Sacraments

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), 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, #1217)

The Sacrament of Baptism is often called "The door of the Church," because it is the first of the seven sacraments not only in time (since most Catholics receive it as infants) but in priority, since the reception of the other sacraments depends on it. It is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, the other two being the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Once baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church. Traditionally, the rite (or ceremony) of baptism was held outside the doors of the main part of the church, to signify this fact.

The Necessity of Baptism:

Christ Himself ordered His disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations and to baptize those who accept the message of the Gospel. In His encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), Christ made it clear that baptism was necessary for salvation: "Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." For Catholics, the sacrament is not a mere formality; it is the very mark of a Christian, because it brings us into new life in Christ.

The Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism:

Baptism has six primary effects, which are all supernatural graces:

1. The removal of the guilt of both Original Sin (the sin imparted to all mankind by the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and personal sin (the sins that we have committed ourselves).

2. The remission of all punishment that we owe because of sin, both temporal (in this world and in Purgatory) and eternal (the punishment that we would suffer in hell).

3. The infusion of grace in the form of sanctifying grace (the life of God within us); the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; and the three theological virtues.

4. Becoming a part of Christ.

5. Becoming a part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth.

6. Enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the growth in grace.

SCHEDULE THE BAPTISM

Biblical references: Acts 2:38-39; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; John 3:5; Matt 19:14; Luke 18:15-16; Col 2:11-12; Rom 6:13; Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33; 1 Cor 1:16; Mark 16:16;Rom 5:18-19; Mark 10:14; Jos 24:15; Matt 8:5ff; Matt 15:21ff

“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.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1422)

• Saturday:  3:30 PM - 4:00 PM 
• Wednesday - 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Reconciliation (also known as confession and penance); “Confession” stresses the action of the believer in the sacrament, Reconciliation stresses also the action of God, who uses the sacrament to reconcile us to Himself by restoring sanctifying grace in our souls. Penance is a sacrament in which the sins committed after baptism are forgiven. Penance remits sins and restores the friendship of God to the soul by means of absolution of the priest. We know that the priest has the power of dissolving from the sins committed after baptism because Jesus Christ granted the power to the priests of His church when he said: "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."

In section 1423-1424 of The Catechism of the Catholic Church it states: "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." 

To receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily we must do 5 things:

1. We must examine our conscience.

2. We must have sorrow for our sins.

3. We must make a firm resolution to never more offend God.

4. We must confess our sins to the priest.

5. We must accept the penance which the priest gives us.
 

The examination of conscience is an earnest effort to recall to mind all the sins we have committed since our last confession. Before beginning the examination of conscience, we should pray to God to give us light to know our sins and grace to detest them. We can make a good examination of conscience by calling to memory the commandments of God, the precepts of the Church, the seven capital sins, and the particular duties of our state in life, to determine the sins we have committed.

Biblical references: Matt 9:2-8; Jn 20:22-23; 2 Cor 5:17-20; James 5:13-16; Matt 18:18; 1 Jn 5:16

 The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” “The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1324)

Sunday Masses

• Saturday: 4:00 PM
• Sunday: 10:00 AM

Weekday Masses

• Tuesday - 6:00 PM
• Wednesday - 7:00 AM
• Thursday - 8:00 AM
• Friday - 7:00 AM

  The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is the third of the Sacraments of Initiation. Even though we are required to receive Communion at least once per year (our Easter Duty), and the Church urges us to receive Communion frequently (even daily, if possible), it is called a sacrament of initiation because, like Baptism and Confirmation, it brings us into the fullness of our life in Christ.

In Holy Communion, we are eating the True Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, without which "you shall not have life in you" (John 6:53).

Preparing for the Sacrament of Holy Communion:

A fast of all food and drink except for water for one hour is required before reception of the Holy Eucharist. Because of the intimate connection of the Sacrament of Holy Communion to our life in Christ, we must be free of any grave or mortal sin before receiving it, as St. Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29.

“Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself”. 

If we are aware of having committed a mortal sin, we must participate in the Sacrament of Confession first. The Church sees the two sacraments as connected, and urges us, when we can, to join frequent Confession with frequent Communion.

