The Seven Sacraments of our Catholic Life.
For infants-4 year olds On the second Tuesday of each month parent interviews are held between 6-7 PM in the Parish Hall. Families should be registered in the parish and worshipping with the parish community at Mass for at least three months prior to the baptism. Parents are asked to bring a copy of their child's birth certificate with them to the interview as this will be needed for the baptism records. A Parent & Godparent class is held in the Church from 7-8PM. It is offered in Spanish on the fourth Monday of the month and in English on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Baptism are celebrated on Saturday mornings. For more information contact Bill Smith at extension 201 or billsmith@sppnb.org.
For 4-7 year olds Children between the ages of 4 and 7 years of age need need to be enrolled in the relgious education program or catholic school prior to reception of baptism. This allows time for them to learn something of the life of Christ and a desire for the sacrament. At the time of registration please indicate that you wish to have your child in the baptism preparation program as well. Twice each year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring, we have the children to be baptized and their parents attend a session focussed on baptism. Follow this session families choose a date for reception of the sacrament.
For 8-17 year olds Enter into a two year RCIA process. They will attend the regular weekly Religious Education/Youth Ministry classes with their peers and in addition parents and the child attend five addtional sessions are receive materials to work on together at home. During the second year, in addition to the regular weekly classes there are monthly gatherings that focus on the sacramental preparation. They receive all three sacraments of Initiation--Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist on Holy Saturday at the Vigil mass with the adults from the RCIA adult program.
The preparation for these two sacraments requires attendance in the religious education program or Catholic School for two years.
First grade lays the foundation for the immediate preparation in second grade. During the First Grade year basic stories from the life and teachings of Jesus are presented, the basic prayers introduced and Baptism as the sacrament bringing us into God's family, the Chruch is presented. During Second Grade the Fall classes focus is on preparation for first Confession which is celebrated in January. Preparation for first Communion begins in January with first communion celebrations taking place after Easter.
Children starting in second grade or later attend the regular weekly religious education classes with their grade level peers. In addition five parent-child sessions are held to prepare for the sacraments. At these materials are given for the families to work on at home between these sacramental preparation sessions.
For a detailed outline of the preparation click here to go to the First Confession/Communion page.
What about adults who need First Confession and Communion? In most cases they also haven't received the sacrament of Confirmation also and so would prepare for each of these sacraments through the RCIA process. Click here for more information on this process.
Reconciliation
"Illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God. It can also make a person more mature, helping him discern in his life what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is. Very often illness provokes a search for God and a return to him."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1501)Therefore we have the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It gives one grace as strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that are associated with disease, illness and dying. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Sacrament of the Sick can be arranged by contacting the Parish office making a time with the priest to come to the home or hospital, or for a time to come to the parish.
The Sacrament of the Sick is offered the First Friday of each month at the 8:00 a.m. Mass.
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. We hope these next several months will be a wonderful time of growth for you as a couple as you prepare to ask our Lord to join you together as husband and wife.
Please click here for details on Marriage Preparation and Planning details.
Psalm 109:4 "The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech."
John 20:19-23 "Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."
Acts 6:3,6 "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business...These they set before the apostles; and they praying, imposed hands upon them."
II Timothy 1:6 (St. Paul to Timothy, whom he ordained) "For which cause I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee, by the imposition of my hands."
St. Francis of Assisi (later quoted by St. John Vianney): "If I saw an Angel and a priest, I would bend my knee first to the priest and then to the Angel."
In the Latin Church, there are seven clerical orders, all mentioned together 1 in the Historical record by Eusebius (b. A.D. 260) in the 43rd Chapter of the 6th Book of his "Church History." The lowest 5 are ecclesiastical in origin; the higher two are of divine origin. The seven orders are, in descending rank: