A sacrament is an “efficacious sign 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” (Catechism of the Catholic Church774, 1131).
“The seven sacraments touch all the stages 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 1210).
According to the Second Vatican Council, “The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God. Because they are signs they also instruct. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and objects they also nourish, strengthen, and express it; that is why they are called ‘sacraments of faith.’ They do indeed impart grace, but, in addition, the very act of celebrating them disposes the faithful most effectively to receive this grace in a fruitful manner, to worship God duly, and to practice charity” (Sacred Constitution on the Liturgy, 59).
Baptism, Marriage, First Sacraments, and Service as Godparents
Only registered and active parishioners who are regularly attending Mass at St Mary’s Church and using stewardship envelopes each week for at least six months are eligible to be married here, to request the Baptism of a child here, to request First Penance, First Communion, or Confirmation of a child here, or to be authorized to serve as a sacramental sponsor or godparent for the Baptism or Confirmation of someone else, either here at St Mary’s or in another parish.
A minimum of six months of preparation is required before either Baptism or Holy Matrimony can be celebrated, and several years of catechesis is required for the first sacraments for children. To learn more about requesting these sacraments, please click the link below for the appropriate sacrament.
To request the pastor's approval and to have paperwork (signed or sent) to be a godparent or Confirmation sponsor, please contact Sarah Perkins in the church office.