BAPTISM

For infants-3 year olds

On the second Tuesday of each month parent interviews are held between 6-7 p.m. 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 7-8 p.m.. Spanish classes will be  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 3-7 year olds

Children between the ages of 3 and 7 years of age need to be enrolled in the relgious education program or Catholic school prior to reception of baptism. This allows time for them to learn the life of Christ and foster 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.
 

FIRST CONFESSION & FIRST COMMUNION

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 four parent-child sessions are held to prepare for the sacraments during each of the two years of year of preparation.  At these sessions  materials are given for the families to work on at home with their children in 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

Regular scheduled times for Reconciliation are Saturdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the church.  You may also make an appointment with the priest for a time for Reconciliation.
 

CONFIRMATION

Confirmation is normally a two year program beginning in the 9th grade.
Students who desire this Sacrament will attend our Life Teen program on Sunday evenings. During the second year of preparation we use One Eight (a Confirmation program designed by Life Teen).
Confirmation will be conferred every year for candidates who have completed the two year program, or sufficient instruction, this is usually in the 10th grade.
 

For more information on Confirmation check out High School Confirmation or contact Julie Krug at 830-625-4531 ext. 202  or juliekrug@sppnb.org.


Adult Confirmation      We will be offering an 8 week course preparing adult Catholics who have already been baptized and made their first communion an opportunity to receive their Confirmation.  The Classes will begin at the beginning of March. 
Adults who are interested in being confirmed should contact Bill Smith at (830) 625-4531 ext. 201 or billsmith@sppnb.org

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

"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.
 

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:

• I: Priests:
  • Bishops: The First Degree of the Priesthood:
    Bishops have the greatest authority and jurisdiction (aside from Popes and Patriarchs), and have the powers to ordain men into the diaconate and priesthood, and to offer the Sacrament of Confirmation (this last power they can delegate to a priest), to dedicate churches and altars, to consecrate chalices and patens and bells, and to preside at the benediction of abbots. They are said to exercise the fullness of the priesthood. The symbol of this office is the mitre.
  • Priests: The Second Degree of the Priesthood
    The duties and powers of the priest are to confect the Eucharist at the Mass; offer the Sacraments of Penance, Communion, and Unction; to preside at the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony; to solemnly baptize; to preach; to teach, guide, and sanctify his sheep. With ordination to the priesthood, a man has received the fullness of the Sacrament of Order. The symbols of this office are the stole, the chasuble, a paten with bread on it, and a Chalice filled with wine.
• II: Deacons:
  The duties of the deacon are to handle the sacred vessels, to be of service to the priests and Bishops (inside and outside of the liturgy), to read the Epistle and Gospel at the Mass, to be general stewards, and to serve the widows and orphans. This Order is Sacramental, and the first of the three divinely-instituted grades of the hierarchy of Orders, the others being the priesthood and the episcopate. The symbols of this office are the dalmatic, the stole (worn over the left shoulder, as opposed to around the neck as priests wear them, and under the dalmatic), and the Book of the Gospels.