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THE CATHOLIC PARISH OF
St EDWARD THE CONFESSOR
Finchley Road, Golders Green, London NW11 |
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Children's Catechism
 Catechism sessions are open to
all children who attend St Edward's church. The sessions are held during the
school terms immediately after the 10.30am Mass each Sunday and last for half
an hour. (The Confirmation group meets for longer sessions at a different
time). Parents are warmly encouraged to attend Mass with their children and are
invited to coffee in the hall whilst they wait for the sessions to finish. The
children meet in groups according to their age in various rooms in the Parish
Hall area:
| Reception: |
for children aged 5-6 |
Hall Foyer |
| Pre-Communion : |
for children aged 6-7 |
Bar Annex |
| Communion: |
for children aged 7-8 |
Upper Room |
| Post-Communion : |
for children aged 8-9 |
Hall |
| Junior 1 : |
for children aged 9-10 |
Hall |
| Junior 2: |
for children aged 10-11 |
Hall |
| Pre-Confirmation : |
for children aged 11-12 |
Hall Annex |
| Confirmation: |
for children aged 12-13 |
Hall/Upper Room |
| Post-Confirmation : |
for young people 13+ |
Presbytery Dining Room |
At the end of Mass children are asked to wait
until the final hymn is finished and then to go promptly to their groups.
(Refreshments are always still available after the sessions!)
The
Programmes
 Most groups
follow the Walk With Me catechism programme which is used widely in the
Westminster Diocese and is recommended by the Conference of Bishops in England
and Wales. In each session the children are helped to reflect on experience in
the light of Catholic belief, Scripture, doctrine and liturgy.
Walk
With Me provides a four year cycle of life/faith themes and topics. The
repetition of the nine life/faith themes each year enables these key aspects of
Catholic faith and practice to be deepened as the children grow and develop.
God's Greatest Gift is the preparation programme for First
Communion, also recommended by the Diocese.
Parental Involvement
 Parents are the first teachers of the faith. It is they
who nurture their children's faith by fostering in them Christian values, by
bringing them to church, praying simple prayers with them and introducing them
to stories from the Bible. Both programmes recognise this crucial primary role
of parents in their children's catechesis and therefore encourage parental
involvement. A home workbook and a Parents' Guide accompany "God's Greatest
Gift".
First Communion & Confirmation Preparation
Children are prepared to share in the Eucharist for the first time as
part of the programme detailed above. The children enrol in September and
sessions are held every Sunday after the 10.30am Mass. The Confirmation
Programme consists of fewer, longer sessions spread across the year. The
Sacraments are celebrated during the Summer Term. A high level of attendance
and parental support is expected throughout the year. Parents of First
Communion children are invited to attend three Saturday afternoon sessions
during the year.
Children must be baptised before sharing in the
Eucharist for the first time and a copy of the Baptismal Certificate is needed
for parish records. Fr John Helm or Jenny Kettleton
 should be informed if a child wishes to join the First
Communion group and has not been baptised.
Parents wishing to enrol
their children onto the Children's Catechism sessions for the first time need
to complete a registration form and see Jenny Kettleton.
Catechists
The success of the Children's Catechism in St
Edward's is due to our committed team of parish Catechists who give their time
freely each Sunday to work with the children.
Children's
Liturgy
 During the 10.30am Mass
children in the congregation are called forward, after the Opening Prayer, to
go to the Hall for their own Liturgy of the Word. The catechist leads them in
singing the Alleluia to greet the proclamation of the Gospel. Then, by
involving the children in discussion and by asking questions, the catechist
helps them to understand the message of the Gospel. The children may profess
the Creed together and the Liturgy concludes with prayers. The children return
to the church in procession bringing forward the gifts of bread and wine for
the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Children's Liturgy is aimed at
children between 4 and 12 years old. Parents are welcome to accompany their
children. However, it is not appropriate for babies and toddlers or younger
children who are not used to sitting quietly for this length of time.
For further information please contact either:
 Fr John Helm - Parish Priest (john.w.helm@btopenworld.com)
or
Jenny Kettleton - Catechetical Co-Ordinator (Kettleton.family@tesco.net)
RCIA, the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults
 The RCIA Programme
takes place on Thursdays in the Parish Hall at 8.00 pm.
The Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the means through which adults become
full members of the Catholic Church. It restores the ancient sequence of
Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist as the inter linked sacraments of
Initiation. It provides the model upon which the sacramental preparation in the
parish is based. It emphasises that conversion to Christ is an on-going
process, that it takes place within a community of the faithful, and that it is
marked by the celebration of liturgical rites.
Adults who are
interested in becoming Catholics or asking for adult confirmation meet weekly
with other members of the Parish Community to study and discuss areas of
Catholic Belief and Practice, and to pray and to reflect on the Word of God
together. They celebrate the stages of their journey into the Church by public
rites, culminating in their full reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil
on Holy Saturday. The RCIA group meets on Thursdays at 8.00 pm in the Parish
Hall. We welcome those interested in becoming Catholics or wanting to know more
about the Catholic faith, those willing to sponsor and support enquirers, and
Catholics who want to learn more about their faith.
RCIA Co-ordinator:
Joan How MartinHow@compuserve.com.
Further information? The next step ….. Speak to Fr Helm,
the Parish Priest or to Joan How or e-mail
John.W.Helm@btopenworld.com.
MARRIAGE
Couples must contact the Parish Priest in person, after
Sunday Mass at least six months prior to the proposed wedding date (regulation
of the Archdiocese of Westminster). This includes couples getting married at
another church in this country or abroad.
INFANT BAPTISMS These normally take place on Sunday
afternoons or by arrangement. Parents wishing to have their child baptised
should speak to the Parish Priest after Mass on Sunday.
SICK CALLS
Please contact the Parish
Priest (tel 020 8455 1300) immediately in the case of serious illness or death.
The Parish Priest brings Holy Communion to the sick and housebound regularly
and should also be informed if any parishioner is confined to the house or
hospital for any length of time.
HOPITALISATION - If you are
admitted to hospital please ask the Sister in Charge to notify the RC Chaplain
that you have been admitted so that you can receive any necessary
Sacraments. |
Page last updated November 2008 |
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