In the close-knit community of Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Tarro, their recent celebration of the Sacraments was a joyful reminder that faith is strengthened when it is shared together. 

Seven students were baptised, two students were received into the Catholic Faith, all nine were confirmed as they joined with nine other students to receive their first Holy Communion together, marking a celebration of faith, community and Catholic identity. 

For the students, the day was the culmination of months of preparation. For the school, it represented what is possible when a school, parish, families and dedicated staff work together to make faith accessible to every child. 

Year 6 student Alora Allen said she will remember the experience for years to come.

“Today I have been baptised and welcomed into the Catholic Church, and I have done my Communion. It’s been really fun,” Alora said. “It feels really special that I got to do this not just in front of my family, but in front of the whole school community and wider parish community.” 

The process began at school, with students asked to give up some of their play time each week. They worked through their Sacramental preparation with discussions, activities, worksheets and personal reflections.

“Every Wednesday at lunchtime we would go into the chapel and talk about the Sacraments and how they make us closer to God,” Alora said. “The Sacraments prepare us for our faith journey throughout our entire life.” 

Religious Education Coordinator Peter Roehrig said bringing the Sacramental Program into the school is powerful. 

“It’s an incredible example of Catholic identity being alive at our school,” Mr Roehrig said. “It’s really important because it gives us the capacity to ensure our parish is tied with our school community.” 

The program was developed after the school identified that some students were missing out on the Sacraments. 

Working together, Mr Roehrig, parish Priest Father Priyantha and Family Engagement Coordinator Beverley Bailey saw an opportunity to meet families where they were. 

“We saw a need for children to do their Sacraments at the school level because there were a lot of students who were missing out because their families didn’t know where to start,” Mr Roehrig said. “We saw that as a gap that we could cater for.” 

The approach also meant that students could be supported in ways that recognised their individual learning needs. 

“Teachers have a specialised approach with children who have specific needs,” Mr Roehrig said.

“Knowing these students and knowing what is required for them to assist in their learning meant that they had access to this program. For us, it was important that every child had the opportunity to encounter Christ through the Sacraments.” 

Acting Principal Sharon Sawyer said the program is a natural extension of the school’s identity. 

“Our Lady of Lourdes is a parish-based school and, as a result, we operate within that understanding of the mission of the Church,” Mrs Sawyer said.  

Father Priyantha and Mrs Bailey have made themselves visible to students, joining the school’s lunchtime activities and working alongside the Religious Education team. 

“It’s just grown to something a lot bigger that allows children, where they’re comfortable, to learn about God,” Mrs Sawyer said. 

“The Sacraments can be quite an abstract concept for children if they don’t attend a parish. If they don’t see it, how are they supposed to know what that looks like and what it means?” Mr Roehrig said. 

“But today they got to see it. So even if they weren’t part of it, now they have a different understanding of what that actually means.” 

“I think it’s something that you aim towards as the pinnacle of what you can achieve in a school,” Mr Roehrig said. “To have the students actually go through the Sacraments here at school for me is the highlight of the job.” 

The experience has opened the door to what comes next for Alora. 

“I see a future where I become closer to God,” she said. “Going to church more often and praying to God and asking my community for help when I need it.” 

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