Sacraments

In the Catholic Church, a sacrament is a visible sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace. It is one of the means God uses to influence our lives to better serve God and each other. The sacraments bring us ever more fully into the hands of God as we grow in faith. The Catholic Church recognizes seven sacraments to deepen our relationship with God:

Baptism - Baptism is at the root of our Catholic Christian faith and baptizing your child is to consecrate your child to God while committing yourself to raise your child with this faith. It marks the entry of a believer into the Catholic community and symbolizing the washing away of sin by God's grace. We baptize at weekend masses on the 3rd and 4th weekend of the month. Parents must be registered, practicing parishioners. Parents and/or godparents must attend seasonal classes offered at the parish. Please confirm your baptism date with the parish office prior to making any arrangements. For adults who wished to be baptized through our RCIA program, please contact the parish office at [email protected]

For Fr. Joe's online Baptism training, click here.

Confirmation - The Sacrament of Confirmation is the second of the three sacraments of initiation because it was historically administered immediately after the Sacrament of Baptism. Confirmation perfects our baptism and brings us the graces of the Holy Spirit that were granted to the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday. When we are confirmed, we receive the Holy Spirit through the anointing with oil and the laying on of hands by the bishop or a priest appointed by him. We prepare our young adults for confirmation through our middle and high school faith formation program. Contact John Kawalski at [email protected] for more information. For adults who wished to be confirmed through our RCIA program, please contact the parish office at [email protected].

Holy Communion - The Sacrament of Holy Communion, the reception of Christ's true body and blood, answers Jesus' call to eat the true food of his flesh and the true drink of his blood. It was historically the third of the three sacraments of initiation. This sacrament, sometimes called the Eucharist, is the source of great graces that sanctify us and help us grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. It is also the meal that we share as a community around the table of the altar each time that we gather. We prepare our children to receive their First Holy Communion through our PK-5 Faith Formation. For more information, please contact Ashley Obstar at [email protected]. For adults who wished to receive their First Holy Communion through our RCIA program, please contact the parish office at [email protected]

Confession - The Sacrament of Confession, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, reconciles us to God. It is a great source of grace, and Catholics are encouraged to take advantage of it often, even if they are not aware of having committed a mortal sin. The Sacrament of Reconciliation gives us the opportunity to express our sorrow for things we have done wrong, to heal broken relationships, to forgive ourselves and others, and to open up the channels of communication between ourselves and God. Confession is a place of healing, not judgment or punishment. When we make our confession to a priest in the confidentiality of the confessional, we experience liberation, discovering again how much we are loved by God. We offer confession times throughout the week that can be found here.

Holy Matrimony - The union of two people in the Sacrament of Marriage reflects the union of Jesus Christ and His Church. Being married in the church is publicly making a lifelong commitment before friends, family, and God, putting one's faith at the very center of the relationship. The minister of the Sacrament of Marriage is the couple themselves. The priest serves as a witness. We require at least six month's notice before your wedding day and the wedding date availability must be confirmed by the priest prior to booking any reception venues. Call the parish office at 586-9243 for more information.

Holy Orders - The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the continuation of Christ's priesthood, which He bestowed upon his Apostles. There are three levels to this sacrament of ordination: the episcopate, the priesthood, and the diaconate. If you are interested in learning more about a vocation to religious or consecrated life, please contact Fr. Joe Paddock at [email protected].

Annointing of the Sick - Part of Jesus' ministry was to heal the sick, showing that suffering and death have no place in the Kingdom of God. Traditionally referred to as Extreme Unction or Last Rites, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered both to the dying and to those who are gravely ill, for the recovery of their health and for spiritual strength.

Christian burial, while not a recognized sacrament, is the culmination of a life lived with God and is both a time to grieve our loss and celebrate the achievement of eternal life. Before arrangements are made with the funeral director, please notify Susie Connell at 406-587-8583.