Christ promised He would not leave us orphans (John 14:18) but would send the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us. (John 15:26) He gave the sacraments to heal, feed, and strengthen us. The seven sacraments are not just symbols. They are signs that convey God's grace and love.

THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION

BAPTISM: Because of original sin, we are born without grace in our souls, so there is no way for us to have fellowship with God. Jesus became man to bring us into union with His Father. He said no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is first born of "water and the Spirit" (John 3:5) - this refers to baptism.

Through baptism we are born again, but this time on a spiritual level instead of a physical level. We are washed in the bath of rebirth (Titus 3:5). We are baptized into Christ's death and therefore share in His Resurrection (Rom 6:3-7). Baptism cleanses us of sins and brings the Holy Spirit and His grace into our souls (Acts 2:38, 22:16).

Baptism is the gateway into the Church, welcoming members into the Christian Community.

CONFIRMATION: God strengthens our souls through the sacrament of confirmation. Even though Jesus' disciples received grace before His Resurrection, on Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to strengthen them with new graces for the difficult work ahead. They went out and preached the gospel fearlessly and carried out the mission Christ had given them. Later, they laid hands on others to strengthen them as well (Acts 8:14-17). Through confirmation you are strengthened to meet the spiritual challenges in your life.

Confirmation is an important sacrament for the young person, and their full commitment (along with their parents) is required. Classes are held during the school year in the school and in our Parish Religious Education Program. Service hours are also required. Guidelines from the Archdiocese mandate the content of the preparation prior to sacrament celebrations.

EUCHARIST: Once we become members of Christ's family, He does not let us go hungry, but feeds us with His own body and blood through the Eucharist. In the Hebrew scripture, as they prepared for their journey in the wilderness, God commanded His people to sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle its blood on their door posts, so the Angel of Death would pass by their homes then they ate the lamb to seal their covenant with God.

This lamb prefigured Jesus. He is the real "Lamb of God," who takes away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29). Through Jesus we enter into a New Covenant with God (Lk 22:20), who protects us from eternal death. God's chosen people ate the Passover lamb. Now we must eat the Lamb that is the Eucharist. Jesus said, "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life within you" (Jn 6:53). At the Last Supper he took bread and wine and said, "Take and eat. This is my body ... This is my blood which will be shed for you" (Mk 14:22-24). In this way Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the sacrificial meal Catholics consume at each Mass.

The Catholic Church teaches that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross occurred "once for all"; it cannot be repeated (Heb 9:28). Christ does not "die again" during Mass, but the very same sacrifice that occurred on Calvary is made present on the altar. That is why the Mass is not "another" sacrifice, but a participation in the same, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Paul reminds us that the bread and the wine really become, by a miracle of God's grace, the actual body and blood of Jesus: "Anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself' (1Cor 11:27-29). After the consecration of the bread and wine, no bread or wine remains on the altar. Only Jesus himself, under the appearance of bread and wine, remains.

First Communion is celebrated by our young people so that they may celebrate the Eucharist on a regular Sunday basis. Classes are held through the school and our Parish Religious Education Program.

THE SACRAMENTS OF SERVICE

MATRIMONY: Most people are called to the married life rather than to the religious life or to life as a single person. Through the sacrament of matrimony, God gives special graces to help married couples with life's difficulties, especially to help them raise their children as loving followers of Christ.

Marriage always involves three parties: the bride, the groom, and God. When two Christians receive the sacrament of matrimony, God is with them, witnessing and blessing their marriage covenant. For Catholics, God does this through the priest or deacon who presides at the wedding as the Church's witness.

A sacramental marriage is permanent; only death can break it (Mk 10:1-12; Rom 7:2-3; 1Cor 7:10-11). This holy union is a living symbol of the unbreakable relationship between Christ and his Church (Eph 5:21-33). It is celebrating faithfulness and fidelity with God at the center of a couple's marriage.

All arrangements must be made with the church at least six (6) months before the wedding date. Preparation classes are required before celebration of the sacrament.

HOLY ORDERS: Others are called to share specially in Christ's priesthood. In the Old Covenant, even though Israel was a kingdom of priests, (Ex 19:6), the Lord called certain men to a special priestly ministry (Ex 19:22). In the New Covenant, even though Christians are a kingdom of priests (1Pet 2:9), Jesus calls certain men to a special priestly ministry (Rom 15:15-16). This sacrament is called holy orders. Through it, priests are ordained and thus empowered to serve the Church (2Tim 1:6-7) as pastors, teachers, and spiritual fathers who heal, feed, and strengthen God's people - most importantly through preaching and the administration of the sacraments.

THE SACRAMENT OF HEALING

RECONCILIATION: (also called Penance or Confession) Sometimes on our journey toward the heavenly Promised Land we stumble and fall into sin. God is always ready to lift us up and to restore us to grace-filled fellowship with Him. He does this through the sacrament of penance (which is also known as confession or reconciliation, each term emphasizing a different element of the sacrament).

Jesus gave His apostles power and authority to reconcile us to the Father. They received Jesus' own power to forgive sins when He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained" (John 20:22-23).

Paul notes that "all this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation.... We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us" (2Cor 5:18-20). Through confession to a priest, God's minister, we have our sins forgiven, and we receive grace to help us resist future temptations.

Celebrate God's awesome forgiveness! Individual confessions may be made on Saturdays or by appointment with one the priests.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Priests care for us when we are physically ill. They do this through the sacrament known as the anointing of the sick. The Bible instructs us, "Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray ...  Is any one among you sick? He should summon the presbyters [priests] of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14-15).

Anointing of the sick not only helps us endure illness, but it cleanses our souls and helps us prepare to meet God. The healing presence of God is available upon request. If you are seriously ill or are preparing to enter the hospital for surgery, please call the parish office and make arrangements to celebrate the sacrament of the sick.