday 6 October 2011 Registration Meeting for parents 2.30pm in St. Edward's Hall
or 7.00pm in St. Joseph's Hall. You can attend either. It does not matter which church
you and your child will be coming to for the Programme. Please note that it
is 7.00pm at St. Joseph's.
There was a mistake on this page previously giving the wrong time.
Dates for St. Joseph's Parish:
Saturday 15 October 2011 Enrolment Mass 6.15pm
Saturday 26 November 2011 Parish Mass and celebration 6.15pm.
Saturday 4 February 2012 Parish Mass and celebration 6.15pm.
Saturday 25 February 2012 Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) at 10.30am.
Saturday 31 March 2012 Parish Mass and celebration 6.15pm.
Dates for Sacred Heart and St. Edward's Parish:
Sunday 16 October 2011 Enrolment Mass 11.00am
Sunday 27 November 2011 Parish Mass and celebration 11.00am
Sunday 26 February 2012 Parish Mass and celebration 11.00am.
Tuesday 28 February 2012 Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) at 6.00pm.
Sunday 1 April 2012 Parish Mass and celebration 11.00am.
Both parishes
Sunday 27 May 2012, Sacrament of Confirmation Whit Sunday / Pentecost Sunday
This will be confirmed nearer to the time. It depends on whether the Bishop will be coming to Darwen or not.
Saturdays/Sundays 16 June - 8 July 2011 * Reception of Holy Communion for the first time.
Sunday 15 July 2011 Full celebration at 9.00am Mass for all the children at St. Joseph's
and 11.00am Mass for all the children at Sacred Heart and St. Edward's.
*When your child has been Confirmed, he/she is almost ready to receive Holy Communion for the first time.
The children will do this in small groups at the Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Masses over the next weekends.
A list will be placed in each church porch, nearer the time, for you to book your child's place at one of these Masses.
No more than six or seven children will celebrate this special occasion at any one Mass. They will stand with the priest at the altar for the Eucharistic Prayer which is the most sacred part of the Mass. They will then be joined by their parents and families at the front of the church as they solemnly receive Holy Communion for the first time.
On Sunday the 15 July, when all the children have received Holy Communion for the first time, they will return for the 9.00am Mass and may again dress as they feel appropriate to celebrate the fact that they are now receiving Holy Communion. After this Mass there will be a simple "breakfast" celebration for them in the Hall at each church. Photographs may be taken either as individuals or as a group, in church, after this Mass.