Sacramental Celebrations
Sacraments of Initiation
Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist are the Sacraments of Initiation to the Catholic Church. Individuals who complete the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program receive these Sacraments in the presence of the community at the Easter Vigil Mass. Most children receive Baptism within months of their birth, Confirmation when they are 14 or 15 years of age, and Holy Eucharist when they are 6 or 7 years of age.
Baptism
Baptism is the first step in a child’s (or adult’s) faith life, when they come to share in Christ’s death so that they might share in His resurrection. In Baptism, we celebrate the beginning of the person’s relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We believe that a person encounters the Lord and comes to know Him most deeply when he/she is part of a Catholic Christian community called a parish. Being “in relationship” with Christ cannot be separated from being “in relationship” with the other members of His Body, the Church.
Community Baptismal celebrations are held at 12:30 pm on the first Sunday of each month, except during the season of Lent. Registered parishioners, please contact the parish Office Manager during business hours to make arrangements.
Confirmation
In Confirmation, the young adult (usually 14 or 15 years of age) confirms the commitment that was made for him/her at Baptism by the parents. Confirmation is the celebration of an adult decision to follow Christ and His teachings in the context of the Catholic Church. The one receiving the anointing and laying on of hands at Confirmation receives a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that they can be true and faithful to this commitment.
Preparation for Confirmation begins usually in the person’s freshman year of high school and is two years in duration. Refer to Religious Education [link to be added] for more specifics about our parish program.
Confirmations are held at St. Joseph’s each year in the spring (after Easter). Older Catholics may be confirmed in a separate celebration at the Cathedral.
Holy Eucharist
The Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ’s Body and Blood. The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist: “Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”Jn 6:53
[Add brief explanation of children’s preparation for First Eucharist and refer to Religious Education.]
For the regular schedule of Eucharistic celebrations, please refer to Liturgies.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation (or Confession as it’s sometimes called) is an opportunity to meet with a priest to talk about what sins are preventing us from having a good relationship with God and other people in our lives. We can meet with the priest either face to face or from behind a screen. We usually begin by letting the priest know how long it has been since we “confessed” last and then tell him about those sins or sinful tendencies that are causing problems in our lives. The priest will then ask us to do a penance (usually in the form of a prayer) and then will say the words of absolution so that we can know that our sins are forgiven.
The Reconciliation Room is located in the sacristy behind the sanctuary of the church. Those planning to go to confession should wait in the pews on the right side of the church until they see that the Reconciliation Room door is open. Please close the door upon entering, and leave it open upon finishing.
Reconciliation is held in the church each Saturday from 3:00 to 3:30 PM, or by appointment at the Rectory.
Matrimony
Matrimony (or marriage) is the celebration of a commitment of love between one man and one woman. These two believe that God has a plan for their live,s and they commit themselves to each other in a Church celebration in the presence of an ordained priest or deacon. They exchange vows in which they promise to be wed for life, to love each other unconditionally, and to be open to the new life of children.
Couples are asked to please contact one of the priests or deacon at least SIX MONTHS prior to the wedding date. Preparation involves an initial screening appointment, the taking of the FOCCUS instrument and it’s discussion, and finally, the planning of the ceremony itself. A Toward Marriage (or Pre-Cana) session also needs to be attended, usually in Manchester.
Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the Sacrament by which a Priest or Deacon makes a lifetime commitment to serve God by serving his people, the Church. Since the people of God become his “spouse”, the priest takes a vow of celibacy. Deacons anticipating ordination as priests also take the vow of celibacy while the Permanent Deacon may be a married man at the time of ordination. Most priests and deacons live out their ministry in a parish. The Bishop generally confers this Sacrament on candidates once a year at the Cathedral in Manchester. Anyone who would like to explore a vocation to ordained ministry in the Catholic Church should contact his pastor or associate pastor who, in turn, will put him in touch with the Diocesan Vocation Director.
Sacrament of the Sick
This Sacrament is also called the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. If anyone in your family is experiencing difficulty with their health or is anticipating undergoing surgery in the near future, it would be appropriate for them to receive this Sacrament. Those who are extremely frail due to old age would also be encouraged to receive this Sacrament. Usually an opportunity to confess your sins is also offered prior to the anointing.
Viaticum , or Holy Communion, can be brought to our homebound or hospitalized parishioners. Please notify the parish Office Manager so that arrangements can be made with a priest, deacon or member of the Healing Ministry.