"All young Catholics, throughout their school years, should be provided with opportunities to participate in Religious Education suited to their age and circumstance." (That They May Have Life - Policy on RE, 1994).

In accordance with this statement we at St Martin's endeavour to provide the children with experiences which bring them closer to knowing their God. However, we also believe that such education is done in partnership with the Family and the Parish.

Ideally all three work in partnership to promote the child's faith journey. Each group does have a specific focus:

            In the family the child learns to LIVE his/her faith. 

            In the school the child learns to KNOW his/her faith.

            In the parish the child learns to CELEBRATE his/her faith.

There are distinct responsibilities for each group with respect to the PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM and they are clearly explained in the sections following.

The parents are their children's first educators, particularly in the area of Religious Education.

What we do at school and what children experience at parish celebrations are complementing what they experience at home. We do acknowledge, that as the trained educators, the teachers have the knowledge to teach and that parents are placing their trust in the teachers to assist them in raising their children to be committed Catholics.

At St Martin's we follow the Religious Education Guidelines which were introduced in 1997, to be taught by all teachers at our school from 1998. The Guidelines are made up from 3 documents: The Statement; the Syllabus and the Profile. Accompanying these three documents are sample Units of work, which the teachers may choose to use when teaching. All teaching staff will be supported by the A.P.R.E. and their teaching colleagues. The staff use our own school-based program, accredited by the Brisbane Catholic Education Centre in 1999.

There are four strands to the syllabus:

PRAYER / MASSES/ LITURGIES

As part of the teaching of RE at St Martin's the children will experience a variety of prayers, music and worship. They will have opportunity to pray as a class, as part of a group of classes, as part of the whole school and as part of the parish family. Parents are invited to join with the children for significant celebrations. Parent participation is a witness to children of the importance of prayer in their faith life. The participation of the staff in such celebrations is important also, as is the opportunity the staff have to pray together on a weekly basis.

Classes are encouraged to have a class mass once a semester. They are prepared in cooperation with the priests and the APRE. Children in the upper school are also encouraged to celebrate Reconciliation throughout the year.

CHILDREN'S LITURGY OF THE WORD

A Children's Liturgy of the Word is conducted at the 9.00am Parish Sunday Mass, where the children receive instruction from Parish catechists and then rejoin the congregation at the Offertory.

PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

In 1997 the Archbishop launched the new Archdiocesan Sacramental Policy, to be used across the diocese. As with the previous guidelines, this policy clearly places the preparation for the Sacraments with the family, the catechesis (or teaching) of the sacraments with the teachers (or catechists) and the celebration within the Parish setting. The co-ordination of the program rests with the Parish Sacramental Coordinator. The teaching of the sacraments rests with the teachers and there is specific content in the Syllabus document of the Guidelines which covers the sacraments. There are also specific sample units which assist the teachers when teaching. The teachers endeavour to teach the content at the same time as the children are preparing for the Sacraments with their families. While the Parish Coordinator is the first person to contact with concerns or queries, the APRE is also available to support families and teachers when necessary.

SACRAMENTAL POLICY NOTES

1. Children who are baptized as infants may be considered eligible for confirmation and first reception of Eucharist (First Communion) from about the age of seven (7) years.
   
   
2. The opportunity for the celebration of sacramental reconciliation (Confession) precedes the reception of Eucharist. At this stage children will normally be introduced to the sacrament of penance (reconciliation) through the communal (2nd) rite in a simplified form. The principal parish program relating to the sacrament of penance will take place for those who are about ten years of age to prepare them for the individual rite (1st) rite of reconciliation.
   
   
3. Each child is expected to be receiving on going catechesis (teaching) both before and after the time of celebrating the sacraments.
   
   
4. The celebration of these sacraments involves the entire parish community if possible during the Easter season, which involves at least child, parents and baptismal sponsors. The first celebration of Penance and the first reception of Eucharist will be separated from each other by a suitable period of time.
   
   
5. When readiness for the sacraments has been determined, each child is enrolled in the parish program for sacramental preparation. A parish ritual may introduce the program. The particular style of celebration is sensitive to and respects the varying situations, traditions and wishes of the families involved.
   
   
6. Confirmation is celebrated with, or prior to, the first reception of Eucharist.
   
   
7. Persons with an intellectual handicap are to receive the sacraments in accordance with the policy already published.

Please NOTE:

Families with school aged children who wish them to be initiated into our Catholic faith, need to contact the Parish Priest.  The Assistant Principal for Religious Education is available to liaise with families if necessary.