Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word."˜Catechism of the Catholic Church

Because of the importance of this Sacrament, preparation on the part of the family and/or the individual to be baptized is essential. This formation is directed at nourishing and nurturing faith in Christ as well as understanding more deeply the Teachings of the Church.

"We believe in one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins" ˜
Nicene Creed (381 AD)

Guidelines for being a Godparent 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" - Mt. 28:19"

Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation followed by the Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. Baptism finds its roots in a Jewish purification ritual in which immersion in water was a means of initiating converts into Judaism.  At His baptism in the Jordan by St. John the Baptist, Christ changed this ritual into a sacrament (an outward sign of God's love and man's faith) and fulfills and gives meaning to the use of water which as prefigured in the Old Testament in such events as the liberation of the Chosen People from the bondage of Egypt through the Red Sea.

The Sacrament of Baptism is the key that opens the door of faith. Through the waters of Baptism, the Original Sin committed by our first parents is washed away and our souls purified. By this purification, we become children of God and enter into a relationship with God that can never be erased.  Furthermore, we die to sin and are united with Christ and, through the anointing with the Sacred Oil of Chrism, share in His three-fold Office as Priest, Prophet and King.

The Church encourages all to enter into this magnificent relationship with God, and thus Catholic parents have a grave duty to have their children baptized and raised in the faith. To assist them in this task, the parents invite godparents to share in the duty of providing the spiritual needs of their children and to ensure that the children are properly raised in their Catholic faith. When choosing godparents, and to ensure that the children are properly raised in their Catholic faith. When choosing godparents, Canon Law asks that at least one of the godparents be a practicing, confirmed Catholic of good and moral standing and that both godparents be at least 16 years of age. In the event that a godparent is unable to attend the actual Baptism, the parent must find a proxy with the same qualifications previously mentioned. A Baptismal Certificate will be required in order for one to be a godparent or Christian Witness (non-Catholic).

Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism Preparation Class

"you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on" ~Acts 1:8

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the third Sacrament of Initiation in which the Holy Spirit confers His gifts through the anointing by the Bishop (or delegated priest) with the Sacred Chrism in order to strengthen the confirmandi (those being confirmed) to be more faithful witnesses to Christ and their faith and to participate more fully in the evangelical mission of the Church. It is in this sacrament in which the confirmandi , after years of being formed in their faith, now make the Profession of Faith, which was made for them at their Baptism, on their own.

This, by no means, ends the formation of the Christian in their faith, but is a renewal of their commitment to learn and grow in their faith, aided by the gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit. ; To help them continue in their formation, the confirmandi choose sponsors to help guide them as they continue to grow in faith. When choosing a sponsor, Canon Law requires most of the same qualifications for godparents in Baptism: that they be a practicing, confirmed Catholic of good and moral standing and that they be at least 16 years of age. In the event that a sponsor is unable to attend the actual Confirmation, the confirmandi must find a proxy with the same qualifications previously mentioned. A Baptismal Certificate will be required in order to become a sponsor.

"For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink" ˜John 6:55

The Holy Eucharist is the greatest gift ever given to man. The second Sacrament of initiation, it is the greatest of all the sacraments since it is truly the living presence of Jesus Christ, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, which nourishes the Mystical Body with His very Flesh. That is why this sacrament is called the Blessed Sacrament, it is more than just an outward sign, it is the very Person of Christ and the very pinnacle of our faith.

The Eucharistic miracle occurs each time the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered on all Catholic altars throughout the entire world. During the Consecration, Christ, through the priest, offers Himself as a sacrifice for us again. At that moment, all the events of Christ's life are unraveled before the eyes of the congregation, the newborn King again rests in the stable at Bethlehem, which is appropriately translated as "House of Grain", the promise of the Eucharist promised by Christ during His ministry is fulfilled, and the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God on Calvary is renewed for the remission of sins. That is why it is such a grave sin for one not to attend Mass on Sundays and all Holy Days of Obligation. By denying oneself the nourishment of God, the soul dies spiritually just as the body would die physically of starvation if one refuses or is denied food.

By coming to us in the simple appearances of bread and wine, Christ desires to be united with us in the most intimate way. As Fr. Joseph T. Szolack, a priest of the Diocese of Camden says, "It not so much us who consumes Him as much as it is He Who consumes us." On the part of the communicant, it is necessary for one who desires to receive Holy Communion to be in the state of grace, meaning that the communicant is a practicing Catholic and is free from all attachment to mortal sin.

Eucharistic Adoration

"Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed" ˜James 5:16

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. ˜Catechism of the Catholic Church

"They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them." ˜Mark 6:13

"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." ˜Catechism of the Catholic Churc

Anointing of the sick

Annual Anointing of the Sick

Viaticum Sacrament for the Dying

"What God has joined, let no man put asunder" ˜Mark 10:9

"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. ˜Catechism of the Catholic Church"

The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony unites one man and one woman into union bounded by love to be a reflection of God's love for the entire Church and a means of preserving the human race.  Through Holy Matrimony, a bride and groom ( the ministers of the sacrament) give of themselves freely to each other before the Church in love and fidelity in the same way that Christ gave of Himself to His bride, the Church, emptying Himself and being faithful to her, as St. Paul tells us, to the point of death.

The bond of Marriage is rooted in the conjugal love between spouses and between them alone.  This love serves the purposes of bringing children lovingly into this world as well as renewing the vows made before God through the Rite of Marriage.  Through this love and commitment, the man and woman play a very integral role with God, Who is the Creator and Center fo this sacrament, and His plan for mankind through procreation and the raising of Christian children.  This very vocation is the manifestation of Christ to the world in that this love is unitive between the spouses, shared with the children which come from the love of this marriage, and possess the loving cooperation of each member of the family which are essential to the building of the Kingdom of God.

Sacrament of Marriage

"…do this in memory of me" ˜Luke 22:19

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.˜Catechism of the Catholic Church

Office of Clergy & Consecrated Life