Sacraments

Baptism is the first Sacrament of initiation within the Catholic Church. Washed with water and consecrated by the Holy Spirit, the baptized are cleansed from original sin which was introduced into the world by Adam and Eve. The baptized share in the dying and rising of Jesus Christ, they start a new life with our God and Lord. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love, as the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ's call to holiness.
Parents and Godparents have an important role and responsibility in the sacrament of Baptism as they are speaking on behalf of the child and promise to raise the child in the Catholic faith. As parents, you are the first teachers of the faith to your child; and Godparents are there to help you in growing your child’s faith and love of Jesus our Savior. It is mandatory that parents and godparents participate in and complete the Baptism Preparation class prior to the Baptism of your child. If parents have attended a Baptism Preparation class within the past three (3) years you are not required to take the class again.
Being a Godparent is an honor, a blessing, and a lifelong commitment. Godparents are a symbol of the Church, a witness to the faith, and a key partner in passing on values and virtues to the next generation. The Catholic Church has five (5) minimum requirements for Godparents (Canon 874):

• Are invited by the parent/guardian of the child to be a godparent
• At a minimum of sixteen years old
• A Catholic who has received the sacraments of initiation; Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Who is actively practicing the Catholic faith and leads a life that will be a good example for the child (attends Sunday Mass regularly, active prayer life, participates in parish ministries, participates in faith formation programs)
• Has not received and/or is not in the process of receiving a Church penalty such as excommunication
• Is not the child’s parent

   Each child must have one Catholic Godparent (either a Godmother or Godfather), and there can only be one Godmother and one Godfather. Non-Catholic Christians can be witnesses at the Baptism and can fully participate in the Baptism ceremony, however they cannot be listed as a Godparent on the official Baptismal certificate.

   To register your child to receive the Sacrament of Baptism please complete and return the Baptism Registration Form A copy of the child’s Birth Certificate is required as well as a verification letter from the Godparents' home parish stating they satisfy the requirements outlined above.

Baptisms are performed on the 1^st and 3^rd Sunday of the month at St. Paul Church. Special arrangements can be made for a Baptism to be performed dependent on the availability of a priest or deacon and the Church.

The teachings of the Catholic Church stated that it is the responsibility of parents and those who take the place of parents as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the Holy Eucharist as early as possible, which is preceded by the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). 
   Children are to be prepared for First Reconciliation and participate in the Sacrament of Penance prior to receiving First Communion. Both sacraments are typically received in second grade. At St. Paul Church First Reconciliation is received in the Fall of the year (November) followed by the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in the Spring.
   The readiness required for the Sacrament of Reconciliation consists in the capacity to discern between right and wrong, together with an understanding, appropriate to the child’s age, and of what sin is. The readiness required for First Communion is not dissimilar: the ability to recognize the difference between the Eucharist and ordinary bread (and wine). Children that are well prepared for Reconciliation generally welcome this opportunity to experience God’s mercy.
   As Catholics, we know that the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith: it is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Pope Francis has called it the "Sacrament of Love". For children who are preparing to receive their First Holy Communion, this is a big deal. And for all of us, no matter how many times we have received Our Lord in the Holy Communion it should always be a big deal.
   For more information on how to register your child for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion Preparation please visit our Faith Formation page.

 Children's Sacrament Preparation

In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is “sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world.  . . .  We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service.
   At, St. Paul Church the Sacrament of Confirmation is received in High School. Young Adults typically start their Confirmation preparation in ninth (9) grade. For more information on preparing for and receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation please visit Confirmation
 

Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with "the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Rev 19:7, 9). Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his Church.  Man and woman were created for each other. The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church.
   Couples preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony will need a minimum of six (6) months to complete all of the paperwork and pre-cana instruction. There are detailed guidelines outlining the process of receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony at St. Paul Church. A copy of the guidelines can be found on the parish website, please follow this  to review them.  To start the process of preparing of marriage please contact the parish office.

 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 receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick please contact the office at 410-465-1670 or after parish office hours please calls the emergency number 301-606-9260.