BAPTISM
Anyone wishing to have a child baptised should give four to six weeks notice so that the family can be visited, and parents can attend a preparation course.   Baptisms take place on most Sundays of the year at 12.15 pm. 

PRE-MARRIAGE EDUCATION   (Program schedule below)

At OLA we offer two separate and quite different programs to engaged couples.

1. FRIENDSHIP TO INTIMACY
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The first, the Friendship to Intimacy Program is run on Sunday and Monday nights, and couples from several parishes attend.

The program provides couples with a forum to reflect on their options for a commitment to marriage.  Couples can explore for themselves the style of marriage that they wish to create. 

The program does not promote any one model of marriage, but offers couples the opportunity to explore what they want to make of their relationship.

Each program takes a maximum of 6 couples to provide the best environment for discussion and reflection. Opportunities will be provided throughout the program for  each participant to explore issues as an individual, as a couple, and in  whole group discussions.
This is an opportunity for you as a couple to take time out from frantic wedding preparations for that one day when you commit to each other.
This is the time to prepare for your marriage, for the partnership you will make for the rest of your lives.

Topics include:

• Become more aware of yourself, of each other, and of the "us" that you will make through marriage.
  
• Your own and your partner's expectations about your relationship and  marriage.
  
• Beliefs about sex roles.
  
• The impact of your family of origin on you as an individual and the possible implications for your relationship.
  
• Communication: explore what you do now and practice and develop new skills to assist you in communicating your needs to your partner and thus enhance your relationships.
  
• Conflict: recognise your own style of dealing with conflict and the consequences of this; to see conflict as a challenge to growth--individually and as a couple.
  
• Intimacy and sexuality.
  
• Expectations about children and parenting.
  
• Share your understanding of marriage as a life-long process.
  
• Become more aware of  your shared values and your need for spirituality.
  

CONFIRMATION, FIRST COMMUNION, RECONCILIATION, CHILDREN IN  EDUCATION  DEPARTMENT SCHOOLS

Godstart (post-baptism support program designed to help parents develop their children's faith).
For children in government schools, contact the Parish House by the beginning of Term 1 each year.

The second marriage education program we offer is FOCCUS. 

2. FOCCUS: Focusing on you and your partner.   
A facilitative program, FOCCUS raises questions and identifies areas of concern for the couples involved. 
We have a team of couples who are registered FOCCUS facilitators. 
Find out more by contacting the Parish House by email or 9583 6161