Sacraments

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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. 

Baptism Contact Form

Baptism Contact Form

 

Baptism Contact Form

First Communion & Reconciliation

Please note. Applications for the 2026/27 First Holy Communion programme are now closed.

Confirmation

Deanery Confirmation Programme 2026

Applications are invited from young people in the school year 9 or above, to join our 2026 Deanery Confirmation programme. The programme runs mainly Sunday evenings at St Francis’ Church, Maidstone, beginning in July, a break throughout the summer holiday, continuing through September – October, with the Confirmation Mass scheduled for Sunday 25th October, 2pm (Venue TBC)

To request an application form (which gives details of session dates and times) could parents / guardians please email: confirmation@stfrancisparish.org.uk.

The application deadline was FRIDAY 12th JUNE 2026 and applications are now closed!

 

Please note the requirements below:

  1. Applicants must be Catholics, who have made their First Holy Communion.
  2. Applications must come from the candidate themselves. 
  3. Applicants will commit to attending all of the sessions.
  4. Applicants must also be willing to participate fully in all aspects of the programme.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults  (RCIA)

RCIA (ROMAN CATHOLIC INITIATION OF ADULTS) – INFORMATION EVENINGS: We would ask all who are interested in coming into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church (becoming Catholic) or receiving confirmation as an adult, to attend one of the following information evenings. You will learn more about the RCIA programme, meet the priests / catechists, and fill in an enquiry form in order to join the programme if you wish.

The dates are as follows (please only attend one of the below):

  • Monday 14th September (18:45-20:00)
  • Tuesday 15th September (18:45-20:00)
  • Friday 18th September (19:30-20:45)

There will be two parallel groups, one on selected Monday evenings and one on selected Tuesday evenings. These sessions will run between 18:45 and 20:00 from the 21st / 22nd September.

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 Father Stephen.  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.

MARRIAGE & WEDDING PREPARATION: It is a requirement of civil law that you give 6 months’ notice to your local parish church and clergy if you wish to be married. If you are looking to be married in the Catholic Church at St Francis, or any other Catholic Church nationally or internationally, please give the Parish clergy at least 6 months’ notice so they may begin the administrative process with you in good time leading up to your marriage. The clergy are also happy to speak to you about convalidations of existing civil marriages conducted outside of the Catholic Church.