HOLY SACRAMENTS
BAPTISM
The Lord has blessed you and the parish with a beautiful gift — your child — the visible sign of your love for each other. You have played an important part in God's plan of creation, and with Him have given life to a new member of His family. What more beautiful way can we welcome your child into God's family than through the sacrament of baptism.
The rite of baptism for children puts emphasis on the role of parents in baptism, and on the preparation that should be a part of the celebration of this sacrament. The Introduction to the Rite states:
"…it is of great importance for the baptism that parents moved by their own faith, and other members of the parish, should prepare to take part in the rite with understanding…
It is the duty of the priest to prepare families for the baptism of their children and to help them in the task of Christian formation which they have undertaken.
The Introduction to the Rite points out that the importance of the sacrament makes some preparation a necessary element for all involved. As parents, we prepare long and well for the arrival of our children. Now we need to prepare ourselves to help them for the life they will lead as children of God — the lifelong commitment of Catholic Christians."
Through the pre-baptismal programme at our parish, we hope to deepen your understanding of the sacrament of baptism and make you ever more aware of the importance this sacrament plays in your life as a family of God.
RECONCILIATION
Those who approach the sacrament of Reconciliation obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offenses 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 labors for their conversion.
How to Go To Confession
- The priest greets you. The penitent says: "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned." You then say how long it has been since your lst Confession.
- The penitent tells the priest his/her sins and answers any questions.
- The priest will give you some advice and will assign you a penance.
- The penitent will next pray the Act of Contrition.
- The priest then gives absolution
- The priest will then say and bid you go in the peace of the Lord.
- The penitent says: "Thank you father."
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all, because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.Thanksgiving After Confession
say your penance and add the Magnificat or prayer of thanksgiving.Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.Prayer of Thanksgiving
Almighty and wonderful God, how wonderfully you created man and still more wonderfully remade him. You do not abandon the sinner but seek him out with a father's love. You sent your Son into the world to destroy sin and death by his passion, and to restore life and joy by his resurrection. You sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts to make us your children and heirs to your kingdom. You constantly renew our spirit in the sacrament of your redeeming love, freeing us from slavery to sin and transforming us ever more closely into the likeness of your beloved Son. We thank you for the wonders of your mercy and with heart and hand and voice we join with the whole Church in a new song of praise: Glory to you through Christ in the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.HOLY EUCHARIST
CONFIRMATION
From its very beginning, the Christian community welcomed new members through a special period of training during which the faith of newcomers could grow and mature until they were ready for full commitment to Jesus. The same dynamic occurred between Jesus and his Apostles. The newfound faith of the Apostles after they first responded to the call of Jesus was not the same as the firm and joyous faith of Pentecost. In fact, as Luke points out in Acts, not even witnessing the risen Christ on Easter was sufficient for the Apostles to grasp fully the message of Jesus. Only after their special encounter with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost could they proclaim Jesus as Lord to the Jerusalem crowds.
Confirmation is your personal Pentecost. It is the time in your life when the Father empowers you in a special way with the Holy Spirit. Though it is unlikely that your experience will be of tongues of fire and a violent wind, you will be anointed with Holy Chrism, marked with the sign of the cross, and the bishop will say to you, "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit."
MATRIMONY
The union of husband and wife can be compared to the union between Christ and His Church. The two become one flesh and share in the great union of Christ's love.
A Christian marriage is a sacrament in which a baptized man and woman pledge their love through a deep and personal covenant. To celebrate this sacrament, the man and woman must be of mature age. There can't be a previously existing valid marriage. And they must freely intend to enter a lifelong commitment.
HOLY ORDERS
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
- Who can be anointed?
- Person who is seriously ill.
- Person who is convalescing or temporarily ill.
- Person who is chronically ill (heart, arthritis, asthma, etc.).
- Person who suffers from mental and emotional difficulties.
- Person who is 65 years of age and older.
- Person due to undergo surgery in the near future.
- Sick children who have reached the age of reason.
