Sacraments

Baptism

Baptism is the way out of the kingdom of death into life, the gateway to the Church, and the beginning of a lasting communion with God.

It is the foundational Sacrament and the prerequisite for all other sacraments. It unites us with Jesus Christ, incorporates us into his redemptive death on the Cross, thereby freeing us from the power of Original Sin and all personal sins, and causes us to rise with him to a life without end. Since Baptism is a covenant with God, the individual must say Yes to it. In the baptism of children, the parents confess the Faith on behalf of the children.

What I need to do to be baptize in St. Peter and Paul parish?

If a child needs to be baptize, the parents and the godparents should meet with the priest. The parents must provide to the priest the child's birth certificate and a document attesting to the eligibility of the godparents drawn up by their home parish.

The ceremony can be celebrated either during the Holy Mass or outside of it, but in any case a big candle and a white robe or dress for the child are needed.

The adult who wants to be baptized must follow an baptism preparation itinerary, which is held every Monday at 7:30 p.m. (barring unforeseen circumstances). Other steps necessary for baptism will be outlined in the meetings.

For adult baptism, in the same ceremony the believer will receive three sacraments together: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

Confirmation

Confirmation is the Sacrament that completes Baptism; in it the gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon us. Anyone who freely decides to live a life as God’s child and asks for God’s Spirit under the signs of the imposition of hands and anointing with Chrism receives the strength to witness to God’s love and might in word and deed. He is now a full-fledged, responsible member of the Catholic Church.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is normally administered by the Bishop.

What I need to do to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation?

To receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, the faithful needs to be at least 14 years old and have followed the preparation itinerary, which is held every Monday at 7:30 p.m. (barring unforeseen circumstances). Teenagers must follow it for one year, adults must have attended at least 10 meetings.

Eucharist

Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives his Body and Blood—himself—for us, so that we too might give ourselves to him in love and be united with him in Holy Communion. In this way we are joined with the one Body of Christ, the Church.

After Baptism and Confirmation, the Eucharist is the third sacrament of initiation of the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is the mysterious center of all these sacraments, because the historic sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is made present during the words of consecration in a hidden, unbloody manner. Thus the celebration of the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium [LG], 11). Everything aims at this; besides this there is nothing greater that one could attain. When we eat the broken Bread, we unite ourselves with the love of Jesus, who gave his body for us on the wood of the Cross; when we drink from the chalice, we unite ourselves with him who even poured out his blood out of love for us. We did not invent this ritual. Jesus himself celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples and therein anticipated his death; he gave himself to his disciples under the signs of bread and wine and commanded them from then on, even after his death, to celebrate the Eucharist. “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24). 

What I need to do to receive the First Eucharist in St. Peter and Paul parish?

The child needs to follow the preparation itinerary that takes place in the house of Sisters of Mother Teresa. It lasts 2 years and also includes preparation for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Usually, children begin the itinerary at age 8 and then communicate at age 10.

Adults too needs to follow the preparation itinerary, but it takes place in the Parish. The durability is variable according to the situation of the faithful and also includes preparation for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

Penance and Reconciliation

Baptism does snatch us from the power of sin and death and brings us into the new life of the children of God, but it does not free us from human weakness and the inclination to sin. That is why we need a place where we can be reconciled with God again and again. That place is confession.

It does not seem like a modern thing to go to confession; it can be difficult and may cost a great deal of effort at first. But it is one of the greatest graces that we can receive again and again in our life—it truly renews the soul, completely unburdens it, leaving it without the debts of the past, accepted in love, and equipped with new strength. God is merciful, and he desires nothing more earnestly than for us, too, to lay claim to his mercy. Someone who has gone to confession turns a clean, new page in the book of his life. 

What I need to do for confession in St. Peter and Paul parish?

Anointing of the sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick can be received by any Catholic whose health is in a critical state.

One can receive the Anointing of the Sick several times in one’s life. Therefore it makes sense for young people to ask for this sacrament also, if, for example, they are about to undergo a serious operation. On such occasions many Catholics combine the Anointing of the Sick with a (general) confession; in case the operation fails, they want to go to meet God with a clear conscience. 

What I need to do to receive the Anointing of the Sick?

If the faithful (either young, adult or elderly) is in a critical health situation or needs to face a serious operation and want to receive the Sacrament, he/she needs to call the priest in order to arrange the meeting.

Holy Orders

The priests of the Old Covenant saw their duty as mediating between heavenly and earthly things, between God and his people. Since Christ is the “one mediator between God and men” (1 Tim 2:5), he perfected and ended that priesthood. After Christ there can be an ordained priesthood only in Christ, in Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, and through a calling and apostolic mission from Christ.

A Catholic priest who administers the Sacraments acts not on the basis of his own power or moral perfection (which unfortunately he often lacks), but rather “in persona Christi”. Through his ordination, the transforming, healing, saving power of Christ is grafted onto him. Because a priest has nothing of his own, he is above all a servant. The distinguishing characteristic of every authentic priest, therefore, is humble astonishment at his own vocation.

Matrimony

The Sacrament of Matrimony comes about through a promise made by a man and a woman before God and the Church, which is accepted and confirmed by God and consummated by the bodily union of the couple. Because God himself forms the bond of sacramental marriage, it is binding until the death of one of the partners.

The man and the woman mutually administer the sacrament of Matrimony. The priest or the deacon calls down God’s blessing on the couple and, furthermore, witnesses that the marriage comes about under the right circumstances and that the promise is comprehensive and is made publicly. A marriage can come about only if there is marital consent, that is, if the man and the woman enter marriage of their own free will, without fear or coercion, and if they are not prevented from marrying by other natural or ecclesiastical ties (for example, an existing marriage, a vow of celibacy).

What I need to do to get married in St. Peter and Paul parish?

Parishioners need to follow at least 7 meetings of the preparation itinerary (scheduling to be arranged with the priest). During the meetings, will be clarified what will be needed for the ceremony.

The whole preparation must be done in the residence parish. At the end, a priest should send to St. Peter and Paul priest a certificate that attests that everything is in order, that there are no obstacles to marriage, and he permits them to get marriage in our St. Peter and Paul church.