Sacramental Guidelines
Sacramental guidelines are listed below. Please contact our office for additional information or to schedule an appointment.
Christian Initiation is celebrated in Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Through these visible actions a person is incorporated into the Church and shares its mission in the world. Baptism is the first step leading to this full incorporation into Christ and His Church. Thus Baptism cannot be celebrated indiscriminately. Parents accept a great responsibility when presenting their child for Baptism. They will be the child’s first teachers in the faith, and they need to be the best of teachers. They need to teach, not only by word, but by Example.
The Godparents also take upon themselves the responsibility of helping the parents raise the newly baptized child in the faith. The Godparents do this primarily by the example of their lives. However, to understand and to be aware of what is expected, the parents and Godparents need to be instructed. Therefore, a baptismal preparation course is offered and required.
Parents need to:
choose at least one Confirmed, practicing Catholic to be a Godparent.
contact the rectory at least 60 days in advance to make arrangements for the baptismal preparation.
attend the instructions with a desire to deepen one’s knowledge of the faith and commitment to living it.
be at the church for the Baptism at least 20 minutes before the Sunday Mass.
Confirmation is integral to the sacramental initiation of a person into the Church, the People of God. In that sense, it is not an optional sacrament. It is for the candidate both a precious occasion of Grace and an opportunity for a moving experience of faith. Parents, sponsors, priests, catechists and community share the ministry of preparing the candidate for this significant sacramental experience. Careful planning and extended preparation will enhance for the candidate this encounter with the Spirit.
Candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation must be baptized Catholics, in the tenth grade or older, and be involved in a structured preparation program that is designed to deepen their faith commitment. This preparation, in a general fashion includes:
THE GENERAL PREPARATION: This includes all the formal and informal catechetical formation provided to the child by parents and the parish from baptism through the ninth grade.
THE FORMAL PREPARATION PROGRAM: This includes:
An information session for parents and youth- The selection of sponsors
- A sponsor information and training session
- A retreat experience consisting of at least one full day (we use several partial days)
- The Core content to be presented in formal classes as required by our diocese
- Sponsor/youth sessions; and 20 hours at a Christian Service Project
- Selection of Confirmation name (may keep one’s own)
- An interview with the confirmand by the pastor or delegate
- Letter of request by the confirmand to the Bishop
- Opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- Practice, as needed for the actual celebration
- Regular participation at Eucharist (added by the Bishop)
Adults desiring to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation should contact the pastor. A special program of preparation will be worked out according to each person’s personal situation.
As parents have the responsibility to be the “first teachers” of their children and the “decision makers” for when their children are prepared to share in the Eucharist, they can use some help. To aid parents with these rights and duties, a catechesis for First Eucharist is presented to the second grade students in our Religious Education Classes. Along with this formal instruction, a program focusing on growth in prayer, spiritual growth and family experience is an integral component in the overall preparation of the First Communicants. Parents are required to attend several “Family Sessions”, use the growth experiences and prayers at home, take part in the “Pot-Luck” supper, attend the prayer-practice session and celebrate First Eucharist with their child(ren).
We are incorporated into Christ’s Body, the Church, through the Sacraments of Initiation. When we have been weakened by sin, we can be healed through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus continues His work of forgiving and reconciling through this sacrament.
Catechesis for children’s first reception of this sacrament must always respect their natural dispositions, ability, age, and circumstances of life. This study needs to make clear the relationship of the sacrament to the children’s life; to help them recognize moral good and evil, to repent for wrong-doing, and to turn for forgiveness to Jesus and the Church. If the children are encouraged to see how faith is expressed by being forgiven and forgiving, they should be led to approach the sacrament freely and regularly. Several meetings with the parents are provided so that they may be aided in this delicate task.
Christian marriage is the union of a baptized man and women who freely enter into a loving covenant with each other in Christ. The self-giving love of bride and groom is sealed and strengthened by the Lord; and the married couple imitates, and in a way become signs, in and to the world, of God’s steadfast love for His people.
Because marriage is a sacred and serious commitment, it is necessary for all couples contemplating this union to prepare themselves for it by prayer and study. A marriage preparation program includes the following:
Before renting a hall, contact the parish and set a date. This should take place at least six (6) months before the desired date of the wedding. In fact, as soon as an engagement takes place, contact the pastor.
It goes without saying that one of the parties must be a registered member of the parish.
The Catholics must give evidence of faith in God, participate in parish worship and activities, and have an understanding of the Catholic faith.
Attend one of the diocese’s pre-marriage workshops, and any extra sessions with the pastor as he deems necessary.
Work out the pre-marriage inventory and discuss the same with the administrator(s).
Present the necessary documentation: recently issued record of baptism, confirmation, dispensation (if necessary) and complete the necessary diocesan forms.
Plan a truly meaningful liturgy.
Jesus’ care and concern for the sick permeates the Gospels. Though primarily concerned with spiritual sickness, He was not indifferent to bodily afflictions and seemed often to point to the relationship between the two. To be faithful to Him, the Church must care for those who are sick in body as well as spirit.
The Anointing of the Sick is a special sacrament for Christians dangerously ill as a result of sickness or old age. The sacrament is also intended for patients undergoing surgery on account of dangerous illness, for elderly persons who are in a weak condition, even if they are not dangerously ill, for children who are seriously ill and have sufficient understanding to be comforted by its reception.
A communal celebration of this sacrament is held once a year so that the sick, surrounded by the Church in person of their family and friends, can receive special support and encouragement from the faith community.
The pastor is available for the individual celebration of this sacrament when a family determines that a home celebration would be most appropriate.