The Catholic Church officially recognizes seven sacraments; most practicing Catholics will receive most of these sacraments throughout their lives. The sacraments fall into three basic groupings:
- Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation)
- Sacraments of Healing (Penance and Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick)
- Sacraments of Service (Matrimony, Holy Orders)
Read on to discover what these seven sacraments are and to learn more about each one.
Baptism
Congratulations! You may be awaiting the birth of your child, have a newborn, or have a child who is several months old. No matter the stage of parenting you are currently in, you have been entrusted with a great gift from God. In your role as a parent, you will serve as the first and most influential teacher of your child’s faith (among other things). We look forward to helping you in this role through the Sacrament of Baptism.
Baptism is the first sacrament celebrated in the process of becoming a full member of the Catholic Church. The waters of baptism symbolize life and death, washing and cleansing, and the mystery of new life out of death. At the baptism of a child (or any person), we celebrate and reflect on God’s unconditional love and welcome him or her into our faith.
Advance Notice: At Our Lady of the Rosary, parents requesting Baptism for their child must call the Parish Office two months prior to the desired month of Baptism. There are no Baptisms during Lent or Advent.
Godparents: When a child or an adult is baptized, he or she must have at least one godparent or sponsor (the terms are interchangeable). It is customary for children to have two godparents. When there are two, one must be male and the other female. Godparents must meet all of the following criteria, which are established by Canan Law and do not vary from place to place. Godparents must:
- be Catholic
- have been baptized, confirmed and received Communion
- be 16 or older
- must be living a life consistent with their own baptismal vows.
Confession/Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, also called Confession, allows us to confess our sins, receive absolution, and be reconciled with the Church.
Reconciliation must be received before First Communion (Eucharist). Children and youth receive two years of instruction before receiving Reconciliation in grade 2. Preparation sessions are also available for children and youth who are above grade 2.
At Our Lady of the Rosary, reconciliation is held every Saturday from 4:15-4:45 pm, Tuesdays from 6:00 – 6:30 pm, or by appointment. A special reconciliation service with multiple priests is also scheduled during Lent and Advent.
First Eucharist
First Eucharist is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation. It is the Body and Blood of Jesus Himself and food for our journey of faith.
At Our Lady of the Rosary, children receive two years of sacramental preparation before receiving the Eucharist, regardless of what age or grade level students enter into the program. Typically children receive First Eucharist in grade two. However, special sessions are designed for children who enter the program after grade two. Students must be enrolled in our Faith Formation process to participate.
Confirmation
The sacrament of Confirmation, along with Baptism and Eucharist, is one of the three sacraments of initiation. Confirmation completes our initiation into the Catholic Church and offers us fullness of life in the Holy Spirit, with all the gifts and fruits He desires to provide. To be fully a member of the Catholic Church, one needs to be baptized, confirmed, and receive First Communion (Eucharist).
At Our Lady of the Rosary, we welcome youth in grades 8 and up to begin preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. At the same time, we strongly advocate that faith formation is a life-long process and doesn’t end when we receive the sacrament. We prepare our teens by giving them the tools they need to live their lives in faith, long after they receive the sacrament.
Confirmation classes meet on Wednesdays, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm in the Parish Center from September – May. Our process includes presentations, service projects designed for teens, and a retreat.
Please note:
- You must be baptized and have received First Communion (and provide a certificate for both) to be confirmed. If your child has not yet received First Communion, we can prepare him or her during the Confirmation process.
- If the youth are over the age of 17, we will generally recommend that they participate in the OCIA program.
- If a child has received first communion and then stopped coming to Faith Formation, she/he is required to attend Faith Formation for three years before receiving the sacrament of Confirmation.
Matrimony
Congratulations on your engagement! Your decision to enter into marriage is a wonderful sign of hope and strength to our faith community. You have reached your decision after much discussion and prayerful thought, but it is just the first step in the process of building a successful marriage. With your family and friends, you will share your commitment with the community and become a sign and symbol of God’s great love for the human family.
We are honored that you have chosen to marry in the church and want to help you make that happen. We want to celebrate your decision to marry and the love that you share. We want to serve you in our ministry – to help you have a day of great celebration and a lifetime of happiness together. We want to support you in this process and beyond, inviting you into our faith community.
Preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage with Our Lady of the Rosary is a two-fold process:
- Marriage Building: A program to help you build the foundation for a great marriage. This applies to all couples marrying at Our Lady of the Rosary or another Catholic Church.
- Wedding Planning: A process to help you create a great wedding.
To make arrangements at Our Lady of the Rosary, parishioners are to contact the priest at least 6 months prior to date of marriage.
Most importantly, enjoy this time of engagement! Wedding planning can be a stressful time – try not to get too caught up in it. Remember why you’re here. Take time to connect with each other. Celebrate your love. And have fun!
Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament that is offered to those undergoing serious illness or people who have grown weak under the burden of years. Contrary to the misguided belief that the Anointing of the Sick is for the dying, the Church offers the Sacrament to sick members to experience the healing grace of God that flows from this Sacrament. In our parish, if you wish to be anointed, please call the Parish Office to arrange a convenient time for the priest to visit you in your home, nursing home or hospital.
Holy Orders
Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament that is offered to those undergoing serious illness or people who have grown weak under the burden of years. Contrary to the misguided belief that the Anointing of the Sick is for the dying, the Church offers the Sacrament to sick members to experience the healing grace of God that flows from this Sacrament. In our parish, if you wish to be anointed, please call the Parish Office to arrange a convenient time for the priest to visit you in your home, nursing home or hospital.