Biblical references: Jn 6:35-71; Mt 26:26ff; 1 Cor 10:16; 1 Cor 11:23-29; Ex 12:8,46; Jn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; Jn 4:31-34; Matt 16:5-12; 1 Cor 2:14-3:4; Ps 27:2; Is 9:18-20; Is 49:26; Mic 3:3; 2 Sam 23:15-17; Rev 17:6,16

Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1285)

The Sacrament of confirmation along with Baptism and Eucharist, complete the Sacraments of initiation and brings full membership in the church. The invocation of the Holy Spirit and the sacramental grace received fortifies the recipient in resisting temptation and truly living a Catholic Christian life. Also, one must be a fully initiated member of the church to function as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister at Mass or even to serve as a Baptismal godparent or Confirmation sponsor. The sacrament of confirmation offers profound spiritual and practical benefits.

Biblical references: Acts 19:5-6; Acts 8:14-17; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph 1:13; Heb 6:2 

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, #1536)

“Those who are chosen by God for the consecrated life make this spiritual longing their own in a definitive way. In it, in fact, they have one expectation: the Kingdom of God: that God reign in our will, in our hearts, in the world. In them burns a unique thirst for love which can be quenched by the Eternal One alone.” -Pope Benedict XVI

Holy Orders is a Sacrament by which bishops, priests, and other ministers of the Church are ordained and receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. To receive Holy Orders worthily it is necessary to be in the state of grace, to have the necessary knowledge and a divine call to this sacred office. Christians should look upon the priests of the Church as the messengers of God and the dispensers of His mysteries. Only bishops can confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders. For questions concerning a possible vocation to the priesthood contact Fr. Tomasz Wilk.

Biblical references: Acts 20:28; Lk 22:19; Jn 20:22; Acts 6:6; Acts 13:3; Acts 14:22; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6; Tit 1:5

“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, #1601)

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

The bond of Christian marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power. The effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony are:

1. To sanctify the love of husband and wife;
2. To give them grace to bear with each other´s weaknesses;
3. To enable them to bring up their children in the fear and love of God.

To receive the Sacrament of Matrimony worthily it is necessary to be in the state of grace, and it is necessary also to comply with the laws of the Church. The Church alone has the right to make laws concerning the Sacrament of marriage, though the state also has the right to make laws concerning the civil effects of the marriage contract. Christians should prepare for a holy and happy marriage by receiving the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist, by asking God to grant them a pure intention, and to direct their choice by seeking the advice of their parents.

No wedding can be scheduled in the Parish Calendar without meeting in person with Fr. Tomasz Wilk to ensure that marriage within the Church can indeed take place in the time period desired. It is always wise, therefore, to ensure your date in the Parish calendar prior to confirming a date with your social hall or caterer. Contact the parish office at least 6 months prior to the wedding date.

Biblical references: Matt 19:5; Mark 10:7-12; Eph 5:22-32; 1 Thess 4:4; Mal 2:14-16; Matt 5:32-33; Matt 19:4-6,9; Mark 10:11-12; Lk 16:18; Rom 7:2-3; 1 Cor 7:10-11

“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 Church, #1499)

Early Christians regularly anointed the sick following the practice outlined in the Epistle of James “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven”. (James 5:14-15 ).

Although no specific prayers have been preserved, early anointing’s sought healing as well as forgiveness from God. During the Middle Ages, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was reserved just for those who were dying. Prayers for healing were replaced by prayers for forgiveness of sin and hope of salvation. The sacrament came to be called “Extreme Unction” because it was considered the last anointing one would receive before death.

As modern research gave insight into early Christian practice, the 2nd Vatican Council, urged the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick be renewed to include prayer for healing as well as remission of sin. Today, anyone faced with a grave illness or the prospect of surgery may receive the anointing of the sick. The grace of the sacrament include the courage to face illness, overcome despair, to unite one’s suffering with that of Christ and to strengthen the church by the faith of the sick person, who in turn is supported by prayer of the faithful.

If you or a loved one is suffering from a serious illness, in danger of death from sickness or about to have a serious procedure and wish to be anointed please call the parish office.

Biblical references: Mk 6:12-13; Jm 5:14

Fr. Tomasz Wilk  is available to administer the Sacraments to those who are unable to come to Church.The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is part of the healing ministry of the Church, and should be received early in an illness or before a serious operation.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where [I] am going you know the way.” –John 14:1-4

Please contact the Parish Office

If you are looking to schedule a funeral, please call the parish office.

Avaliability is limited to our priest schedule and mass times.

St. Augustine Parish offers choices in readings for funerals.

All the music is pre-chosen by Fr. Tomasz Wilk and Music Director.