Sacraments
Baptism
Baptism is a precious gift given by God through the Church. As parents you have the privilege of presenting your child to receive this gift, a gift that will last a lifetime and beyond. Baptism is the gift of new life, the eternal life of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
This gift is a sacrament, an encounter with Christ himself, it is the moment he comes to us through the power of the Holy Spirit and acts within us.
If you live in St Francis’ Parish (see Parish Boundary Map) or regularly attend Mass at St Francis Church or St. Luke’s Chapel, Preston Hall, you may have your child baptised in this parish. If you live in another parish, you should approach the Parish Priest of that parish.
Please fill in the Baptism Contact Form and then our Baptism coordinator will send you an application form via email.
We will also send you a leaflet that looks at the Sacrament of Baptism and contains guidance and reflections on why you wish to have your child Baptised and what the Church teaches about Baptism. There is also a link to a video by Bishop Robert Barron with some teaching on Baptism that you need to watch.
Once you have done this, please fully complete the application form we sent you, including your preferred Baptism dates and then return it to the coordinator via email.
We thank you for requesting the Sacrament of Baptism for your child as we always delight in welcoming new members into the Church community and we are sure you will find the material we send you both helpful and encouraging.
First Communion & Reconciliation
Applications for the First Holy Communion Programme must be made through the Parish Priest.
Confirmation
APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED!
Deanery Confirmation Programme 2024
Any enquiries regarding the Confirmation Programme can be made to Deacon Ian Black via email: confirmation@stfrancisparish.org.uk
The closing date for applications was: Monday 3rd JUNE
Applications are invited from young people in Year 9 or above, who live in the parishes of Maidstone Deanery:
St Francis’, Maidstone / St Peter’s, Bearsted / Holy Family, Park Wood, / St Thomas More, West Malling / St Theodore’s Cranbrook/ St Andrew’s, Tenterden / Sacred Heart, Goudhurst.
The programme will run on mainly Sunday evenings at St Francis’ Church, Maidstone, beginning in June, a break throughout the summer holiday, continuing through September – October, with the Confirmation Mass scheduled for Saturday 19th October, 3pm. (Venue TBC)
Applicants must be Catholics, who have made their First Holy Communion.Applications must come from the candidate themselves.Applicants will commit to attending all of the sessions.Applicants must also be willing to participate fully in all aspects of the programme.
APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED!
Our Confirmation programme is organised in conjunction with the parishes of St. Peter’s Bearsted, Holy Family, Park Wood, and St Thomas More, West Malling.
Applications are invited from young people in Year 9 or above to join our 2023 Deanery Confirmation programme. The programme will run on mainly Sunday evenings at St Francis’ Church, Maidstone, beginning in June, a break throughout the summer holiday, with the Confirmation Mass scheduled for October 2023.
Applicants must be Catholics, who have made their First Holy Communion.
Applications must come from the candidate themselves.
Applicants will commit to attending all of the sessions.
Applicants must also be willing to participate fully in all aspects of the programme.
To request an application form, which also gives details of dates and times of sessions, please email: confirmation@stfrancisparish.org.uk
The Closing date for applications is Friday 2nd June 2023.
Any other questions can be raised either through the above mailbox, or by contacting Deacon Ian.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Each year a programme is run for adults who wish to be baptised into the Catholic Church or who have already been baptised outside the Catholic Church and now wish to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church. Informal meetings are held weekly. For those who wish to be baptised or received into the Church, this will normally take place during the Easter Vigil.
If you think this is something you would like to give a try (and why not?) then please email the parish office and address your email to Fr. Liam. We look forward to hearing from you.
Marriage
Couples who wish to be married in the church should make an appointment to see the parish priest as soon as is practicable to arrange the date for the wedding and to make the necessary arrangements. They will be expected to undertake a course in preparation for the marriage which will help them to understand the Church’s teaching on marriage and the responsibilities they are taking on in Christian marriage.