Sacraments and Ministries

Welcome Ministry members are the first encounter people have on arriving at the church and so a friendly face is very important in welcoming both our regular attenders but more importantly to those coming to our churches for the first time.

Eucharistic Ministers perform the important task of assisting the priest in the distribution of Holy Communion both during Holy Mass or taking the sacrament to the sick and housebound.

Readers share the Word of God during the celebration of Holy Mass with the faithful, reading from both the Old and New Testament.

Sacristans ensure that the Mass and other services are ready for the priest and deacon.

In a busy parish such as ours their help is very much appreciated and a great help to the clergy.

The Children’s Liturgy Group allows the sharing of the Word of God with younger member of the congregation during the Mass. The scriptures are explained to them in a format more suited to their age and in a fun and creative way.

Faith Sharing Groups meet during the seasons of Lent and Advent in preparation for the great feasts of Christmas and Easter. They spend valuable time reflecting on the scriptures and sharing personal aspects of their faith in a supportive and friendly atmosphere.

RCIA Group members have the blessing of guiding those who wish to enter the Catholic Church by sharing in their own faith experience. We hope that this exploration of the many aspects of the Faith will encourage those in enquiring about the Catholic Church to go forward to reception at the Easter Vigil.

The Saint Vincent De Paul group play a vital role in reaching out to those in need in our community, providing personal, material and financial support. The SSVP take our donations of food to those needing assistance and to the local Food Bank.

Church Cleaners work hard to keep our churches in good order and in a fitting state for the many activities that take place in them.

Hall Committee members are crucial to the smooth operation of both of our parish halls. These premises form an important base for the local community groups, are a great space for private functions and allow the parish to gather for special events.

Grounds Ministry members have a big job in looking after the large gardens that we have in the parish. We are so grateful for their hard work in keeping the gardens and grounds beautiful.

‘Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.’ CCC 1213

We are blessed with many baptisms in the Parish of Saint Ambrose, and it is always a great privilege to bring new members into the Church, both as children and as adults. Contact the parish office if you want to arrange a baptism for your child or are an adult interested in becoming a member of the Catholic Church.

“Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labours for their conversion.” CCC1422

Confession is available at any time in the parish, please contact the parish priest for an appointment or come to confession before the vigil mass.

The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. CCC1322

“At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.” CCC1323

Holy Eucharist is such an important element of the catholic life, celebrated eight times a week in our parish. We also pass this great gift on to many of our children in primary 4 every year; a truly special moment in their faith journey.

Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.88 For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” CCC 1285

Confirmation usually takes place in primary 7, but adults are also confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Contact is if you are interested in becoming a Catholic.

“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” CCC1601

We love a wedding in the Parish of Saint Ambrose, check out our gallery from the last few years. Contact the office if you would like to arrange your marriage, we would love to hear from you.

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus, it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate. CCC1536

We rejoice in the ordination of those called to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. Contact the parish priest if you feel you are being called to a vocation in the Catholic Church.

“By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. and indeed, she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.” CCC1499

We are called to bring comfort to those who are sick and this sacrament does indeed help raise up those brought down by illness. Contact the parish if you or someone you know may need the sacrament.