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Baptism

The Sacrament of baptism has three glorious effects:

i Washes away original sin.

ii Make the person a member of the Holy Church

iii Makes the person a dwelling place of God

God desires all people to be baptised, so baptism in the church is a great joy.

Please speak to Fr. Tom after your usual Sunday Mass to ask about baptism.

Holy Communion

Receiving Holy Communion is the 'source and summit of the Christian life'. It is the source of the Christian life because through Holy Communion Jesus gives His life and His grace to the Christian soul. It is the summit of the Christian life because the goal of our life is union with God, through Holy Communion we are united both spiritually and physically with the Lord Jesus.

Preparation for First Holy Communion class is open to practising Catholic children who

i attend Holy Mass every week

ii know by heart in English the three basic Christian prayers, and can make the Sign of the Cross

iii are aged 8 years old by the first confession.

CONFIRMATION

All who have been Baptised are bound to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The Sacrament of Confirmation gives the grace of missionary spirit and reliance on God.

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is open to all practising Catholics, aged over 13 years old, who have not yet been confirmed.

Young people hoping to apply for Confirmation must

i be attending Sunday Mass each week

ii know the basic Christian prayers, and the Gloria and Creed from Mass

iii be able to clearly state why they desire to be Confirmed into the Catholic religion.

Christian Marriage

Marriage is a covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of love which is life-long, exclusive and open to having children. All Catholics who wish to marry are bound to get married before a Catholic Priest or Deacon and two witnesses.

Any marriage which is contracted 'outside the Church' (for example in a Registry Office, a non-Catholic church or a place specially licensed for civil marriage) is Null and Void.

In order to get married, a period of careful preparation is required. At least six months notice is required in order to allow time for proper spiritual preparation to take place and for all the necessary documentation to be assembled. To begin the preparation for Christian Marriage please speak to Fr. Tom.

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Sacrament of the Sick

All sick and housebound are visited regularly with Holy Communion by the priest, deacon, parish sister and extraordinary ministers.

If you know you are going to have an operation or a spell in Hospital please contact the parish for this sacrament.

Please inform your Parish Priest or the Parish Clergy and Office if you are taken ill and housebound and wish to have Holy Communion administered to you at your home.

If you are admitted to hospital please make sure the staff know you are a Catholic.

Confession

All Catholics who have reached the age of discretion (normally about 7 years old) are bound to confess all their grave sins (mortal), as soon as possible.

First Confessions are made in preparation for First Holy Communion.

If you have not been to church for a while, it would be best to make your confession as soon as possible, particularly before receiving Holy Communion.

The Church ask us to confess at least once a year during Lent or Easter time. How to go to confession - adults

Christian Funerals

After a friend or family member has died a family gives instruction to a Funeral Director to prepare the funeral. Between the family, the directors and the church a suitable time and date is arranged. The priest will then meet the family to discuss the details and options of hymns and readings. Secular (non-church songs are not permitted in the Catholic church).

The Church continues to prefer the practice of burying the bodies of the deceased, but, cremation is permitted. The scattering of ashes is forbidden by the church, but ashes can be buried.

Please contact your Parish Priest for further information and arrangements of the funeral service on 01634 717582

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