God invites us to turn to him for forgiveness, rebirth, and help.  Ultimately it is the gift of his very self that he offers.  The Eucharist, the Sacrament of Communion with Jesus, is the center of the Christian life, but God gives us the other sacraments to prepare us for this gift of gifts, and to help us live as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sacraments are “powers that comes forth” from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are “the masterworks of God” in the new and everlasting covenant.   Catechism 1116

  • Christian Funerals:  A collection of three rituals which assist the soul of the deceased and which bring consolation to family and friends.
  • Quinceañera:  A ritual by which a young woman thanks God and commits herself to him.
  • Other Rituals:  Anniversary Masses and Memorial Masses are available as well as many types of blessings such as the Blessing of the Sick.

Baptism

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.  Ephesians 4:4-6

  • Baptism of Infants:  Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:15-17).  We should baptize our children as soon as possible after birth, and we do so with this ritual, in the faith of their parents, until the child has reached age 7, the age of reason.

Here is the Registration Form and Information:     English     Spanish

  • Baptism of Children:  Children age 7 through 8th grade should enroll in Faith Formation in July of every year for two years of preparation.  Please call the office.
  • Baptism of Youth:  Youth past 8th grade should enroll in Confirmation preparation in July every year for a two years of preparation.  Please call the office.
  • Baptism of Adults:  Anyone above high school age should enroll in RCIA / Adult Confirmation preparation in June every year for one year of preparation.  Please call the office.

If you are an adult please request an appointment with the priest to receive support and encouragement while waiting for classes to start.  Youth and children may request this as well.

Confirmation

Confirmation is important because “it brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace; … it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; … it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action”; and it helps us live out our vocations as husbands and wives, nuns and priests.  Catechism 1303

  • Confirmation for Youth:  Highschoolers should enroll for this two year preparation as soon as possible.  Youth attending Catholic high schools may skip the first year.  Youth are registered every July.

    Youth Confirmation Registration and Information:     English     Spanish

  • Confirmation for Adults:  There are three different scenarios. Please make an appointment with the priest to receive encouragement and to have your questions answered.  Registration is in June.

Unbaptized Adults will receive one year of preparation and then receive all the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass: Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.

Baptized Adults who are becoming Catholics will receive one year of preparation and then receive Confirmation the Easter Vigil Mass.

Baptized Catholics will receive one year of preparation and then receive Confirmation at an Easter Sunday Mass.

If you are preparing for Marriage, are seriously ill, or for any reason cannot complete the preparation, please make an appointment with the priest to discuss exceptions so that you may receive the grace of this Sacrament.

Eucharist / First Communion

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.  1 Corinthians 10:16-17

  • Sunday Mass:  For consistent growth in relationship and to please God, all Catholics need to celebrate Mass every week.  If you are not able due to age or illness, please request the Eucharist to be brought to you.
  • Holy Days of Obligation:  There are other days that all Catholics need to celebrate Mass.  They are:  January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary,  November 1, the solemnity of All Saints, December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 25, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  If these fall on a Saturday or Monday, then the need is lifted.  The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven is also included but is moved to Sunday in our Diocese.
  • Daily Mass:  All priests throughout the whole world are called to celebrate Mass every day.  As Jesus said, “Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).  As this is the most powerful prayer and most perfect gift, all Catholics are invited to participate as well.
  • First Communion for Children or Youth:  The Eucharist should be given to children as early as possible after they reach the age of reason, age 7. Beginning as early as kindergarten, children should enter Catechism-Faith Formation.  For youth in high school, enroll them in Youth Confirmation.  Registrations are July of every year.

    Catechism-Faith Formation Registration Form and Information:  English     Spanish

  • First Communion for Adults:  Adults may be prepared to receive the Eucharist at any time.  Please make an appointment with the priest.

Confession / Penance and Reconciliation

Jesus said to apostles, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”  John 20:21-23

God knows that after baptism we will struggle and fall as we grow in likeness to our Savior Jesus Christ.   He gives us this Sacrament to experience his Mercy.  He asks us to come before those he has called for this, his priests, so that we may confess our sin with our lips, and then hear with our own ears his forgiveness and encouragement.  All Catholics age 7 and above need to experience this Sacrament every year especially during Easter.  The mercy of God which we receive, we are able to then shar with others. ourselves.

This Sacrament is offered every week on Fridays at 6:30pm and Saturdays at 8:30am or by appointment.

Here is a Guide to Confession:     English     Spanish

Anointing of the Sick

Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters 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 5:14-16

If we are suffering grave illness, frailty from age or will have a serious operation, God asks us to turn to him and receive his help through this Sacrament.  He may choose to heal miraculously or he may choose to give strength and consolation.  Because it includes the forgiveness of all sin, it is for baptized Catholics who have reached the age of reason.  Once we have received the Sacrament for our particular set of difficulties, we may request it again if there is a new illness or our condition worsens.  We can read more in the Catechism.

This Sacrament is available by calling a priest.

Holy Matrimony / Weddings

The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.  Catechism 1601

Documents:

      • To begin the process (information and registration form):  English     Spanish
      • To study the parts and words of the wedding:     English     Spanish
    • Checklists from your specific priest to help you complete the preparation:

Holy Orders / Priesthood

 The ministerial priesthood has the task not only of representing Christ – Head of the Church – before the assembly of the faithful, but also of acting in the name of the whole Church when presenting to God the prayer of the Church, and above all when offering the Eucharistic sacrifice.  Catechism 1552

Do you think God may be calling you to ordained ministry:  to be a deacon, a priest, or a bishop?  Or to accept celibacy for the sake of salvation: to be a monk or nun, brother or sister?  Discovering the vocation God has planned for you is important not only for happiness but for salvation. Please ask for an appointment with a priest for assistance.

Christian Funerals

For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.  1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Through the Funeral services, we receive God’s help not only for ourselves but for our loved ones who have passed on.   We long to be with our loved ones forever, and so it is human and natural to grieve.  Jesus grieved the passing of his friend Lazarus, and he grieved in the garden before leaving to take up his Cross.   We are encouraged to accept all three rituals of God’s help for ourselves and our loved ones:  the vigil/rosary, the Mass, and the burial/committal.  These correspond to three movements of the heart:  experiencing our grief, receiving God’s consolation, and accepting our new reality.

Documents:

  • To choose scripture options for Mass:     English     Spanish

Quinceañera

So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.  2 Timothy 2:22

This ritual has grown from humble beginnings.  Small villages needed a way to present little girls who had become young women back to the community, so that the community including the young men would begin to see them in a new way.  Also, young women needed a way to express their willingness to take on a new role within the community, that of motherhood.  Today the Quinceañera ritual has been transformed into the presentation of a young women to God, and for the women to express their willingness to God to be placed in his service in more adult forms.

Documents:

Other Rituals

Depending on availability of priests, these other rituals can be celebrated.

  • Anniversary Mass:  Especially for years 25 and 50.
  • Memorial Mass:  Especially if a group of people were not able to attend the funeral services.
  • Blessing of the Sick:  Especially for children before the age of reason or after receiving the Anointing of the Sick.
  • Other Blessings:  Religious Articles, Homes, Cars, Pregnancies, Engagements, or Businesses.

There is also a Book of Household Blessings which you may use for your family.