SACRAMENTS

Baptism

Through baptism men and women are incorporated into Christ. They are formed into God's people, and they obtain forgiveness of all their sins. They are raised from their natural human condition to the dignity of adopted children. They become a new creation through water and the Holy Spirit. Hence they are called, and are indeed, the children of God.

REQUIREMENTS FOR BAPTISM

Parents are encouraged to register at one of our churches and attend a pre-baptism class before their child is born.

Baptism Preparation Class

Baptism Preparation Class is required for all first time parents. Please contact Cindy Fussy at ministry@ourladyhc.org for a schedule of upcoming classes.

Scheduling the Baptism

Contact the ACC office at 320.393.2725 to schedule your child's Baptism.

Selecting Godparents

Godparents play a very important role in your child’s spiritual life. They should serve as role models of the faith. The child should be able to look to their godparent as an example of how the church teaches us to live our Catholic faith. They should support not only the child but you, the parents as well. Additionally, in their role as godparent, they represent the larger Church community. Being a godparent is not only an honor, it is a tremendous responsibility. Therefore, the godparents should be carefully chosen.

Church Requirements for Godparents

• Must have one Catholic Godparent, in good standing with the Church.

• The Catholic Godparent must be at least 16 years old and godparent must have received the Sacraments of Initiation:

Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.

• Must be actively practicing their Catholic faith.

Confirmation

Baptism and Confirmation could be considered, in light of their origins and history, one sacrament. Confirmation, which comprises the post baptismal rites of anointing, the laying on of hands, and the words, "Be sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit," is a ratification, or sealing, of Baptism. For those who were baptized as infants, Confirmation provides an opportunity to ratify freely and deliberately what was done for them at Baptism. It helps to focus their minds and the minds of the whole community on the essentially missionary dimension of the baptismal commitment.
—From Catholicism, by Richard P. McBrien. Revised and Updated. Harper SanFrancisco: San Francisco, 1993

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 (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1322).

Making Your First Holy Communion

Students make their First Eucharist in second grade.

Please contact our ACC Office to register for classes at 320.393.2725

Reconciliation

Reconciliation, one of the sacraments of healing, is the means through which the Church continues Jesus’ work of salvation. It is a sacrament of continual conversion, by which we obtain God’s mercy for the offenses committed against God, and at the same time, are reconciled with the Church which we wound by our sins. (CCC, 1422)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is God’s gift to us...

“If we say, ‘We are without sin’, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. For we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for those of the whole world.” (1 Jn 1:8-9)

This sacrament is also referred to as the Sacrament of Confession or Penance. The Sacrament is a healing encounter with Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. The Lord’s mercy, healing and grace are given to us through this encounter. In it Jesus also strengthens us to resist future or ongoing temptation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a moment of accountability for us and before the Lord. The Lord’s forgiveness and mercy is infinite. Nothing we have done or could do can ever separate us from experiencing God’s forgiveness through this sacrament.

Matrimony

Marriage is an intimate relationship of life and love. In order to assist you effectively and fulfill our pastoral responsibility towards you, time must be made to consider certain convictions. Values need to be clarified before couples may enter into marriage within the Catholic Church. As a faith community we have strong uncompromising commitment to permanence in marriage, total giving of self to the other, exclusive fidelity and openness to life.

Marriage Preparation

Congratulations on your engagement! We are excited that you wish to promise lifelong love to each other as husband and wife in the Lord. Marriage is a covenantal union modeled after and symbolizing God’s ever-faithful love that He has for His people. Your decision to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage is an important one. We understand the importance of this decision and are here to assist you in preparing for marriage. We are committed to supporting you spiritually and providing you with tools necessary to enter into marriage. It is our hope and prayer that through your journey of preparation that you will come to a deeper understanding of what God’s plan is for your marriage and that you will learn truths and skills to help you live out your vocation of love. Preparation for the Sacrament of Matrimony is more than planning your Mass or liturgy. It is a learning process aimed at helping you succeed in your marriage!

Your love and life together will serve those around you as a sign that Jesus Christ is alive and present to the world. Preparation for marriage is a tremendous opportunity for spiritual growth together with God, and we’re glad to be a part of another milestone in your lives!

Contact Cindy Fussy at ministry@ourladyhc.org

to begin your Marriage preparation

journey in the Catholic Church.

Anointing
of the Sick

The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, especially near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments one will receive. A sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (Jas 5:14-15)

Who Can Receive the Sacrament?

Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament that is received by those who are ill or suffering. By the sacred anointing and the prayer of the priest, the whole Church commends those who are sick to Christ. The sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gifts of strength, faith, peace and courage, and his or her suffering is united with the suffering of Christ, for the building up of the Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1520-23). Anointing of the Sick can be given to anyone who is in extreme danger of dying, is suffering from a serious illness including any type of mental illness or addiction, or prior to undergoing any type of major surgery. It can be given more than once in a person’s lifetime.

This sacrament should be requested as soon as one becomes aware of a serious illness or upcoming surgery. It is the Church’s most powerful prayer for strengthening of body, mind, and spirit. Just as you would not wait to give medicine to a sick person, neither should the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick be withheld or delayed. The Sacrament of Anointing is available any time by appointment.

Please call the ACC office at 320.393.2725 to schedule an appointment.

Holy Orders

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the continuation of Christ’s priesthood, which He bestowed upon His Apostles. “Ordination” comes from the Latin word ordinatio, which means to incorporate someone into an order. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a man is incorporated into the priesthood of Christ, at one of three levels: the episcopate, the priesthood, or the diaconate.

“The Sacrament of Apostolic Ministry by which the mission entrusted by Christ to his Apostles continues to be exercised in the Church through the laying on of hands. This sacrament has three distinct degrees or ‘orders’: deacon, priest, and bishop. All three confer a permanent, sacramental character” (Catechism of the Catholic Church,536).

“The whole Church is a priestly people. Through Baptism all the faithful share in the priesthood of Christ. This participation is called the ‘common priesthood of the faithful.’ Based on this common priesthood and ordered to its service, there exists another participation in the mission of Christ: the ministry conferred by the sacrament of Holy Orders, where the task is to serve in the name and in the person of Christ the Head in the midst of the community” (Catechism, 1591).

The priesthood was established by God among the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. God chose the tribe of Levi as priests for the nation. Their primary duties were the offering of sacrifice and prayer for the people. Christ, in offering Himself up for the sins of all mankind, fulfilled the duties of the Old Testament priesthood once and for all. But just as the Eucharist makes that sacrifice present to us today, so the New Testament priesthood is a sharing in the eternal priesthood of Christ. While all believers are, through baptism called into the priesthood of Christ, some are called individually to serve the Church as Christ Himself did.

For More Information Contact the Diocese of St. Cloud

Vocations Office.