The Sacraments The seven Catholic Sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence. Vertical TabsBaptism For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Whether we are baptized as infants or adults, Baptism is the Church's way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God. 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 in the word. -Catechism of the Catholic Church Baptismal Committee The Baptismal Committee helps the parents prepare for Baptism of their child and to celebrate the ceremony with them. The committee coordinator is Deacon Richard Haber. Baptisms are celebrated monthly from January to December. Activities Gather for two preparatory meetings, where we share our faith through prayer and discussion. Provide parents information on the gift of Baptism and the role parents and godparents play in living this sacrament. During the Mass, on the Sunday preceding the Baptism, child, family and friends are welcomed into the Church and guided in their participation for the Liturgy of Baptism. Baptisms are officiated by Deacon Richard Haber and supported by other members of the Baptismal Team. At the conclusion of the ceremony, everyone present is invited to the Church Hall for refreshments partly donated by the Baptismal team and partly funded by donations received from parents. Reconciliation The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God's unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others. 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 Our Faith First program incorporates the preparation of First Reconciliation (Penance) in our grade 3 class. The sacrament is celebrated in the month of December. A minimum of 2 years faith instruction is required for this sacrament. For further information, please contact Jennie Parsons-Armstrong at (514) 481-0267, ext. 26. Eucharist Catholics believe the Eucharist, or Communion, is both a sacrifice and a meal. We believe in the real presence of Jesus, who died for our sins. As we receive Christ's Body and Blood, we also are nourished spiritually and brought closer to God. 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. - Catechism of the Catholic Church The Last Supper, ca. 1520, by Giovanni Pietro Rizzoli, Our Faith First program incorporates the preparation of First Communion in our grade 3 class. The sacrament is celebrated in the month of May. A minimum of 2 years faith instruction is required for this sacrament. For further information, please contact Jennie Parsons-Armstrong at (514) 481-0267, ext. 26. Confirmation Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 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 Our Faith First program incorporates the preparation for confirmation in our grade 6 class. The sacrament is celebrated in the month of May. A minimum of five (5) years faith instruction is required for this sacrament. For further information, please contact Jennie Parsons-Armstrong at (514) 481-0267, ext. 26. Marriage For Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally to this other person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union of husband and wife speaks of family values and also God's values. 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 If you are interested in being married at St. Monica's, please read the Marriage Guidelines document Holy Orders In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest being ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel, and by providing other means to holiness. 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 If you believe that you have a vocation to the Priesthood, Deaconate, or Consecrated life please visit the diosese web site. Anointing of the Sick The Catholic Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is a ritual of healing appropriate not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual sickness. 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
