Holy Sacraments
Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier." - USCCB
The Holy Sacraments of Christian Initiation
These first three sacraments lay the foundation for all other sacraments. "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity." (CCC 1212, Paul VI)
- Baptism is the first sacrament that one may receive and must receive in order to access all other sacraments. "Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift...We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship." (CCC 1216, St. Gregory of Nazianzus)
- Baptisms are celebrated throughout the year except during the Lenten season. Baptism Registration Forms maybe found here or in the church office. This document needs to be completed and turned in to the church office during office hours. Also parents and godparents are required to complete a seminar before the baptism. The sponsor or at least one godparent must be baptized, confirmed and a practicing Catholic, at least 16 years of age.
- Confirmation- It is evident from it celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: it is roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!"; it unites use more firmly with Christ; it increase the gifts o the Holy Spirit in us; it renders our bond with the Church more perfect; it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witness of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross." (CCC 1302-1303)
- High School Confirmation is celebrated in the spring of the confirmation candidate's junior year. Preparation for this sacrament begins in ninth grade and includes religious instruction, spiritual formation, and development of a sense of sharing in community life through service hours in Church, school and/ or community. See Confirmation on the Ministries page.
- Adult Confirmation is celebrated at the Easter Vigil. Adults that have been baptized but not confirmed or those seeking to be initiated into the Church, may confirm after completion of Rite for the Christian Initiation of Adults. The process of RCIA begins in the fall of the previous year. See the RCIA on the Ministries page for more details.
- A sponsor is required for confirmation and the requirement for these are the same as for Baptism.
- 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. (CCC 1322) At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharist sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.' (CCC 1323)"
- Homebound Communion- Parishioners who are unable to attend Mass due to an extended illness or handicap may be eligible to receive Holy Communion at home. Please submit the name, address, and phone number of the homebound parishioner to the church office.
The Holy Sacraments of Healing
"Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God's forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation." (CCC 1440)
- Penance and Reconciliation- Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against Him. and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion (CCC 1422). Other names by which this sacrament is called: sacrament of conversion, Penance, confession, forgiveness, and Reconciliation.
- Confession is offered 30 minutes before weekend Mass or by appointment.
- Anointing of the Sick- "By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that He may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ." (CCC 1499)
- Appointments can be made by calling the church office.
The Holy Sacraments of Service of Communion
"Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God" (CCC 1534)
- Matrimony- " The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." (CCC 1601)
- Those wishing to be married in the Church need to call the church office to schedule an appointment with Father Tanu, at least 6 months prior to wedding date.
- Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continue to be exercised I the Church until the end of time: this it is the sacrament of apostle ministry." (CCC 1536) "...those already consecrated through Baptism and Confirmation for the common priesthood of all the faithful can receive particular consecrations. Those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders are consecrated in Christ's name 'to feed the Church by the word and grace of God.' " (CCC 1535)
- Those men and women that feel the call to religious life should enter in to a serious process of discernment. Contact Father Tanu during office hours or the Diocese of Lake Charles' Office of Vocation.