For Parents - Sacrament

Sacrament for parents

The purpose of this page is to help families/whanau to support your children as they learn about Sacrament.  It gives you some opening questions you could ask to start a conversation about what your child is learning in RE.  There is also some background information on the main ideas we are teaching to the children.

Questions you could ask:
- Which Sacraments do you know (year 2+)?
- What are the signs and symbols of the sacrament you are learning about (see below to see what each room is learning)?
- Why do you think we have Sacraments?
- You've been learning about the journey of life - what stage(s) are you looking forward to?  Why?
- For older children: What do you know about grace?
- Are there any questions you'd like to ask me about Sacraments?  (don't worry if you don't know the answer, tell your child you can try to find out - you could ask at school, Mrs Frances-Rees would be happy to discuss Sacrament)

We would like the children to grow in their understanding of Sacrament as they grow through the school.  To help with this we are teaching four key ideas about Sacrament across the school.

These ideas are:

1. There are 7 sacraments:         

         Baptism,          

         Reconciliation,          

         Eucharist,          

         Confirmation,          

         Marriage,          

         Holy Orders, and          

         Anointing of the Sick

2. Each sacrament has its own symbols and rituals

3. Sacraments are a sign of God’s grace in the world and in us.

Grace means the power of God working in the world and working in us.  We can feel/experience this anytime, anywhere not just in the Sacraments.  But we recognise the Sacraments as a sign of God's grace and we believe that we always receive grace when we receive a Sacrament.  That is why we hope to attend regular Eucharist.  Although many people say they can ask forgiveness directly to God, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation we believe we are granted special grace by virtue of the Sacrament.  

4. Sacraments relate to your life journey (te wa)

The seven Sacraments align with major life events.  Although we continue to go back and receive Eucharist and Reconciliation again and again, these Sacraments are not given to children below the age of seven.  That is because developmentally, children of seven years and older can fully understand the difference between right and wrong.  We do Reconciliation before Eucharist because Eucharist is receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus and coming into full Communion with the whole Church.  To do this one must be in a state of grace i.e. be Reconciled to God for all the times we choose our will over His.  Reconciliation is not a one off Sacrament it is an ongoing form of support for us.