Sacraments

The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays of the month and also on the fifth Sunday if a month has five Sundays. Parents must attend a Baptismal Preparation Class at any Catholic Church. Baptismal Preparation Classes are held at St. Benedict on the first Monday of the month at 7:30 pm in the Gathering Space. Godparents must obtain a sponsor eligibility certificate verifying they are practicing Catholics who have been confirmed. A date for Baptism will not be confirmed before sponsor eligibility certificates are received at the Parish Office.

Baptismal Registration Form
Registration can also be submitted online, see registration form to the right.

Choosing Godparents

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. writes, “The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ, whole and entire. It is not a ‘sign’ or a ‘symbol’ or a ‘representation of the Body and Blood of Christ – it IS the Body and Blood of Christ. When we receive Holy Communion, the minister offers us the host and says, ‘The Body of Christ,’ in parishes or places where the chalice is also offered, the minister says, ‘The Blood of Christ.’ And we respond, ‘Amen,’ a Hebrew word found throughout the Old and New Testaments that means ‘yes, truly,’ ‘so be it,’ ‘I believe it.’ The Lord Jesus Christ is fully present in the host and wine consecrated by the priest at Mass.” (The Monitor, April 9, 2014)

See Communion for Grade 2 Sacramental Preparation.
See RCIA for Adults.

“Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the ‘sacraments of Christian initiation,’ whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For ‘by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” (CCC, no. 1285).

See the Confirmation page for those seeking to receive under the age of 16.
See the RCIA page for those seeking to receive and over the age of 16.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. writes, “The forgiveness of sins is an essential part of the mission of the Catholic Church” (The Monitor, May 8, 2014). The Sacrament of Penance/ Reconciliation calls us to walk together again, to examine our past, do penance for our sins, and to recommit ourselves to live in peace, unity, justice, and freedom. The experience of the sacrament is at the heart of the Gospel message. On February 19, 2014, during his General Audience in Rome, Pope Francis said, “Jesus receives you with so much love. Be courageous and go to confession.” Penance is an encounter with a loving and forgiving God. Penance repairs and strengthens our relationship with God, the Church, self and helps us freely to receive the grace of the other Sacraments.

In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.

When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.

To celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony, please contact the Parish Office to make arrangements at least one year prior to the intended date of the wedding. Marriage preparation includes attending Pre-Cana and sessions with our Marriage Minister, Mrs. Lori McCahill.
 

From the moment of Jesus' conception in the womb of Mary until his Resurrection, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. In biblical language, he was anointed by the Holy Spirit and thus established by God the Father as our high priest. As Risen Lord, he remains our high priest. . . . While all the baptized share in Christ's priesthood, the ministerial priesthood shares this through the Sacrament of Holy Orders in a special way. 

"Here I am, send me." (Is 6:8)

Ordination to the priesthood is always a call and a gift from God. Christ reminded his Apostles that they needed to ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest. Those who seek priesthood respond generously to God's call using the words of the prophet, "Here I am, send me" (Is 6:8). This call from God can be recognized and understood from the daily signs that disclose his will to those in charge of discerning the vocation of the candidate.