• Our Faith
  • Bishop's Office
  • Our Events
  • Donate

  • Our Faith
  • Bishop's Office
  • Our Events
  • Donate
CDA001-Crestwithtext-100x600px-Final-2
  • Missionary Discipleship
        • Mission Support

        • Faith in Action
        • Deaf Ministry
        • Pastoral Councils
        • Ecumenism & Interfaith
        • Marriage & Family

        • Getting Married
        • Our Courses
        • Family Life
        • Alpha for Couples
        • Faith Formation

        • Formation for Mission
        • Family Faith
        • Te Kupenga
        • Māori Vicariate

        • Māori Vicariate
  • Young People
        • Education

        • Catholic Schools
        • Catholic Education Services
        • Te Kāmaka
        • Youth Ministry

        • ACYM Home
        • Tu Kahikatea Awards
        • ACYM Resources
        • NET Team
        • University Ministry

        • University Ministry Home
        • ACTC Blog
        • ACTS Club
        • Vocations

        • Our Calling
        • Auckland Seminarians
  • Care of the Poor
        • Justice & Peace

        • Our mahi
        • Caring Foundation

        • Our Services
        • Outreach

        • Catholic Social Services
        • De Paul House
        • Monte Cecilia
        • James Liston House
  • Liturgy & Prayer
        • Liturgy

        • Liturgy Centre
        • Resource Catalogue
        • Guidelines
        • Magazine
        • Pray Together

        • Ritual Prayers
        • Family Prayer
        • Grace
        • Pray the Rosary
        • For Sunday

        • Liturgy of the Word Children
        • Prayer of the Faithful
        • Waiata | Music
        • Te Reo in the Liturgy
  • Diocesan Services
        • Administration

        • General Manager
        • Diocesan Finance
        • Diocesan Property
        • Parish Administration
        • Heritage Centre & Archives
        • Communications

        • Media & Communications
        • CathNews
        • Annual Report
        • People

        • Staff Vacancies
        • Safeguarding
        • Tribunal
        • Confronting Abuse
        • Search
  • Missionary Discipleship
        • Mission Support

        • Faith in Action
        • Deaf Ministry
        • Pastoral Councils
        • Ecumenism & Interfaith
        • Marriage & Family

        • Getting Married
        • Our Courses
        • Family Life
        • Alpha for Couples
        • Faith Formation

        • Formation for Mission
        • Family Faith
        • Te Kupenga
        • Māori Vicariate

        • Māori Vicariate
  • Young People
        • Education

        • Catholic Schools
        • Catholic Education Services
        • Te Kāmaka
        • Youth Ministry

        • ACYM Home
        • Tu Kahikatea Awards
        • ACYM Resources
        • NET Team
        • University Ministry

        • University Ministry Home
        • ACTC Blog
        • ACTS Club
        • Vocations

        • Our Calling
        • Auckland Seminarians
  • Care of the Poor
        • Justice & Peace

        • Our mahi
        • Caring Foundation

        • Our Services
        • Outreach

        • Catholic Social Services
        • De Paul House
        • Monte Cecilia
        • James Liston House
  • Liturgy & Prayer
        • Liturgy

        • Liturgy Centre
        • Resource Catalogue
        • Guidelines
        • Magazine
        • Pray Together

        • Ritual Prayers
        • Family Prayer
        • Grace
        • Pray the Rosary
        • For Sunday

        • Liturgy of the Word Children
        • Prayer of the Faithful
        • Waiata | Music
        • Te Reo in the Liturgy
  • Diocesan Services
        • Administration

        • General Manager
        • Diocesan Finance
        • Diocesan Property
        • Parish Administration
        • Heritage Centre & Archives
        • Communications

        • Media & Communications
        • CathNews
        • Annual Report
        • People

        • Staff Vacancies
        • Safeguarding
        • Tribunal
        • Confronting Abuse
        • Search

Ngā Hākarameta — The Sacraments

Signs of God's Love

The sacraments communicate an incarnate memory, linked to the times and places of our lives, linked to all our senses. In them the whole person is engaged as a member of a living subject and part of a network of communitarian relationships. 

Pope Francis 

Seven Gifts

One of the ways the Church lives as the Body of Christ is through the special rituals we call Sacraments.  There are seven sacraments. Each sacrament is a visible sign of the hidden mystery of God’s love.

In the Sacraments, Jesus acts in and through the ritual. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the transforming grace of Christ's action is gifted to those participating. A Sacrament is more than a symbol of a spiritual reality; it makes the spiritual reality present as the Sacrament is celebrated.

