Sacraments

Sacraments

  • Baptisms
  • Reconciliation
  • Sign on Dates
  • Confirmation and First Eucharist
  • Sign on Dates
  • Marriages

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    Funerals
    Due to the shortage of priests on the Tablelands, a Funeral Ministry has been formed in the parish with members being able to perform Services in the Church, at the Crematorium Chapel and to attend to Graveside burials. The Church only requires a priest at funerals for a Requiem Mass.


    The parish Priest will always preside at any type of funeral Service when he is available.


    Before deciding the time and place of the funeral with the funeral director, please contact the Parish Office (4091 1125 or atherton.parish@cairns.catholic.org.au) to ascertain if he will be available and to make an appointment time to arrange Readings, Hymns, and other details to make the Funeral for your loved one a fitting farewell. The Funeral Ministry member is available at interview with Parish Priest to assist with preparation of Service Booklet.


    Times for funerals:
    Not before 9.30am or after 3.00pm – Monday to Friday unless arrangements are made with Funeral Directors for a Saturday morning funeral.


    If you wish to have a particular Priest as celebrant that is quite in order but you will need to contact him and notify the local Priest that you have done so, either directly or through the Funeral Director.


    Fee for the Funeral Service is included with the Funeral Directors fees, and it is forwarded to the Parish Office. Booklets can be printed at the Parish Office and pricing can be obtained at the meeting with Priest and Funeral ministers.


    Flowers

    Flowers for the church are arranged by Parish Ladies who will purchase flowers if families wish, for a fee. Families may wish to provide their own flowers and have the flowers arranged by the Parish Ladies. Please contact the Parish Office on 4091 1125 to discuss requirements.


    Music
    An Organist/Vocalist is available for Requiem Mass or Church Service for a fee payable to them. For families wishing to provide their own music, we have a Clavinova, CD player, amplification system and projector. Use of the equipment may be discussed at interview.


    BaptismTimes
    Our preferred time is during the Mass as our Priests have multiple Churches to get to over the weekend (Please see Mass times on HOME page). If these times pose genuine difficulties another time may be arranged. A booking should be made by phone or email. The Parish Office will arrange a suitable time with you to prepare you for the baptism and to get the details needed for the baptism register and the certificates that will be given to you after the baptism. This preparation is normally done at the Parish Centre. Baptism preparation is done with our Baptism Ministry Ladies a minimum of one week prior to the baptism taking place.


    At least one sponsor (God parent) is required to be a Catholic.


    Baptism Donation
    For the baptismal candle, ornate certificate and the use of facilities: a donation of $50.00 is suggested.

    [Should parents have difficulty in making this donation it should be reduced or omitted entirely; in which case no explanation need be given.]

    Reconciliation Sign On Date:
    Sacrament Enquiry Session for Catholic students. Please phone the Parish Office for more information about the sacraments on 4091 1125.

    Confirmation and First Eucharist Sign On Date:
    Please phone the Parish Office for more information about the Sacraments on 4091 1125.


    Marriages

    Bookings
    Bookings may be made by phone and should be made at least six months prior to the marriage. Soon after the booking the celebrant will need to see you to begin the paperwork that is required by both the Government and the Church and to discuss with you other details of your marriage service. Please see Wedding Information Booklet.


    Pre-marriage course
    Preparation for your wedding day is exciting and necessary. But preparation for your lives together in marriage is essential. It is required that a marriage preparation course be completed before your wedding. The celebrant may not proceed with your marriage unless you have taken this course. This course is currently provided by Natural Fertility Services in Cairns, Ph: 4041 7365


    Documents Required
    The Federal Government requires: a) Birth Certificate for both parties if born in Australia, or other equivalent documents if born overseas; notice of Intended Marriage, which the celebrant will help you to complete; c) evidence of dissolution/nullity if previously married. The Church requires: a) a certificate of baptism for Catholics; b) Evidence of an annulment in the case of a previous marriage ended by divorce.


    Wedding Times
    Weddings may be any day except Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Christmas Day. Sunday is not normally a good day for a celebrant unless he is free from other commitments, in which case a marriage may be celebrated on a Sunday at a time that does not clash with the regular Parish Mass times.


    Celebrant
    You are most welcome to use a Priest known to you for your marriage, if you choose to do this speak to him well in advance of your marriage day about the Government and Church documents that are required to be completed.


    Music
    A Clavanova Piano, CD player and amplification system are provided. You arrange musicians and vocalists. A list of those currently available may be obtained on request. Songs and music must be suitable for a church environment. Please talk to your celebrant about this.


    Flowers
    A most impressive arrangement of flowers is normally set up in the church each Saturday morning. You may find this adequate; or you may wish to add or arrange some or all of your flowers. Please contact the Parish Office on 4091 1125 and discuss your wishes in this regard. You might find it useful to have a look at the floral arrangement in the church on a weekend before your wedding to gain an idea of what the floral arrangement usually looks like.


    Confetti / Rice / Rose Petals
    A lot of labour is expended to ensure that the church and surrounds are immaculately clean and tidy for your wedding. It must be appreciated that throwing rice, rose petals and especially confetti quickly makes a mess that must be cleaned up to restore the area in preparation for a following wedding and for the weekend masses. For these reasons these items may not be thrown in the church or grounds unless the persons who throw them thoroughly restore the area immediately.

    Fees
    The Pastoral Council recommends the following fees.
    For the use of parish facilities and Government expenses:
    $500 payable in advance.
    To complete a baptism information form please go  here:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKejmqJW3e7k9bw0NJEpryCmw8710HuqGJB2b1f511kgBZZA/viewform?usp=sf_link