Sacraments are the life of the Church.  It is part of the central role of the Church to provide the Sacraments to the faithful.  Please see the following pages for information on their practice at St. Gertrude’s Parish.

Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of Anointing is the Church’s prayer for healing and comfort for those who are ill. It can be celebrated by arrangement with the Parish Priest through the Parish Office. An annual Mass of Anointing is celebrated in our churches. Those who are frail or ill have the opportunity ...

Baptism

Baptism is the beginning of a process of belonging to the Church. We know that children need time to grow and develop. The Catholic Church spaces the process of Christian Initiation over many years. The Church is also conscious that your child will one day need to own for themselves’ ...

Funerals

The death of a loved one is an especially sensitive time for families and friends. The Parish works with the family and the Funeral Director in planning the details of the funeral. It is important to allow sufficient time before the Funeral for making all the necessary decisions. The Rite ...

Marriage

Welcome to St. Gertrude's Parish, we thank you for considering to celebrate your wedding at either St. Benedict's Smithfield or St. Therese's Fairfield West. You are very welcome, however, we do ask that you please respect our prayer space as this is where our Catholic community worships. Please read the ...

R.C.I.A

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a process with a fourfold purpose: For the unbaptised, the process provides the spiritual background and support to become a fully initiated Roman Catholic. For those baptised in another Faith, the process provides a new environment for conversion. For those baptised as ...

Reconciliation

The sacramental celebration of Reconciliation is one of the Church's two sacraments of healing. It is sometimes called 'confession' because it involves acknowledging our sins and acknowleding God's holiness and mercy towards us. It is called 'reconciliation' because it celebrates our reconciliation with God by proclaiming God's mercy and forgiveness, ...

Sacramental Program

The Sacraments are a key part of church life and are celebrated within our Parish church community. Each year St Gertrude’s Parish offers a special program to help candidates and families prepare for the celebration of the Sacraments of First Reconciliation (Confession), First Holy Communion (Eucharist), and Confirmation. This programme ...