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How do I? FAQ
Scroll down or use the list below to jump to the desired FAQ. If your question hasn’t been answered, contact the Parish Office.
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Sacraments
Get a copy of a certificate of reception of a Sacrament?
Prepare my child for First Holy Communion?
Prepare my child for Confirmation?
Parish, Parish Activities/Services, Parish Hall
Catholic Schools
Apply to a Catholic nursery, primary school or secondary school?
Find the name of a local Catholic nursery or school?
How do I?
Arrange for Baptisms?
Join the parish?
Click here for a census form. Do introduce yourself to Fr John after Mass.
Join the Catholic Church?
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a process designed for adults seeking to become members of the Roman Catholic Church.
The course content can be tailored to suit the preferences and needs of each individual parish but aims to reach its conclusion with reception into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday - the day before Easter Sunday.
Currently, at Christchurch, the RCIA course starts after Easter with meetings every Monday evening at 7.30 until 9.00 pm but there are no meetings during school holidays or on Bank holidays. The evening is divided into two sessions: during the first we work through the Scripture readings for the following Sunday. During the second session we look at the teachings of Christianity and of the Catholic Church in the hope that candidates will be ready for reception at Easter.
For more information visit http://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/election_faithjourney.html
Get a copy of a certificate of reception of a Sacrament?
Baptism Certificate
Contact the Parish Office with the following:
- Date of your Baptism (at least an approximate year).
- Your full name and the names of your parents.
First Holy Communion Certificate
Contact the Parish Office with the following:
- Date of your First Holy Communion (at least an approximate year).
- Your full name.
Confirmation Certificate
Contact the Parish Office with the following:
- Date of your Confirmation (at least an approximate year).
- Your full name.
Marriage Certificate
Contact the Parish Office with the following:
- Date of your Wedding (at least an approximate year).
- Your full name and the full name of your spouse.
Parish Office: parishoffice@christchurcheltham.org.uk
Apply to a Catholic nursery, primary school or secondary school?
Once you have chosen your school, you should contact the school and get a form to be signed by your parish priest.
The times when Father will be available to sign the form are published in the Parish Newsletter towards the end of August/beginning of September. These will be on about five Saturday mornings between mid-September and the end of October, 9.30—11.00am, and on some Monday and Thursday afternoons during the same period from 3.30—5.00pm.
No appointment is necessary.
Applications to St Mary’s Catholic Primary School: Fr John will only sign your child’s application form for entry to St Mary’s Nursery or Reception class if they are for September entry next year.
To be considered for entry to St Mary’s: examples:
Nursery class: to be accepted for 2018, your child needs to turn four between 1 September 2018 - 31 August 2019
Reception class: to be accepted for 2018, your child needs to turn five between 1 September 2018 - 31 August 2019
Returning application forms to St Mary’s before your child is eligible for entry does not secure a place at the School.
Find the name of a local Catholic nursery or school?
List of local Catholic Schools
Arrange to marry?
If you or your partner is a Catholic and want to marry, you should contact the Parish Office and make an appointment to see the Parish Priest at least 6 months before your wedding.
This a time for the Parish Priest to get to know you and to start to look at the special requirements of your wedding. You will also be able to find out about necessary paperwork and certificates required.
The preparation course involves three group meetings to discuss some of the main themes connected with the wedding - The Vows, Readings from the Bible and Church Wedding Possibilities.
Finally, there is a one day Workshop on a Saturday led by married couples discussing the practical challenges of life together.
Tel: 020 8850 1666
Email: marriage@christchurcheltham.org.uk
Current Marriage Preparation Course Leaflet
Offer a Mass?
You can either contact the Parish Office or use one of the small brown envelopes at the back of the church. Envelopes can be handed in to the Parish Office or given to Fr John after Mass.
We need to know:
- The date (and if it is a weekend, the time) when you would like the Mass to be offered.
- Brief details of the intention for which you would like Mass to be offered. Please write names clearly.
- A Mass for someone living: e.g. Intentions of Name. Or Name (health intentions). You can, of course, use whatever wording you choose.