Sacraments centre on two important aspects:

  • The life and ministry of Jesus
  • The Tradition of the Church

As the early Church grew and reflected on its experience, it recognised that God's grace is active in our lives:

  • New life is given to us
  • The Holy Spirit strengthens and supports us
  • We share in Jesus' sacrifice, death and resurrection
  • God forgives our sins
  • When we are ill we are healed
  • Some people are called to special roles of service within the Church
  • Many people are called to share life and create new families

Over time these 'moments of grace' were ritualised into what we now experience as the official Sacraments of the Church.

All the Sacraments are community celebrations. Celebrations of our membership in the Body of Christ.

  • Initiation: There are three Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
    Together they initiate new members and provide the strength and nourishment required for Christian life to flourish.
  • Healing: There are two Sacraments of Healing - Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.
    They are gifts of spiritual and physical healing.
  • Service: There are two Sacraments of Service - Holy Orders and Matrimony.
    The Church celebrates these ministries of love and service.

Resources

Materials and guidelines have been prepared by the Catholic Diocese of Auckland for use in sacramental preparation.  Resources include program materials and Activity Family-Whanau Books.  More details are available here.

You can seek further information and place orders by contacting the Faith Formation Team [email protected].

Restored Order

In light of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and after consultation and preparation in 1994 The Catholic Diocese of Auckland moved to the standard practice of the 'restored' order of the Sacraments of Initiation.  Following the practice of the early Church where confirmation is conferred before the reception of First Eucharist.  The policy which can be downloaded here also sets the normative place of preparation in the parish, supported by the local parish school.

Find Out More

For many Catholics the journey in faith begins with Baptism when they are very young. It continues when at about age eight they learn about and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.  At about this time they are also confirmed and make their First Communion.

Baptism Expand

Becoming a member of the Body of Christ - the Church 

Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, and it marks the beginning of a person’s journey in to faith with God. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation.  In some denominations this Sacrament is referred to as Christening.  Literally making Christ-like. 

Through Baptism we become members of Christ, and we are welcomed into the Church. 

They now share in the rights and responsibilities of the Church. 

It is traditional in the Roman Catholic Church that parents bring their children to Baptism. The parents participate in a formation programme so that they understand their role as the 'first educators of faith'.

Adults interested in Baptism are walked with through the process of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, often referred to as RCIA. 

Find out more about why Catholics baptise infants.

Bringing a child forward for baptism is a wonderful gift a family bestows on a child.  It also brings responsibility for supporting the child in their journey of faith and explained in this Information for families bringing infants forward for baptism.

Families are helped in this responsibility by the child's godparent/s.  Only one is required and they have to meet certain requirements in order to ensure they can carry out their responsibilities.  They have a particular role as Godparent.

This Frequently Asked Questions About Baptism sheet provides answers to questions families may have concerning baptism. It provides some indicative answers. To have questions fully answered according to your particular situation please contact your local parish priest or pastoral worker, or talk to a priest you know. 

Confirmation Expand

Receive the Holy Spirit

Confirmation is the second Sacrament of Initiation. At Confirmation we receive the Holy Spirit, who helps us to become good Christians. It helps us to be brave and tell people by our words and actions that we believe in Jesus. 

The Holy Spirit helps us in many ways. It comforts, teaches, helps us grow in our relationship with God and gives us strength to get rid of the bad habits in our lives. The Holy Spirit also gives us power and helps us know when we've done something wrong. We need to want to grow, learn and change to be more like God for the Holy Spirit to really work with us. 

Fruits of the Spirit 

The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.   Galatians 5:22-23 

The Holy Spirit makes a home in people’s hearts. We see the fruits of the Spirit in how lives are lived and how people are treated by each other. 

Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire.
                                                                     St. Catherine of Siena 

A hero, A Guide - Perhaps a new name? 

In the early Church as people became Christian they changed their name, This was to indicate that they had converted to Christ and would from then on live the Christian life.  Being given a name that reminds us of a holy person who demonstrates by their ordinary life how to life the Christian life.   Saints are our heroes in faith. 

Confirmation time is a great opportunity to look carefully at the lives of the Saints in our name.  Although the practice in recent years is that a new saint's name is chosen at Confirmation that is not required.  A candidate can be confirmed with one of their given names. 

Choosing a Confirmation Name 

  • What names were you baptised with?   Consider both your first and middle names.
  • What Saints are present in your names?
  • Does this Saint inspire you to be holy, to live the Christian life?
  • Would this name make a good Confirmation name? 
  • Is there a Saint whose story inspires you to live your life in the Christian manner

Learning from heroes 

Confirmation is an opportunity to pause and consider the great richness of the Church's Community of Saints.   Each of them demonstrates an heroic virtue, something we can inspire to practice in our own lives. 

Restored Order

In the diocese of Auckland the policy is that Confirmation be conferred at the age of discretion (about 8 years of age).  This is different from the practice experienced in some other countries leading to question Why confirm before first Holy Communion? 

