Sacraments
Through baptism, your child will know that they are created lovingly by God and have a place in the family of the Church.
Whether you are new to the area, returning to the Catholic faith after time away, exploring Christianity for the first time, or seeking a parish to call home, we warmly welcome you to Willunga Catholic Parish. Our parish family gathers across our three church communities at Aldinga, Willunga and Normanville, united in faith, prayer and fellowship. We invite you to join us for Mass, connect with our pastoral team, participate in parish life, and discover opportunities to serve through volunteering and ministry. If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith or are considering becoming Catholic, we would be delighted to accompany you through our faith enquiry and RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) journey. Wherever you are on your faith journey, there is a place for you here.
Baptism
Baptism is the first of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation and the foundation of the Christian life. Through Baptism, we are freed from sin, reborn as children of God, and welcomed into the family of the Church. It is a beautiful gift through which we begin our journey of faith and share in the life of Christ.
The Church encourages Catholic parents to present their children for Baptism as soon as reasonably possible after birth. Baptism is also available for older children and adults who wish to enter into the life of the Church.
Baptisms are celebrated at our parish at times that are convenient for both the family and the priest.
Families wishing to arrange the Baptism of their child are asked to download and print the application form from Resource Page here and contact the Parish Office at least three weeks before their preferred date. During this initial contact, the necessary details for the parish records will be collected, and a time will be arranged for Baptism preparation.
The preparation meeting provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning and responsibilities of Baptism, the role of parents and godparents in nurturing the child’s faith, and the rites of the sacrament itself. For the Baptism of a first child, it is strongly encouraged that both parents attend the preparation session. Godparents are also warmly invited to participate whenever possible.
We look forward to welcoming your family and accompanying you as you prepare for this joyful and important step in your child’s life of faith.
Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a beautiful encounter with God’s mercy, forgiveness, and healing. When we turn away from God through sin, we can always return to Him with confidence, knowing that His love never fails. Through this sacrament, we receive God’s forgiveness, are reconciled with the Church, and are strengthened to follow Christ more closely.
In our parish, Catholic children usually celebrate their First Reconciliation at around 7 years of age as part of the Children’s Sacramental Program.
Reconciliation in Our Parish
First Rite (Individual Reconciliation)
A personal confession with a priest in the reconciliation room (confessional) located in the church. This is available before Mass, by appointment with a priest, or at allocated times here.
Second Rite (Communal Reconciliation)
A communal celebration that includes Scripture, prayer, reflection, and individual confession and absolution with a priest.
Catholics are encouraged to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly and are required to receive it at least once a year. Communal Reconciliation celebrations are held during Advent and Lent, and at other times as announced in the parish bulletin.
First Communion
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. At every Mass, we remember and celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, especially His gift of Himself at the Last Supper. In Holy Communion, we receive Jesus truly present in the Eucharist and are united more deeply with Him and with one another as the Body of Christ.
The celebration of the Eucharist at Sunday Mass is the heart of our parish life. Holy Communion is also taken to the sick and housebound by our Ministers of Communion.
Because the Eucharist is a sign of our unity in faith, one must be a Catholic properly prepared and disposed to receive the Eucharist.
Catholic children usually celebrate their First Holy Communion at around 7 years of age as part of the Children’s Sacramental Program.
Adults who are baptised in the Catholic Church normally receive their First Holy Communion as part of their initiation through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) or a similar process.
Confirmation
This sacrament of initiation is closely linked with baptism and brings to further fulfilment what was begun in baptism. Confirmation is a sacrament of empowerment. It gives the strength to follow Jesus and to become involved in the mission which Jesus left to the Church. It is especially associated with the story of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles, Mary and the other disciples. Children in our parish are eligible to receive Confirmation if they have been baptised (or received) into the Catholic Church and are at least 7 years of age. They prepare for this through the Children’s Sacramental Program.
ADULT CONFIRMATIONS
1. For those who are already baptized Catholic but have not yet been confirmed:
To enrol for adult confirmation, please complete an Adult Confirmation Form and return completed form to the parish office. Someone from the office will be in touch to confirm details.
2. For those who are not yet baptized or received Catholics:
In this case Confirmation can be celebrated by the local priest in the same ceremony in which the Baptism or Reception takes place. Their preparation for this is usually through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
Matrimony
In the Catholic Church, marriage is an important religious event. As such, preparing for marriage often means some deep reflection on how God fits into your life, your future and of course, your marriage. The wedding ceremony will express your belief that God will be with you to support you in your life together. There will be an opportunity to talk about this with the Priest as you prepare for your wedding.
Bookings may be made up to two (2) years in advance.
All bookings for weddings in the Parish, at any of the three Churches, must be made through the Parish Office. Please contact the Parish Office Secretary (click here).
For more information regarding weddings in the Willunga Parish, please download the .PDF version of our “Getting Married” booklet from Resource page here.
Anointing the Sick
When a Catholic is very sick, the Church anoints the person with oil in a special ritual of healing called Anointing of the Sick. This rite is one way in which the Church continues the healing ministry of Jesus. The healing offered by this anointing is forgiveness of sins, hope and inner peace, sometimes physical healing, and an assurance of God’s steadfast care, even in death.
In the past, this sacrament was often kept strictly for those close to death. In more recent years the Church has encouraged greater use of this sacrament for illness which is not necessarily life-threatening. As with all the sacraments, this anointing has significance for the whole Church. It reminds us of our call to wholeness and our call to be a sign of salvation to the world. Wherever there is brokenness, we are to be instruments of Christ’s healing touch.
A person may be anointed during any weekday Mass before surgery or medical treatment, and at other times by request to a priest.
Adult Initiation (RCIA)
Each year there are adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church within the Willunga Parish. The process by which they are prepared for full communion is known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The value of this process, as distinct from the previous one-to-one instruction by the Parish Priest or a lay worker, is that it is community-based.
Candidates participate in many weeks of discussion and prayer with their individual sponsors. This allows the candidates to learn the basics of Catholicism and at the same time hear how everyday Catholics live out their faith.
The process culminates at the Easter Vigil Mass when the candidates are baptised, receive the Eucharist for the first time and are confirmed, bringing them into full union with the Church.
SPONSORS
A sponsor is any Catholic who is prepared to share his or her faith with a candidate during the RCIA process. Sponsors are an integral part of this process and act as friends, confidants and guides for their respective candidates. Being a sponsor is an extremely rewarding experience and past sponsors have found that they too, have grown in faith by participating and assisting in the RCIA process.
For further information on becoming a Catholic through the RCIA process, or being a sponsor, please contact the Parish Office here.
Funeral
For matters relating to funerals, please contact the Parish Secretary here. If the office is unattended and you require urgent assistance, please contact our Parish Priest on the number provided here.
For information about our parish cemeteries at Normanville and Willunga, please contact our Cemetery Team here or visit our Cemetery Information page here.