- A Mass for someone who is dead: e.g. Name RIP. Or Name RIP (2nd Anniversary). You can, of course, use whatever wording you choose.
It is customary to offer a Mass stipend to the priest, since saying the Mass each day is his work. This stipend is supposed to be sufficient to provide for the priest’s needs that day. In the Archdiocese of Southwark, £10 is the usual offering, but you are free to offer less or more or nothing, as you please.
Become a volunteer?
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the parish: without them we could not function. Volunteering is the ideal way to contribute to the community and make new friends at the same time.
What skills and experience do you have? View the various activities under the Volunteers tab at the top of the home page. Then contact the Parish Office at 0208 850 1666 or parishoffice@christchurch.org.uk.
Prepare my child for First Holy Communion?
The First Holy Communion Programme for children at a Catholic School.
This is a one-year programme that begins in October. Children must be in Year 3 or above.
The Holy Communion and Reconciliation preparation is called GOD’S GREATEST GIFT with a book for children to use and a Parents’ Guide. The Parents’ Diary contains dates and times, your child’s Catechist Group, information about the children’s meetings with catechists and the parents’ talks on Saturday mornings and the Celebration Masses.
The First Holy Communion Programme for children at a Non-Catholic School.
This is a two-year programme that begins in October. Children must be in year 2 or above.
The Preparation takes place over two years leading up to First Holy Communion in the second year. The first year is a preparation year. The second year is aimed directly at Reconciliation and Communion using the course GOD’S GREATEST GIFT. Preparation for Baptism and Reception into the Church will be part of the first year course if required.
Tel: 020 8850 1666
Email: communion@christchurcheltham.org.uk
Prepare my child for Confirmation?
The Confirmation Programme usually runs from January to April. The Sacrament is conferred on the candidates at the Confirmation Mass celebrated by the Bishop. Candidates must be in Year 8 or above at school to enrol on the programme.
The Programme consists of a series of group sessions and service sessions. With the help of catechists, the candidates explore the meaning of Confirmation and what it means to make this act of commitment as Confirmed Catholics.
Tel: 020 8850 1666
Email: confirmation@christchurcheltham.org.uk
Make a Hall booking?
The rooms available are the hall (with or without the kitchen), and the meeting room.
To make a booking:
Tel. 0208 850 1666
Email: halls@christchurcheltham.org.uk
Regular Bookings Hall Hire Rates
Terms and conditions for regular bookings
Casual Bookings Hall Hire Rates
Terms and conditions for casual bookings
Arrange a funeral?
Losing a loved one is a very difficult time.
If someone is terminally ill, do please contact the Parish Office to arrange for the Priest to come and give the person the Sacrament of the Sick.
When a loved one has died, you will need to arrange the funeral. The first step is to contact a Funeral Director. You may contact the Parish Office for advice on local Funeral Directors.
Next you need to arrange a date and a time for the funeral: this must be done through the Funeral Director, who will help you to choose among various options and will liaise with the Parish Office.
Most Catholics want a funeral Mass in the church. You also have the option to have the body rest overnight in the church before the funeral.
After the date and time have been arranged, you should contact the Parish Office to make an appointment to meet with the Parish Priest. The Parish Priest will help with choice of readings and music for the funeral, even if you only want a service at the crematorium or cemetery.
You will need to think about how you want the service to “feel”? Is it to be a time of celebration of a life? Crematoriums and cemeteries have busy schedules, so please make sure you allow enough time for all the elements you want to include e.g. eulogies, poems and music.
Tel: 020 8850 1666
Email: parishoffice@christchurcheltham.org.uk
Find a hospital chaplain?
If you are going in to hospital, do contact your parish priest so that you can receive the Sacrament of the Sick at home first.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich
Fr Josephat Ezeanolue: Our Lady of Grace - 0208 858 0401
Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup
Parish priest: St Lawrence of Canterbury - 0208 300 2480
Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough
Parish priest: St Michael and All Angels - 01689 851776
University Hospital, Lewisham
Parish priest: St Saviour and SS John Baptist and Evangelist - 0208 852 2490
For Care Home chaplains, contact the local parish in the area in which the Home is located.
If your question hasn’t been answered, contact the Parish Office.
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