SACRAMENTS

“A sacrament is an efficacious sing of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.” Catechism of the Catholic Church #1210

Baptism:

Call the parish office (260-693-9578) to arrange and schedule a time, since infants are to be baptized within the first few weeks (can.867). It is usually after any Sunday Mass. Remember that Church Law (can.874) requires at least one sponsor/godparent, who must be 16 years or older and must be an active and practicing Catholic. A second godparent can be included also, who can either be a catholic or a non-Catholic (Christian witness).

Confirmation:

Children in their 8th Grade are normally confirmed after attending religious instructions under the Religious Education program, as organized in the parish by the Director of Religious Education. (Any adult parishioner not yet confirmed should contact the parish office for directive on how to proceed). The confirmandi must have a Catholic sponsor, who is not his/her parent. For more information contact the DRE, Judy Egolf 260-705-4577 judylegolf@yahoo.com

First Holy Communion:

Children in the 2nd Grade class of the Religious Education make their First Holy Communion on the First Sunday of May. For more information contact the DRE, Judy Egolf 260-705-4577 judylegolf@yahoo.com

First Reconciliation:

All children, prior to making their First Holy Communion, are given the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Penance, as organized and scheduled by their Catechist and the pastor. For more information contact the DRE, Judy Egolf 260-705-4577 judylegolf@yahoo.com

Anointing of the Sick:

Any parishioner who is suffering from serious illness should request to be anointed from the priest. For this call the parish office (260-693-9578).

Marriage:

Any parishioner intending to get married is to contact the parish office (260) 693-9578), and initiate the process with the proper pastor, at least six months prior to the marriage. If both parties are Catholic, but belong to different parishes, the couple can choose to arrange their marriage with either of the pastors of their different parishes. If only one party is Catholic, then his/her pastor is the ‘proper’ pastor. Only the ‘proper’ pastor can also give permission for a different priest to witness the marriage or for the marriage to be celebrated in a different parish.

RCIA:

This is the ministry and program for the initiation of new adult members in our parish. For more information, time for instructions, place of instruction and duration for the program, contact Judy Egolf 260-705-4577 judylegolf@yahoo.com or Donna Macino (260-693-3332).

“This order, while not the only one possible, does allow one to see that the sacraments form an organic whole in which each particular sacrament has its own vital place. In this organic whole, the Eucharist occupies a unique place as the ‘Sacrament of sacraments’: ‘all the other sacraments are ordered to it as to their end’.” Catechism of Catholic Church #1211