Formation

Baptism Team

The Baptism Team at St. Mary’s Parish is a small group of parishioners who feel blessed to be able to assist parents in the initiation of their child into the Catholic Faith. We meet annually in person but are in contact via email throughout the months in which Baptisms are held. The small team works closely together to ensure the process runs seamlessly for both the families and Father. There are a number of different roles undertaken by individuals or small sub-groups of the team in conjunction with the Parish Office. The main administrative role involves collating the information from the completed Baptism forms to forward to the team members who run the Baptism Preparation Nights. On this night, the information from the forms is checked with the families to ensure that the Baptism Certificate given to the families is correct. The checked spreadsheet is then forwarded to the other team members so they are aware of the upcoming Baptisms. 

Parents and godparents are invited to attend a Preparation evening which aims at deepening their appreciation and understanding of the Sacrament of Baptism. A team member prepares Baptism Information Packs which are given to the families on this night. Team members are also present at the Candle Presentation Mass (1st Sunday of the month) where the families are presented to, and welcomed by, the parish community. On the day of the Baptism, a member of the team will be present in order to guide the families through the ceremony.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the team, please contact us via the Parish Office by email or phone.

Click here if you wish to arrange a Baptism.

 

Catechetics (Sunday School)

For the past sixty years, St Mary’s parish has provided Religious Education Classes on a Sunday mornings during the school term (except on weekends of special occasion), for children attending local Government primary schools. Children attend from the junior grades, and go through to Grade six, receiving the Sacraments at the appropriate year level.

The classes are held in St Mary’s School at 9.00am for nearly one hour. There is an annual fee of $40 for one child or $50 for two or more children. Classes conclude on the second weekend of November. The program is coordinated by Geraldine and with Noreen and Nicole make up the team of teachers. Ellen manages the administration and gives support where needed. The program is supported by our Parish Priest Fr Steven Rigo and St Mary’s School.

For more information contact Geraldine Conroy (0438 148 896)

2023 Catechist Calendar

 

Faith Development Team 

The Faith Development Team is a joint project of our partnered parishes; St Mary’s, Greensborough, Sacred Heart Diamond Creek and St Thomas’ Greensborough North.

The Faith Development Team provides opportunities, through Faith Formation Nights, for the parents or guardians of our children preparing for sacraments. Included in this cohort are includes parents of children attending our parish schools and the religious education classes of each of our parishes. The aim of these nights is to engage at an adult level with the notion of sacramentality and with the specific the sacraments of Eucharist, Confirmation and Reconciliation. To develop an understanding of God present in our ordinary lives; in the objects and relationships that are most important to us, helps us to understand the depth of meaning in our Church sacraments.

The Faith Development Team sets the dates for the Faith Formation Nights and also for the sacraments of First Eucharist, Confirmation and First Reconciliation.

A Faith Formation Guide is published each year, with those dates and with a very good theological understanding of the sacraments.
 

Godstart

Godstart is a program developed by the “Archdiocese Council for the Family” .The aim of the program is to remind parents how much they and their new-born child are loved by God and are important members of our Parish community. Cards for a child’s first birthday are delivered personally and the parents are most appreciative of being remembered by the Parish. If the parents have moved cards are posted. The cards are provided by Centacare Catholic Family Services. 
  • If you are interested in Godstart please contact Pauline Prendergast (9434 2464)
 

Library

St Mary’s Parish Library was established in 2004 by a group of parishioners who aimed to provide a collection of religious resources for St Mary’s Parish. Resources are chosen to further the education of borrowers in their faith, to give them inspiration in their spiritual lives, and to provide entertainment with a religious/spiritual theme. Many of the items would not be readily available in public libraries. The Library is located in the Gathering Space near the entrance of the Church.

The Collection houses books, DVDs and CDs on the following themes:
  • Bible study
  • Christian theology
  • Social theology
  • Pastoral theology
  • Spiritual/Christian life
  • Catholic Church
  • Church government
  • Church history
  • Devotional literature
  • Life and teachings of Jesus Christ
  • Mary
  • Christian biography
  • Mission
  • Comparative religions
  • Church music
  • Christian fiction
  • … and literature, not necessarily religious, which addresses relevant social issues including children’s literature.

To view the full library catalogue click here.
 

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

If you wish to enquire into the Catholic Faith, or join the Catholic Church, St Mary's welcomes you. We have a small RCIA team (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) which offers one-on-one meetings with enquirers. For those wishing to go further, we offer ongoing education in the Catholic Faith. If you wish to receive the Sacraments and become Catholic, this education will continue for some months. It is an experience which always brings great joy and wonderful camaraderie in a small group environment. We also invite people who are already Catholic to join our meetings, to learn more about their faith and to lend support and friendship.
  • For more information contact: Jo Giudice (0411 045 572) or Tim Hamilton (0412 070 511)
 

Scripture Study (Bible Study)

St Mary’s has three Scripture Study groups, meeting at various times of the week: Tuesday mornings, Wednesday evenings and Friday afternoons. Currently, the Friday afternoon group is full. We use the resource created by the Little Rock Scripture Study (LRSS). Little Rock Scripture Study is designed to bring people to a greater understanding of the Bible, an awareness of God’s living presence in Sacred Scripture, and an appreciation of how the Bible can be applied to daily life.

The exegetical basis of Little Rock Scripture Study is that which is found in Dei Verbum. Leaders and participants receive direction in the Roman Catholic Church’s approach to biblical understanding and interpretation. The use of acceptable translations of the Bible, along with footnotes and cross-references, Catholic commentaries, and wrap-up lectures by qualified speakers, helps to make this a uniquely Catholic experience. With emphasis on small group prayer and faith-sharing, LRSS is not only informational but formational as well. Ultimately, LRSS encourages a way of life that can lead to real and lifelong conversion.
  • If you are interested in scripture study, please contact us via the Parish Office on 9435 1543