Eucharist Expand

Food for the Journey

Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. A great gift and food for the journey.  It is important to understand just what Catholics believe about Eucharist. This video is a great introduction. 

The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word eucharistein, meaning “thanksgiving.” It is the memorial sacrifice by which bread and wine is changed into the body and blood of Christ.  The eucharistic host still looks and tastes like bread and the precious blood still looks and tastes like wine.  Catholics believe that the bread and wine have not transformed, because the form or appearance of the bread and wine has not changed. Instead, it is the substance of the bread and wine that has changed, and so Catholics teach that during consecration the bread and wine have been transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ.

Mass across the world

No matter where or when you go to Mass, you will always know what you’re going to get!  The language may be different, the songs unfamiliar but the form, function and prayers of the Mass will be the same.

Jesus Christ celebrated the Last Supper with his followers, the night before he died. During the supper he commanded the disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The celebration of the Mass then became the main form of worship in the early Church, as a reenactment of the Last Supper, as Christ had commanded.

Each and every Mass since commemorates Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross through the  Eucharist. The Mass “re-presents” (makes present) the sacrifice of Christ when he died on the cross.  There is something fascinating about continuing to celebrate the same Mass—instituted by Christ and practiced by the early Church—with the whole community of Catholics around the world…and in heaven.

First Communion

Often people will talk about receiving the Eucharist as 'going to Communion'.  And it is when Catholics process up to receive the Body and Blood of Christ it is a sign of our unity, with each other and Christ.

The day of someone's first communion is big for Catholics and is often accompanied by great celebrations.   Traditional Catholic children are prepared for First Communion at the age of discretion around seven or eight years.

Parents and the parish community prepare the child together recognising that parents are the first educators of faith.  For some parents this can seem quite daunting so the diocese has prepared some information for parents preparing children for first Communion.

Reconciliation Expand

An experience of God's bountiful mercy.

Reconciliation, Confession, Penance

What's in a name?  This sacrament is often referred to as Confession and is officially called Penance.  However today it is generally referred to as Reconciliation. These names refer to particular parts of the Sacrament. First, we feel sorrowful in our hearts, and have a determination not to sin again. We then confess our sins to a priest. After our confession and an Act of Contrition, we receive absolution of our sins and a penance to strengthen us to live fully and in love.  By receiving the sacrament we are reconciled.

Not only does the sacrament free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us.   We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned."

Many people ask why Catholics confess their sins (at least the serious ones) to a priest rather than directly to God.   Catholics do not tell their sins to a priest "instead of to God," but to God through a priest.  There are three key reasons:

  1. A Personal Encounter with Christ. The priest is not just “another human being,” but one who acts in persona Christi, in the person of Christ. With faith we believe that when we  speak to the priest during reconciliation, we are speaking to Christ. When the priest says, “I absolve you,” it is Christ who absolves (Mk 2:10).
  2. It is about Community. All sacraments are community affairs. Our sins offend not only God, but the community as well. When we admit our sins to a priest, the priest also serves in persona ecclesia, “in the person of the Church” or “in the person of the community, the Body of Christ.”
  3. The Personal Touch. We are all individuals. When we go to reconciliation the priest is able to hear and respond to our circumstances and we can be given a penance that is specifically tailored to help us.

Sometimes people get our of the habit of going to Reconciliation.  "Do not fear" (Is 41:10), the priest is present to help guide you through the process.  You can't get it wrong.  The very act of going is a huge step and a great beginning.  One of the preparation steps is to spend time reflecting on life since our last reconciliation.  This is referred to as an examination of conscious.  This in itself can be daunting.  It may help to consider our lives in light of the 10 commandments which this handout from the United States Catholic Bishops can lead you through.  Others might like to use this guide based on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

This short video gives further background to this wonderful Sacrament.

Get in touch

The Catholic Diocese Of Auckland,
Pompallier Diocesan Centre,
30 New Street, Auckland 1011,
New Zealand.
Call Us  +64 9 378 4380
Postal Address
Private Bag 47904 Ponsonby
Auckland 1144

Website Privacy Policy
Diocesan Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions

Find us

Find Your Local Parish
Find Your Ethnic Community
Find a Catholic School
Directory
CDA Portal
CathNews
Visiting Clergy
Safeguarding
Complaints

 

 

Follow us

Facebook Bishop Stephen Lowe

Bishop Steve Lowe

Facebook Bishop Patrick Dunn

Bishop Emeritus Patrick Dunn

Facebook Auckland Catholic

Auckland Catholic

Auckland Catholic YouTube

Auckland Catholic YouTube

Copyright © 2025 Catholic Diocese of Auckland. All Images are ©2025 Catholic Diocese of Auckland, used with permission.
All Rights Reserved.